Understand that the acceleration vector is in the direction of the change of the velocity vector. In one dimensional (straight line) motion, acceleration is accompanied by a change in speed, and the acceleration is always parallel (or antiparallel) to the velocity. When motion can occur in two dimensions (e. g. is confined to a tabletop but can lie anywhere in the x-y plane), the definition of acceleration is

 a = √ (a_t² + a_c²)

a_t = dv / dt ,    a_c = v² / r  

Explanation:

In a two-dimensional movement, the acceleration can have two components, one in each axis of the movement, so the acceleration can be written as the components of the acceleration in each axis.

            a = aₓ i ^ + a_y j ^

Another very common way of expressing acceleration is by creating a reference system with a parallel axis and a perpendicular axis. The axis called parallel is in the radial direction and the perpendicular axis is perpendicular to the movement, therefore the acceleration remains

         a = √ (a_t² + a_c²)

where the tangential acceleration is

           a_t = dv / dt

the centripetal acceleration is

          a_c = v² / r