Have you ever experienced the sensation of being thrust back into your chair, where your neck muscles can't react quickly enough, and your head snaps back? That's the work of acceleration. It's a curious thing—despite the apparent stillness of our surroundings, we're constantly in motion, comparing our reality with the myriad objects sharing our universe.

Think it's a stretch? Consider the pull of Earth's gravity. That's acceleration too, subtly but relentlessly drawing us towards the planet's center. But here's a puzzle: why do we feel this same force in an elevator or speeding in a Maserati? On Earth, we might seem stationary, yet in motion when propelled forward. Intriguing contradiction, isn't it?

The key lies in...