The only force, and therefore the only acceleration, when you&#x27;re in orbit is the force of gravity. And therefore, the only acceleration is towards the center of Earth.<p>The thing in orbit is already moving with a high enough velocity that it isn&#x27;t able to get closer to the Earth.<p>I guess maybe what you&#x27;re saying, is if you take the velocity vector and apply the acceleration vector over time, that changes the velocity at the same rate as the curve of the Earth.<p>Either way, there is exactly one force vector (which causes exactly one acceleration vector), not two.