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Can a speed of a body be negative?

Updated: 12/18/2022
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12y ago

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The 'speed' of a body cannot be negative.

But if you are stating the 'velocity' then it can be negative. Negative velocity means

it is going opposite to the direction that you decided to call the positive direction.

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12y ago
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12y ago

No. "Speed" is a scalar quantity, without sign or direction.

But "velocity" can, if the object is moving opposite to the direction

that you defined as the positive direction.

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Q: Can a speed of a body be negative?
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Can a body have negative speedwhy?

No. The speed is the length of the velocity vector, and that is always zero or positive.


Can the speed of body be negative?

The problem here is the conflating of the term "speed" with "velocity". Velocity is a vector - it has both intensity and direction. Velocity can be negative. Speed really only has magnitude, so it is normally only positive; since there is no direction associated you can't define a meaning for negative speed (unless you decide to define it as synonymous with velocity) When a body is thrown in upward direction and upward motion is defined as positive velocity, its velocity decreases with time and at highest point speed and velocity become zero. When the body falls downward its speed i increases until hit the ground but since it is moving in the opposite of the direction that was defined as "positive", its velocity is negative.


Is it possible to travel at a negitave speed?

Negative speed isn't possible, but negative velocity is.


Can the speed of the particle ever be negative if so give an example if not explian why?

see speed cannot de negative se speed = distance / time and neithr distance nor time can be negative they r always positive so speed cannot be negative but velocity can be negative


Why is retardation called negative acceleration?

retardation is nothing but the decrease in speed. so if the increase in speed can be taken as positive then for sure decrease in speed can be taken as negative acceleration.


How can you recognise body getting into acceleration?

a body is accelerating if it is speeding up faster and faster. Acceleration is the change in velocity. or the change in speed. Slowing down is also acceleration but it is negative acceleration or de acceleration.


What is negative speed in science?

Speed in science means vector (direction and velocity). Any force which lessens the vector can be considered negative speed. A spacecraft's retro rockets are a good example.


What does a line with a negative slope indicate on a speed-time graph?

Negative slope on a speed/time graph indicates decreasing speed. (Some call it "deceleration", although I wish they wouldn't.)


Why can velocity be negative but nonzero speed is always positive?

speed is a scalar quantity with magnitude only but no direction; velocity is a vector with both magnitude (speed) AND direction, which could be positive or negative


What happens to acceleration when speed decreases on a speed time graph?

Acceleration is negative.


When is a body consider with constant speed?

when a body move with uniform speed


Can speed be negative?

Yes in a form. It can not be literaly -20mph but in deceleration it is. when you slow down a car to a stop that is negative volocity. and volacity is speed+direction. ex: 30mph east. so if your travaling 20mph west then slow to a stop it changes to -20mph west. (until you start going east) but because volacity is a messure of speed then yes it is possible. but not like when approching the speed of light when time slows down, if you go slower than it by so much then it speeds up. (because the speed cant be that form and has to be in directiog)