Question

when an object is dropped from the top of a tall cliff, your teacher tells you to use -10 m/s² for the approximate acceleration due to gravity. what sign should the displacement of the object have and why?
a the displacement should be positive, because it only moves in one direction.
b the displacement should be positive, because this choice would make calculations easier.
c the displacement should be negative, because the negative represent a downward direction.
d the displacement should be positive, because you can never have less than zero displacement

Explanation:

In physics (a subfield of Natural Science), when an object is dropped, the acceleration due to gravity is given as \(-10\,\text{m/s}^2\), indicating the downward direction is taken as negative. Displacement direction should match the sign convention. Option C states displacement is negative to represent downward, which aligns with the sign convention for acceleration here. Option A's reasoning is incorrect (direction sign depends on convention, not just one - way motion). Option B's "easier calculations" is not a valid physics - based reason. Option D's "never less than zero" is wrong as displacement can be negative based on direction.

Answer:

C. The displacement should be negative, because the negative represent a downward direction.