Final answer:
Releasing an object from rest implies that the initial velocity is zero. This is a key element in kinematic equations that are used to solve problems in physics involving motion.
Step-by-step explanation:
When an object is 'released from rest', it indicates that the initial velocity of the object is zero. This means that before any forces act upon the object to change its state of motion, it has no initial speed or kinetic energy in the direction of motion that is being considered. Therefore, the kinematic quantity that this phrase tells you the value of is C) Initial velocity.
The rate of change of velocity is called acceleration, which is a key concept in kinematics. To solve kinematics problems, you can use various kinematic equations that relate displacement, acceleration, initial velocity, and time. When an object starts from rest and then accelerates, its final velocity can be calculated using the kinematic equation Vf = Vi + at, where Vi is the initial velocity (zero when released from rest), a is acceleration, and t is the time for which the acceleration is applied.