How Does Acceleration Appear on a Graph When an Object Slows Down?

[Khemkhajon]

If a object was heading towards the orgin while slowing down. How would the a vs t graph look. I keep thinking it would be a positive acceleration line, but I am not sure wondering if anyone could clarify

 

[tyco05]

If it is slowing down, what does that say about the acceleration?

An a-t graph plots acceleration. It doesn't matter if the object is moving towards the origin or away from it.

 

[Khemkhajon]

If it is slowing down, what does that say about the acceleration?

An a-t graph plots acceleration. It doesn't matter if the object is moving towards the origin or away from it.

Thats not true. Because if they gave you a x vs t graph of a object heading towards the orgin and speeding up the acceleration would still be negative because of the slope

 

[tyco05]

Thats not true. Because if they gave you a x vs t graph of a object heading towards the orgin and speeding up the acceleration would still be negative because of the slope

What exactly do you mean by this?

If something is speeding up, the slope of the v- t graph is positive. Hence the acceleration is positive.

 

[Khemkhajon]

What exactly do you mean by this?

If something is speeding up, the slope of the v- t graph is positive. Hence the acceleration is positive.

Think of it as ball rolling down a ramp. it starts at 50m-----------ends at 0m

 

[tyco05]

Hmmm... maybe you mean speeding up in a negative direction?
In that case your statement is correct.

 

[Khemkhajon]

Hmmm... maybe you mean speeding up in a negative direction?
In that case your statement is correct.

so back to the question if its speed was negative and starts to slow down what would the a vs t be?

 

[tyco05]

Maybe you're mixing up your horizontal and vertical components...

 

[tyco05]

if the velocity is in a negative direction and it is slowing down then the acceleration is in the positive direction.

 

[Khemkhajon]

if the velocity is in a negative direction and it is slowing down then the acceleration is in the positive direction.

o ok thankyou