Final answer:
The acceleration of an object with an instantaneous velocity of zero can be zero(option A) , positive (optionB) , or negative (option C) , as it depends on the change in velocity over time, not the instantaneous value.
Step-by-step explanation:
When considering the case of an object with an instantaneous velocity of zero, its acceleration is not necessarily zero. Acceleration is defined as the rate at which an object's velocity changes over time. Thus, even if an object's instantaneous velocity is zero, it might still be accelerating, decelerating, or maintaining a constant velocity.
For instance, at the peak of a ball thrown upwards, its instantaneous velocity is zero, but it’s experiencing a negative acceleration due to gravity. Similarly, a car that comes to a temporary stop at a red light and then starts moving when the light turns green has zero velocity at the instant it stops, but its acceleration is positive as it starts to move.
Therefore, the correct answer is that if the instantaneous velocity of an object is zero, its acceleration can be zero, positive, or negative—it is not defined solely by the instantaneous velocity being zero.