Acceleration Concepts Practice

You are traveling at a constant velocity of 45mph. What is your acceleration?

• 0

• 45

• Depends on time

• Not enough information

Answer explanation

When traveling at a constant velocity of 45 mph, your speed does not change, which means your acceleration is 0. Acceleration is defined as the rate of change of velocity, and here there is none.

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Which is more thrilling on a roller coaster, when it accelerates or when it travels at a constant velocity?

• Either since both can be felt

• Acceleration since it can be felt

• Constant velocity since it can be felt

Answer explanation

Acceleration is more thrilling on a roller coaster because it creates a change in speed that can be felt by riders, leading to a sense of excitement and adrenaline. Constant velocity does not provide this sensation.

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You and a friend are driving down route 17. You decrease your speed by 10mph. Your friend increases their speed by 10mph. Your speed change was faster than your friend's. Who had the greater acceleration?

• You both had equal accelerations since your speed changes were identical.

• Your friend had a greater acceleration since their speed increased.

• You had greater acceleration since you changed speeds faster.

Answer explanation

Acceleration is defined as the change in speed over time. You decreased your speed by 10mph, while your friend increased theirs by 10mph. Since you changed your speed faster, you had greater acceleration.

Is it possible to accelerate around a curve while traveling at a constant speed?

• No, you must change speed as you change direction.

• Yes, the change in direction will cause acceleration even at a constant speed.

• Depends on the time it takes to travel around the curve.

• Not enough information

Answer explanation

Yes, it is possible to accelerate around a curve at constant speed because acceleration is defined as a change in velocity, which includes changes in direction. Thus, even without changing speed, the change in direction constitutes acceleration.

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Which of the following is/are true?

1. I. If an object’s acceleration is constant, then it must move in a straight line.

2. II. If an object’s acceleration is zero, then its speed must remain constant.

3. III. If an object’s speed remains constant, then its acceleration must be zero. 

• I and II

• I and III

• II only

• II and III

Answer explanation

Statement II is true: if acceleration is zero, speed remains constant. Statement I is false; constant acceleration can occur in curved paths. Statement III is also true, but it doesn't apply to all cases of constant speed.

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How would you walk across the room so that your velocity was negative and your acceleration was positive?

• Decrease your speed

• Increase your speed

• Maintain a steady speed

Answer explanation

To have negative velocity and positive acceleration, you must be moving in the opposite direction while speeding up. Thus, increasing your speed in the negative direction achieves this condition.

Explain how an object could still be moving with zero acceleration.

• The object would increase in velocity

• The object would decrease in velocity

• The object would maintain a steady velocity

• It is not possible to still be moving with zero acceleration

Answer explanation

An object can be moving with zero acceleration if it maintains a steady velocity. This means its speed and direction remain constant, resulting in no change in motion, which is consistent with zero acceleration.

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Which of the ticker tapes represents zero acceleration while moving to the right in the positive direction?

Each dot represents 1 second and the separation of the dots represents the displacement.

• 1

• 2

• 3

Answer explanation

Ticker tape 2 shows equal spacing between dots, indicating constant velocity and zero acceleration while moving to the right. Ticker tapes 1 and 3 show varying distances, indicating acceleration.

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Which of the ticker tapes represents a negative acceleration while moving to the right in the positive direction?

• Each dot represents 1 second and the separation of the dots represents the displacement.

• 1

• 2

• 3

Answer explanation

Ticker tape 3 shows decreasing separation between dots, indicating that the object is slowing down while moving in the positive direction, which represents negative acceleration.

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An object is moving to the left and its speed is decreasing. What can you say about its acceleration?

• Acceleration is to the left (negative direction)

• Acceleration is zero

• Acceleration is to the right (positive direction)

• Not enough information

Answer explanation

Since the object is moving to the left and slowing down, its acceleration must be in the opposite direction (to the right) to reduce its speed. Therefore, the correct answer is that acceleration is to the right (positive direction).

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