Final answer:
An object with a negative acceleration of -3 m/s² is either slowing down if it was initially moving in a positive direction, coming to a stop, or accelerating in a negative direction.
Step-by-step explanation:
If an object has an acceleration of -3 m/s2, it means that the object's velocity is decreasing at a rate of 3 meters per second every second. This negative acceleration can occur in various scenarios. For example, if the object is moving in a positive direction, a negative acceleration implies that the object is slowing down. If the object is initially at rest and the negative acceleration is applied, the object will start to move in the negative direction, speeding up as time progresses.
Consider a situation where at a certain time t, say t = 3 s, the object has a velocity of 15 m/s. If a constant acceleration of -3 m/s2 acts upon it, the object will decelerate. After a certain period, the object's velocity will decrease, reaching 0 m/s at some point, and if the negative acceleration continues to act, the object will start moving in the opposite direction, with its velocity increasing negatively.
The negative acceleration is crucial in determining the motion of the object. This is evident when analyzing the object's displacement and velocity over time, especially when dealing with components along the x- and y-axes in two-dimensional motion.