Analyze why we say an object is accelerating when we usually mean that it is speeding up and an object slowing down also is accelerating

(And don't forget that an object going around a curve at a constant speed is also accelerating.)

I believe there are two reasons:

1). The term is inadequately taught in the American public school system ... along with much of the rest of Science and Math in general.

2). The word became permanently and indelibly corrupted when the automotive industry decided to name the gas pedal the "accelerator".

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