A graph with horizontal axis time (seconds) and vertical axis position (meters). An orange line runs straight upward from 0 second zero meters. A concave blue line runs upward from the same point.
Maia says that both lines on this position vs time graph show acceleration. Is she correct? Why or why not?
1 answer
No, she is not correct. Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity, which is the rate of change of position. The orange line shows a constant rate of change of position, which is a constant velocity, and therefore no acceleration. The blue line shows a changing rate of change of position, which is a changing velocity, and therefore acceleration.