When you toss a coin straight up, it moves upward, turns around, and drops. During this time the acceleration of the coin is
A)upward and constant.
B)downward and constant.
C)first decreasing, then increasing.
D)zero throughout its up and down motion.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When a coin is tossed straight up in the air, its initial velocity is upwards, but as soon as it leaves the hand, it starts losing velocity due to the gravitational pull of the earth. At the highest point, the velocity of the coin becomes zero momentarily, and then it starts to come down under the force of gravity. During the entire motion, the acceleration of the coin is directed downwards and remains constant, i.e. 9.8 m/s². Therefore, option B is the correct answer.

When You Toss a Coin Straight Up, It Moves Upward