Which of the following terms refers to the rate at which a body moves when force is applied?

The term that refers to the rate at which a body moves when force is applied is accurately defined as acceleration. Acceleration measures how quickly an object changes its velocity as a result of an applied force. According to Newton's second law of motion, acceleration is directly proportional to the net force acting on an object and inversely proportional to its mass, which means that greater force leads to greater acceleration.

While velocity and speed both describe aspects of movement, they do not specifically quantify the change of position over time when force is applied. Velocity is the vector quantity that incorporates both speed and direction, while speed merely quantifies the rate of movement without direction.

Momentum, on the other hand, is the product of mass and velocity and reflects the quantity of motion an object has but does not specifically pertain to the rate of movement resulting from applied force. Therefore, the correct term that addresses the response of a body to applied force in the context of its rate of change in velocity is acceleration.