Which situation describes a negative acceleration?
a a swimmer moving at a constant velocity
b a runner slowing down at the end of a race
c a diver jumping off a diving board and falling to the swimming pool below
d a bicycle increasing it velocity as the rider pedals harder
b a runner slowing down at the end of a race
The situation that describes negative acceleration is option b: a runner slowing down at the end of a race. Negative acceleration refers to a decrease in velocity over time, or deceleration. In this case, the runner is slowing down, resulting in a negative acceleration.
The situation that describes a negative acceleration is option b: a runner slowing down at the end of a race.
Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity. When an object slows down, its velocity decreases, resulting in a negative acceleration. In this case, the runner is initially moving at a certain velocity during the race, but as they slow down towards the end, their velocity decreases, indicating a negative acceleration.
To determine which situation represents negative acceleration, you need to understand the concept of acceleration and analyze the changes in velocity of the objects involved. If an object is slowing down, its velocity is decreasing, indicating a negative acceleration. On the other hand, if an object is speeding up, its velocity is increasing, representing a positive acceleration.