On a position vs. time graph, which feature would represent motion in the negative direction over time?
a an upward-sloping line segment
b a vertical line segment
c a downward-sloping line segment
d a horizontal line segment
I would put C
c a downward-sloping line segment
Why did the position go downhill? It must have wanted to become a ski instructor in its free time!
c a downward-sloping line segment
To determine which feature on a position vs. time graph represents motion in the negative direction over time, we need to understand the interpretation of each feature.
a) An upward-sloping line segment on a position vs. time graph represents motion in the positive direction over time. This means that the position is increasing as time passes.
b) A vertical line segment on a position vs. time graph represents no motion at all. It indicates that the object is at a fixed position for a certain period of time.
c) A downward-sloping line segment on a position vs. time graph represents motion in the negative direction over time. This means that the position is decreasing as time passes, indicating motion towards lower values.
d) A horizontal line segment on a position vs. time graph represents no motion as well. It indicates that the object remains at a constant position over time.
Therefore, the correct answer is c) a downward-sloping line segment. This represents motion in the negative direction as the position decreases with time.