Imagine a ball falling from above and landing in a bush and by that being slowed with a constant acceleration a, over a distance of s=50cm. Find a and determine wether the acceleration under the "slowing/braking" of the ball is directed upwards or downwards. I did calculate a and got a positive number. What is the direction of the acceleration when the ball is slowing?

Question

anonymous · Answer

The ball is slowing down. If it was accelerating downwards, it would be speeding up. Ergo, the acceleration is directed upwards.