1.

What
determines
acceleration?
Ans: The object is in the state of acceleration
if :
(a)it changes its speed which changes the
magnitude of velocity;
(b)if it changes its direction and
(c)when it shows changes in both.
 2. What does the
sign of acceleration
indicate?
Ans: In physics, the use of positive and
negative always has a physical meaning. It is
more than a mere mathematical symbol.
Physics often borrows from mathematics and
uses the (+) and (-) symbols as directional
adjectives.
 What does the sign
of acceleration
indicate?
Ans: A negative acceleration does NOT
imply that the object is slowing down. It
implies an acceleration that points in the
negative direction. In the same manner that a
positive acceleration does NOT imply that an
object is speeding up.
 What does the sign
of acceleration
indicate?
Ans: It is impossible to determine whether an
object is speeding up or slowing down by just
simply looking at the sign of the acceleration!
 What does the sign
of acceleration
indicate?
Ans: It is impossible to determine whether an
object is speeding up or slowing down by just
simply looking at the sign of the acceleration!
3. In terms of velocity, what
must be the condition for an
object to be considered
accelerating? decelerating?

Ans: If mV(f) > mV(i) there is acceleration. If

mV(f) < mV(i) there is deceleration
 4. In terms of velocity and
acceleration, what determines
speeding up? speeding down?

Ans: Speeding up or slowing down depends

on the relative signs of the acceleration and
velocity. If they are the same, the object is
speeding up, if they are different, the object
is slowing down.
Problem:
Solution:

(t) 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

v(t) 15 8 3 0 -1 0 3 8 15

a(t) -8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8

Accelerating: (3 < t < 4) and (5 <

t < 8)
Decelerating: (0 < t < 3) and (4 <
t < 5)