Final answer:
Yes, an object can have zero velocity at one instance if it is at rest or changing its motion direction. This is the case for objects at rest, at the peak of projectile motion, or during uniform circular motion when direction changes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Can an object at one instant of time have zero velocity? The answer is Yes, an object can have zero velocity at one instant of time. This could happen if the object is at rest or if it is changing the direction of its motion, such as at the peak of a projectile's path or the moment a thrown object changes its motion from up to down. In these cases, even if the object is accelerating, its instantaneous velocity can be zero.
For instance, an object in linear motion with constant velocity can have a moment where its velocity becomes zero, especially if it's changing direction. An object moving at a constant speed in uniform circular motion is constantly changing its velocity because of the direction change, and at certain points, its velocity in a specific direction can be zero.
In the case of projectile motion on level ground with an angle that's neither 0° nor 90°, the vertical component of velocity is zero at the peak of the trajectory, even though the object is experiencing constant acceleration due to gravity.
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