The velocity v(t) of an object is the sinusoidal function pictured below. The object has zero acceleration at what instants?

Question

nathanjhw · Answer

attachment

nathanjhw · Answer

@nincompoop

loser66 · Answer

At the maximum/ minimum points on the graph

noelgreco · Answer

Remember, acceleration is the derivative of velocity so you're looking for places where the tangent to the graph has a slope of zero.

nathanjhw · Answer

and where is that?

nathanjhw · Answer

@NoelGreco

nathanjhw · Answer

I believe the answer is  t = 1, t = 3, t = 5, etc. Is that correct?

loser66 · Answer

yup

nathanjhw · Answer

Alright thank you! Now I need to know:

The object is moving in a negative direction.
       The object is moving back and forth.
       The object is moving in a positive direction.
       We can't tell anything from the velocity alone.
       None of these

nathanjhw · Answer

I believe it is moving back and forth. Is that correct?

noelgreco · Answer

Well, the velocity is always positive (in the same direction) but gets higher and lower.  The object only changes direction when the velocity goes thru v(t)=0