Accelration Help: Questions Answered

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of acceleration in physics, particularly in relation to velocity and direction. Participants are exploring questions about the nature of acceleration when an object is slowing down and how it relates to velocity-time graphs.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are questioning whether acceleration must be negative when an object is slowing down and discussing the implications of direction on acceleration. They are also examining the interpretation of velocity-time graphs to determine which object is accelerating faster, considering both positive and negative acceleration.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants providing insights and prompting further exploration of the concepts. Some guidance has been offered regarding the vector nature of acceleration and its relationship to velocity, but no consensus has been reached.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working within the framework of a homework problem that involves interpreting graphs and understanding the definitions of acceleration and deceleration. There may be assumptions about the definitions of these terms that are being questioned.

NIZBIT
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Just a couple of questions I'm banging my head on. Any help would be great!

1. Does your accelration have to be negative when you are slowing down?

If I started in a negative direction back towards my initial frame of reference,
acceleration would be positive? But isn't that still speeding up?

2. It is a velocity time graph. I'll explain the best I can. It wants to know which is accelrating faster. It is showing 2 graphs. Graph A is a positive velocity with a positive acceleration and it has a small slope so all of this is slowly happening. Graph B is positive velocity with a negative accelration and the slope is larger so it is quickly happening.

So when they ask this does it matter if its acclerating or deaccelerating?
 
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1. Think of acceleration as a vector. Does a vector have to be negative?

2. Acceleration is the rate of change of speed with respect to time so when it asks which is accelerating faster do you think it should matter if it is accelerating or decellerating?
 
So I could have a negative velocity with a positive accelration hence slowing down?
 
I think you've hit the nail on the head.
 

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