Force decreased but velocity continues to increase

AI Thread Summary
An object moving to the right experiences a decreasing net force directed to the right, yet its velocity continues to increase over time. This occurs because a reduction in force leads to a decrease in acceleration, but as long as the acceleration remains positive, the object's velocity will still increase. The key point is that velocity will not decrease until acceleration becomes negative. Thus, even with decreasing force, the object can still accelerate positively until the force reaches zero. Understanding this distinction clarifies the relationship between force, acceleration, and velocity in motion.
Perseverence
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Homework Statement


An object is moving to the right in a straight line. The net force acting on the object is also directed to the right, but the magnitude of the force is decreasing with time. What happens to the object?

The answer states that the object continues to move to the right with speed increasing with time. This doesn't make sense to me because according to the formula Force equals mass times acceleration, reduction of force is a reduction of acceleration. And a reduction of acceleration is a reduction in the velocity. What am I missing here?

Homework Equations


Force equals mass times acceleration

The Attempt at a Solution


Seems straightforward that acceleration would decrease
 
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You are right that acceleration would decrease. What has to be true about acceleration for velocity to decrease?
 
Perseverence said:
The answer states that the object continues to move to the right with speed increasing with time. This doesn't make sense to me because according to the formula Force equals mass times acceleration, reduction of force is a reduction of acceleration. And a reduction of acceleration is a reduction in the velocity. What am I missing here?

You need to test this with some numbers.

Hint: if inflation reduces, do prices go down?
 
I see! So velocity would increase until accleration became zero and velocity would not decrease until accleration was negative! because any amount of postive accleration would cause velocity to continue to increase. right?
 
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Perseverence said:
I see! So velocity would increase until accleration became zero and velocity would not decrease until accleration was negative! because any amount of postive accleration would cause velocity to continue to increase. right?
Right.
 
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Thank you! Physics forum is amazing!Physics forum is amazing!:smile:
 
For acceleration, positive and negative refers to the directional sense with respect to a coordinate axis, not increasing or decreasing.
 

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