Final answer:
Velocity refers to both the speed of an object and its direction, and any change in speed or direction constitutes a change in velocity, which is True. A change in velocity, which indicates acceleration, can occur through speeding up, slowing down, or changing direction.
Step-by-step explanation:
Velocity in science refers to both the speed of an object and the direction in which the object is moving. Therefore, a statement that velocity refers to increasing speed, decreasing speed, or changing direction is True. Velocity is a vector quantity meaning it has both magnitude, which we perceive as speed, and direction. A change in either of these aspects constitutes a change in velocity.
For example, if a car turns a corner at a constant speed, it is undergoing acceleration because its direction is changing. Similarly, if an airplane is slowing down as it prepares to land, its velocity is decreasing and it is also considered to be accelerating. Hence, acceleration occurs with any change in velocity, be it an increase or decrease in speed, a change in direction, or a combination of these factors.
The concept is further clarified when we consider that scientists describe velocity as a combination of both speed and direction, such as 20 kilometers per hour due south. Momentum, often discussed in conjunction with velocity, is defined as an object's mass times its velocity.
A change in velocity and, consequently, acceleration can be part of an object speeding up, slowing down, or changing direction. It's important to note that acceleration is directed towards the change in velocity and is not always in the same direction as the object's motion.