Negative or positive of a displacement and velocity

In summary, when discussing displacement, we refer to the direction of the displacement as positive or negative, based on whether it is moving upwards or downwards. However, when it comes to +/- velocity, it can refer to both direction and speed. Velocity is influenced by displacement and its sign, as seen in the formula. The same applies to acceleration. It is important to note that a negative acceleration does not always mean the object is slowing down, but simply that the acceleration is in the negative direction.
  • #1
MIA6
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I think when we talk about negative or positive of a displacement, we mean that the direction of this displacement which is either going downward or upward. But my question is how about when it says +/-velocity. Does it mean the direction or it means it speeds up or slows down? I think velocity is influenced by displacement according to the formula? so it must be influenced by the sign (+/-) of a displacement. Same happens to acceleration? +/- a. How can i know they mean the direction or speeds.

Thanks a lot.
 
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  • #2
The sign of a velocity is dependent on it's direction. A negative velocity means that the object is moving opposite to the direction we call positive. A negative acceleration also follows the same argument. Be careful with acceleration. A negative acceleration does not necessarily mean that an object is slowing down. All it means is that the acceleration points in the negative direction.

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  • #3
yes, it helps. thank you.
 

FAQ: Negative or positive of a displacement and velocity

1. What is displacement?

Displacement is the change in position of an object from its initial position to its final position. It is a vector quantity that takes into account both magnitude (how far an object has moved) and direction.

2. How do you determine the sign of a displacement?

The sign of a displacement depends on the direction of motion. If an object moves in a positive direction (such as to the right or upwards), the displacement will be positive. If an object moves in a negative direction (such as to the left or downwards), the displacement will be negative.

3. What does a positive velocity indicate?

A positive velocity indicates that an object is moving in the positive direction (usually denoted as the x-axis to the right or the y-axis upwards). This means that the object is increasing in position over time.

4. How is velocity related to displacement?

Velocity is the rate of change of displacement over time. This means that velocity takes into account both the direction and magnitude of an object's motion. A positive velocity indicates that the object is moving in a positive direction and increasing in position, while a negative velocity indicates the object is moving in a negative direction and decreasing in position.

5. Can displacement and velocity be negative at the same time?

Yes, displacement and velocity can both be negative at the same time. This would occur when an object is moving in a negative direction (such as to the left or downwards) and decreasing in position. In this case, the displacement would be negative and the velocity would also be negative, indicating that the object is moving in the negative direction at a decreasing rate.

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