What type of acceleration occurs when an object's speed decreases over time?

What type of acceleration occurs when an object's speed decreases over time?

• A. Negative acceleration
• B. Positive acceleration
• C. Uniform acceleration
• D. Instantaneous acceleration

Answer: (A)

When an object's speed decreases over time, it is experiencing negative acceleration, often referred to as deceleration. This means that the object's velocity is reducing, indicating that the acceleration vector is in the opposite direction to the velocity vector. Negative acceleration occurs when either the magnitude of the object's velocity is decreasing or the object is moving in the opposite direction compared to a defined positive direction. For instance, if a car applies brakes while moving forward, it slows down due to negative acceleration acting against its forward velocity. In contrast, positive acceleration refers to an increase in speed, while uniform acceleration indicates a constant acceleration over time, regardless of whether it is positive or negative. Instantaneous acceleration describes the acceleration of an object at a specific moment in time, without directly indicating whether it is increasing or decreasing speed. Thus, the key characteristic of negative acceleration is that it consistently results in a decrease in speed over time, which aligns perfectly with the situation described in the question.

When an object's speed decreases over time, it is experiencing negative acceleration, often referred to as deceleration. This means that the object's velocity is reducing, indicating that the acceleration vector is in the opposite direction to the velocity vector.

Negative acceleration occurs when either the magnitude of the object's velocity is decreasing or the object is moving in the opposite direction compared to a defined positive direction. For instance, if a car applies brakes while moving forward, it slows down due to negative acceleration acting against its forward velocity.

In contrast, positive acceleration refers to an increase in speed, while uniform acceleration indicates a constant acceleration over time, regardless of whether it is positive or negative. Instantaneous acceleration describes the acceleration of an object at a specific moment in time, without directly indicating whether it is increasing or decreasing speed. Thus, the key characteristic of negative acceleration is that it consistently results in a decrease in speed over time, which aligns perfectly with the situation described in the question.