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It means that the object was accelerating or decelerating at least part of the time.

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12y ago
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12y ago

-- If the distance-time graph is a straight line, then the magnitude of acceleration is zero.

-- If the magnitude of acceleration is not zero, then the distance-time graph is curved.

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Q: Suppose you plot the distance traveled by an object at various times and you discover that the graph is not a straight line what does this indicate about the object acceleration?
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Why does a curve on a distance-time graph indicate acceleration?

The slope of a distance time graph is a measure of the rate of change in the distance of the object from a fixed reference point along the radial direction. If there were no acceleration in that direction then the radial velocity would be the same so that the graph would be a straight line. However, a curve indicates not only the the distance is changing with time, but that the rate of change is also changing. That is, the radial velocity is changing and that is indicative of radial acceleration.The word "radial" appear many times in the above paragraph. This is to emphasise that distance time graphs look only at the motion of an object in the direction towards or away from the reference point. Any motion is a transverse direction is ignored. Thus, a line with a constant gradient (slope) does not indicate that there is no acceleration but that any acceleration is in the direction at right angles to the reference direction.


What can you say about the motion of an object whose distance time graph is a straight line parallel to time axis?

The object is stationary as its velocity is zero. The velocity of an object is the gradient of its distance-time graph and as the graph is a horizontal straight line, its gradient is zero. The object is stationary also as its distance from the time axis is not increasing.


What is the acceleration towards the inside of a curved path?

"Acceleration" does not mean "speeding up". Acceleration means any changein the speed or direction of motion. An object with no acceleration moves at aconstant speed in a straight line. If its path is not straight, then the directionof its motion changes, which fits the definition of acceleration.


What is the acceleration of an object that travels in a straight line at a constant speed?

The acceleration is zero in this case.


What happens to a ball thrown straight down from a bridge would have acceleration of?

After being released, a ball thrown straight down from a bridge would have an acceleration of

Related questions

When the acceleration is not in a straight line on a graph what does this indicate?

That the force that causes the acceleration is not constant.


What kind of line of a distance graph indicates that the object is accelerating?

Any curved line will indicate a change in acceleration. Straight lines with slope indicate a steady velocity and straight lines with zero slope indicate a lack of motion.If the X axis (left to right) is for time and the Y axis (up and down) is for speed, it would curve up.


Does distance affect the acceleration of an object moving in a straight line?

The only thing that causes or influences acceleration of an object is force.


What does a horizontal line on a velocity time graph show for acceleration?

Any curved line will indicate a change in acceleration. Straight lines with slope indicate a steady velocity and straight lines with zero slope indicate a lack of motion.If the X axis (left to right) is for time and the Y axis (up and down) is for speed, it would curve up.


Why does a curve on a distance-time graph indicate acceleration?

The slope of a distance time graph is a measure of the rate of change in the distance of the object from a fixed reference point along the radial direction. If there were no acceleration in that direction then the radial velocity would be the same so that the graph would be a straight line. However, a curve indicates not only the the distance is changing with time, but that the rate of change is also changing. That is, the radial velocity is changing and that is indicative of radial acceleration.The word "radial" appear many times in the above paragraph. This is to emphasise that distance time graphs look only at the motion of an object in the direction towards or away from the reference point. Any motion is a transverse direction is ignored. Thus, a line with a constant gradient (slope) does not indicate that there is no acceleration but that any acceleration is in the direction at right angles to the reference direction.


What does a straight line mean in a distance time graph?

Constant speed. Zero acceleration.


When motion of an object is shown by a straight line on a distance-time graph with distance on the y-axis the slope of the line is?

The constant acceleration


Accelerating can be seen on a distance versus time graph true or false?

Indirectly, yes. If the graph is a straight line there is no acceleration, if the graph is not linear there is acceleration.


What does a steep straight line sloping upwards on a distance time graph indicate?

It means that as time goes on, the distance increases quickly.


To find the acceleration of an object moving in a straight line you must calculate the charge in distance during unit of time?

You calculate the charge in velocity, not in distance.


What can you say about the motion of a body if its distance-time graph is a straight line?

It is moving at a constant speed with no acceleration nor decceleration


What is the equation to find acceleration of an object moving in a straight line?

It is the second derivative of its distance from a fixed point on the line, with respect to time. There is nothing in the question which entitles you to assume that the acceleration is uniform.