Negative work can be done
A) by friction on the tires while a car is accelerating without skidding.
B) by a spring at the bottom of an elevator shaft when it stops a falling elevator.
C) by a hand catching a ball.
D) by all of the above.
E) only by (b) and (c) above.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Option (a) describes friction on the tires while a car is accelerating without skidding. This would result in positive work being done by the frictional force, as the force is in the same direction as the displacement of the car. 
Option (b) describes a spring at the bottom of an elevator shaft that stops a falling elevator. In this case, the spring would initially be compressed due to the motion of the elevator, and as it comes to a stop, the force exerted by the spring would be in the opposite direction to the motion of the elevator. This would result in negative work being done by the spring. 
Option (c) describes a hand catching a ball. In this case, as the hand catches the ball, the hand must exert a force on the ball in the opposite direction to its motion, in order to bring it to a stop. This would result in negative work being done by the hand. 
Therefore, only options (b) and (c) describe situations where negative work is done.

Negative Work Can Be Done