Basic kinematics variables: The figure shows the velocity of a particle as it travels along the x-axis. What is the direction of the acceleration at t = 0.5 s?
A) in the +x direction
B) in the -x direction
C) The acceleration is zero.

Question

Basic kinematics variables: The figure shows the velocity of a particle as it travels along the x-axis. What is the direction of the acceleration at t = 0.5 s? 
A) in the +x direction 
B) in the -x direction 
C) The acceleration is zero.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

At t = 0.5 s, the velocity is decreasing as it moves in the negative x-direction. The acceleration is in the direction of the net force acting on the particle, which, in this case, is in the negative x-direction, so the answer is (B) in the -x direction.

Basic Kinematics Variables: the Figure Shows the Velocity of a Particle