Question detail

If an object experiences a negative acceleration of -3 m/s², what does this mean?

Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.

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At a glance

MCQ

Type

practice

Style

Topic

Forces and motion

Question

A. The object is accelerating forward.
B. The object is decelerating.
C. The object is at rest.
D. The object is accelerating backward.

Answer

The object is decelerating.

Explanation

A negative acceleration indicates that the object is slowing down, hence it is decelerating.

Common mistake

Misunderstanding Deceleration

Students often confuse negative acceleration with a decrease in speed only, without considering the direction of motion.

Emphasize that negative acceleration (deceleration) indicates a decrease in velocity in the chosen direction, and clarify that it can occur even if the object is moving forward.

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