1) Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity with time. It can be positive, indicating an increase in speed or change in direction, or negative, indicating a decrease in speed or change in direction. 2) A car accelerating from 60 mph to 90 mph in 3 seconds has an acceleration of 10 mph/sec. A car braking from 60 mph to a stop in 6 seconds has a negative acceleration of -10 mph/sec. 3) Falling objects near the Earth's surface accelerate at approximately 10 m/s2 due to gravity. Their velocity increases linearly with time until air resistance balances the gravitational force and the object reaches terminal velocity.