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In a velocity-time graph with two curved sections, one resembling a u and the other an n, what does each section indicate about acceleration?

A) Both are positively accelerating.
B) Both are negatively accelerating.
C) The u-shaped section is positively accelerating, and the n-shaped section is negatively accelerating.
D) The u-shaped section is negatively accelerating, and the n-shaped section is positively accelerating.

1 Answer

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Final answer:

On a velocity-time graph, a u-shaped curve indicates positive acceleration, and an n-shaped curve indicates negative acceleration. Therefore, the answer is C) The u-shaped section is positively accelerating, and the n-shaped section is negatively accelerating.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a velocity-time graph, the shape of the curve can tell us a lot about the object's acceleration. The u-shaped section of the graph would typically indicate a section where velocity is increasing over time, therefore the object is experiencing positive acceleration. On the other hand, an n-shaped section implies that the velocity is decreasing over time, which equates to negative acceleration.

From this understanding, the correct answer to the question is C) The u-shaped section is positively accelerating, and the n-shaped section is negatively accelerating. This is because acceleration is defined by the change in velocity over time and is represented by the slope of a velocity-time graph. A positive slope indicates a positive acceleration, while a negative slope indicates a negative acceleration.

User Dave Schweisguth
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