Determine the signs (positive or negative) of the position, velocity, and acceleration for the particle in Figure Q1.6.
Solution:
The particle position is to the left of zero on the x-axis, so its position is negative. The particle is moving to the right, so its velocity is positive. The particle’s speed is increasing as it moves to the right, so its acceleration vector points in the same direction as its velocity vector (i.e., to the right). Thus, the acceleration is also positive.
| Position | Negative |
| Velocity | Positive |
| Acceleration | Positive |
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