Question

on a distant planet, a freely falling object gains speed at a steady rate of 20 m/s during each second of fall. Calculate its acceleration

Answer 1

acceleration is:

a=dv/dt=20m/s 1s= 20m/s squared

Answer 2

In the situation where only the object's speed is changing and its direction isn't, its acceleration IS the amount of speed it gains or loses each second. The question is exactly TELLING you the object's acceleration.