A teacher gathered data during an unknown experiment. The class was asked to analyze the data, and to describe the motion of the object.

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Based on the information in the table shown above, how should the students most logically describe the object’s motion?

The object’s speed is decreasing from 2 s to 6 s.

The object is moving at a constant speed.

The object is at rest.

The object’s average speed is 0.125 m/s.

1 answer

The students should most logically describe the object's motion as: "The object's speed is decreasing from 2 s to 6 s." This is because the velocity (which includes the direction of motion) is changing during this time period, indicating a change in speed. The data shows that the object travels more distance in the first 2 seconds than it does in the next 4 seconds, which means it is slowing down. Therefore, the correct answer is the first option.