What type of acceleration is experienced by a pilot who is increasing speed during a dive?

In the scenario described, a pilot who is increasing speed during a dive experiences tangential acceleration. This type of acceleration occurs when an object’s speed changes along the path of motion. In the case of a dive, the pilot follows a downward trajectory and the increase in speed means the pilot is experiencing acceleration along that path.

Tangential acceleration is specifically associated with changes in the speed of an object traveling along a curved path, where the direction remains consistent but the magnitude of the velocity increases, which is precisely what happens during a dive. In contrast, linear acceleration refers to a change in velocity in a straight line, centripetal acceleration relates to the direction change of an object moving in a circle, and angular acceleration pertains to the change in rotational speed around a pivot point. Thus, in the context of a dive where the pilot is increasing speed while descending, tangential acceleration is the correct and most relevant form of acceleration experienced.