Speed up vs. Accelerate

[::Twain::]

Hi there,

Does anyone know the difference between Speed up vs. Accelerate?
They both in a context of cars.

Thanks.

 

[Packard]

We'd need more specific context (the sentences that these were used in), to give a reasoned reply.

Ordinarily I would say that "speed up" was just a more colloquial way of saying "accelerate". (Though physicists use "accelerate" to mean more things than the non-physicist do.)

 

[merquiades]

For me, accelerate and speed up are exactly the same. Accelerate may be a wee bit more learned.

 

[::Twain::]

Thank you all, this helped me to clarify the doubt.

 

[sdgraham]

To me, "speed up" can mean "go at a higher speed," and not necessarily to keep increasing speed.

"Accelerate," however, means a constant change in speed.

 

[panjandrum]

Speed up = increase speed.
Accelerate = change speed.
In everyday conversation, I see no difference.
In the context of cars, this is an everyday conversation and I still see no difference.

In a mathematical context, acceleration may be positive or negative, and may be constant or variable.