Correct Option
The correct option is (a).
Explanation
Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity with respect to time. It is categorized as uniform or non-uniform depending on whether the change in velocity is constant or variable over equal time intervals.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Correct: Non-uniform acceleration (or variable acceleration) occurs when the velocity of a body changes by unequal amounts in equal intervals of time. This indicates that the rate of change of velocity is not constant.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: When a body changes its velocity by equal amounts in equal intervals of time, it is said to be in uniform acceleration. A car increasing its speed steadily represents uniform acceleration.
- Statement 3 is Incorrect: The free fall of a body under the influence of gravity (near the Earth's surface and neglecting air resistance) is a standard example of uniformly accelerated motion. The acceleration remains constant at approximately \(9.8 \, \text{m/s}^2\).
Key Takeaway
Uniform acceleration is characterized by a constant rate of change of velocity (constant slope on a velocity-time graph), whereas non-uniform acceleration involves a variable rate of change.