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Yes it can be.When a body has its initial velocity greater than its final velocity, then the body can have negative acceleration since acc.=change in velocity/time

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Can acceleration be a negative number?

Yes, the scalar value of acceleration can be a negative number. Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity. If the speed of an object is reducing (it is slowing down), then the object is subject to a negative acceleration. An example is when you apply the brakes in a car. The brakes change the speed of the car from a higher value to a lower value, thus imposing a negative acceleration. Colloquially, people speak of deceleration, however the correct term is negative acceleration.


It is physically impossible for an object to have a negative acceleration and yet be speeding up?

Not yet possible, maybe later. Acceleration is the first derivative of the speed by definition. So this comes back to a mathematical question. When do we have a first derivative negative? The only possibility is that the function has a negative slope, meaning in the case of the object trajectory, that the object's speed is decreasing. If you could have objects decelerating while speeding up you should also think about accelerating objects winding down and steady objects wandering abound. As this was not easy to find conceptual representation for such situations, God just said to objects "thou will stop speeding up when you have a negative acceleration, capito?" <<>> The answer could be 'yes' if the body has a negative velocity as well as a negative acceleration (relative to a given system of coordinates). In that case the speed is increasing even though the acceleration is negative.


Two words for what happens when an objects velocity decreases?

negative acceleration


What happens to an objects speed if it travels with constant acceleration?

If an object travels with constant acceleration, its speed will change at a constant rate over time. The object's speed will increase if the acceleration is positive, decrease if it is negative, and remain constant if the acceleration is zero.


What happens to your speed if you have a negative acceleration do you speed up or slow down?

If you have a negative acceleration, you are slowing down. Acceleration is the rate of change of speed, so a negative acceleration means a decrease in speed.

Related Questions

Can acceleration be a negative number?

Yes, the scalar value of acceleration can be a negative number. Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity. If the speed of an object is reducing (it is slowing down), then the object is subject to a negative acceleration. An example is when you apply the brakes in a car. The brakes change the speed of the car from a higher value to a lower value, thus imposing a negative acceleration. Colloquially, people speak of deceleration, however the correct term is negative acceleration.


It is physically impossible for an object to have a negative acceleration and yet be speeding up?

Not yet possible, maybe later. Acceleration is the first derivative of the speed by definition. So this comes back to a mathematical question. When do we have a first derivative negative? The only possibility is that the function has a negative slope, meaning in the case of the object trajectory, that the object's speed is decreasing. If you could have objects decelerating while speeding up you should also think about accelerating objects winding down and steady objects wandering abound. As this was not easy to find conceptual representation for such situations, God just said to objects "thou will stop speeding up when you have a negative acceleration, capito?" <<>> The answer could be 'yes' if the body has a negative velocity as well as a negative acceleration (relative to a given system of coordinates). In that case the speed is increasing even though the acceleration is negative.


When velocity is negative and acceleration is positive what happens to an objects motion?

Its slowing down (but still moving).


Two words for what happens when an objects velocity decreases?

negative acceleration


Can a car have negative velocity and negative acceleration?

It cannot have negative velocity, it can have negative acceleration.


Can there be a positive acceleration and a negative acceleration?

Yes, acceleration can be positive and negative because acceleration is a vector. It has both direction and magnitude. The direction is what makes it positive or negative. Negative acceleration is usually called deceleration.


What is negative and acceleration?

Positive acceleration = speeding up. Negative acceleration = slowing down.


Which magnitude is brighter a negative number or a positive number?

A positive number is brighter than a negative number. Brightness in astronomy is measured in magnitudes, where smaller (negative) magnitudes represent brighter objects. Positive magnitudes are assigned to dimmer objects.


What happens to an objects speed if it travels with constant acceleration?

If an object travels with constant acceleration, its speed will change at a constant rate over time. The object's speed will increase if the acceleration is positive, decrease if it is negative, and remain constant if the acceleration is zero.


What happens to your speed if you have a negative acceleration do you speed up or slow down?

If you have a negative acceleration, you are slowing down. Acceleration is the rate of change of speed, so a negative acceleration means a decrease in speed.


The change in an object velocity?

The change in an object's velocity is determined by its acceleration. If the object's acceleration is positive, its velocity increases; if it is negative, the velocity decreases. The larger the acceleration, the quicker the change in velocity will be.


A plane taking off is a negative acceleration?

A plane landing is a negative acceleration - "negative" meaning it slows down.