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Well let's see. If you define sea-level as zero elevation, and the upward direction as positive, then a submarine that's in the process of rising to the surface has a negative position and positive velocity. If I spent a while at it, I guess I could think of about 17 other examples, and I'll bet you could too.

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9y ago
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9y ago

No. Velocity is the change in position over time. So if the velocity is negative, then the change in position must be negative - unless time is moving backwards.

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Q: How can there be a negative position but a positive velocity?
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Can momentum have a negative velocity?

No, momentum can not have a negative velocity. Velocity is the rate of motion of a body from one position to another position in a particular direction. Bodies traveling in opposite directions may appear to have a negative velocity in relationship to each other but any amount of velocity is positive.


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


Is retardation positive or negative acceleration?

Retardation or deceleration is negative acceleration. It is opposite to the direction of velocity.


How do you achieve negative velocity?

If you have a Displacement - time graph, the velocity at a certain point equals displacement over time, displacement is a vector quantity thus is affected by direction so when it has a negative value the velocity has a negative value. and if your still thinking about it, check out this thought: "negative velocity is positive velocity in the other direction"


Why two objects move in opposite direction one will have positive momentum and other negative momentum?

Quite simply, this means that momentum is a vector quantity; the direction is relevant. This is useful, for example, for calculations involving the conservation of momentum. Actually momentum is the product of velocity and mass, and velocity is also a vector quantity - thus, in this example, one object will have a positive velocity (more precisely: a positive component of the velocity along the x-axis, for example), the other, negative. Multiplying this velocity by the mass will also give a quantity which may be positive or negative (or rather, have positive or negative components).

Related questions

Can momentum have a negative velocity?

No, momentum can not have a negative velocity. Velocity is the rate of motion of a body from one position to another position in a particular direction. Bodies traveling in opposite directions may appear to have a negative velocity in relationship to each other but any amount of velocity is positive.


Can you have a negative position while having a positive velocity?

Certainly. For example, a pendulum at its left-most position.


Is the sum of a position and a negative number always position?

Not necessarily; a positive number plus a negative number will be a positive number if the positive number is greater. Example: 10 + (-6) = 4


What is the formula of position?

For positive velocity: p=vt(Position=velocity*time) The velocity will be positive.For negative velocity: p=p(0)+vt(Note: The "0" represents the position at time "0" which is also known as the y-intercept, which is the point where the line crosses the vertical axis. A different label, such as x could be used to represent the position.) The velocity will be negative in this formula.Example: Write the position equation for a person who starts 3 meters behind the reference point and walks with a constant velocity v=6 m/s in the positive direction.Answer: p=-3+6t


What is positive accelerations?

Positive Acceleration refers to the force acting on an object whose speed increases as it moves away from its original starting position. If the velocity is increasing along with time it is called positive acceleration, and if the velocity decreases it is negative acceleration.


Would you use a positive or negative number to represent the velocity of a descending hot-air balloon?

I don't think velocity can be a negative number... Use positive.


What is the formula for position with constant velocity?

Positive velocity: p=vt (position = velocity*time) Example: Write the position equation for a person who starts 3 meters behind the reference point and walks with a constant velocity v=6 m/s in the positive direction. Answer: p=-3+6t Example: What is the position of the person 5 seconds after the start of motion? Answer: p=-3+(6x5)=27 m. Negative velocity: p=p(0)+vt p(0) represents the position at time "0" which is also known as the y-intercept or the point where the line crosses the vertical axis. The velocity of the object in motion would be negative.


Can a car have negative velocity and positive acceleration at the same time if traveling on a highway?

Yes.If the car is backing up, but slowing down, then its velocity is in the negative direction, and its acceleration is in the positive direction.


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 is called negative accelarration?

Deceleration. Negative acceleration = Velocity is decreasing by time. Positive acceleration = Velocity is increasing by time. Zero acceleration = Velocity is the same by time.


Can a speed of a body be negative?

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.


How do you find the final velocity if the acceleration is negative?

It depends on what information you have. Also, velocity can be negative - it just means that the object is travelling in the direction opposite to the positive direction for the velocity vector.