Suppose that a car traveling to the west (-x direction) begins to slow down as it approaches a traffic light. Make a statement concerning its acceleration. a) The car is decelerating and its acceleration is positive. b) The car is decelerating, and its acceleration is negative. c) The acceleration is zero. d) A statement cannot be made using the information given.

Question

Physics

Walker Collins

3 July, 20:11

Suppose that a car traveling to the west (-x direction) begins to slow down as it approaches a traffic light. Make a statement concerning its acceleration. a) The car is decelerating and its acceleration is positive. b) The car is decelerating, and its acceleration is negative. c) The acceleration is zero. d) A statement cannot be made using the information given.

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Answers (1)

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Kenyon Cervantes · Answer 1

The car is decelerating and its acceleration is negative.

Explanation:

First thing to consider. The car traveling direction is not important to answer the question.

Second, there are two affirmations on each sentence. So, lets take definitions:

Deceleration: Reducing the acceleration, from one value to another. No matter if the acceleration for the moment is positive or negative.

Acceleration negative: the driver is applying a force to make speed=0, the sign of this force must negative in order for the car to stop, other way it will go faster. Acceleration is the change rate of speed, if the speed is going down, the total acceleration until cars stops must be negative.