Question

which of the following statements is accurate? a) if an objects velocity remains constant, its acceleration must be increasing. b) if an object is said to be decelerating, its velocity must be increasing. c) if an objects velocity is changing, its experiencing either acceleration or deceleration. d) if an objects velocity decreases, then the object is accelerating.

Explanation:

• Analyze Option A: Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity. If velocity is constant, the rate of change (acceleration) is zero, not increasing. So A is incorrect.
• Analyze Option B: Deceleration means the velocity is decreasing (or the acceleration is in the opposite direction of velocity). So if an object is decelerating, its velocity is not increasing. B is incorrect.
• Analyze Option C: Acceleration is defined as the change in velocity over time. So any change in velocity (either in magnitude or direction) means the object is experiencing acceleration (which includes deceleration, a type of acceleration where velocity magnitude decreases). So C is correct.
• Analyze Option D: When velocity decreases, the object is decelerating (a form of acceleration with negative magnitude in the direction of velocity), but the statement's wording is a bit confusing, but more importantly, Option C is a more fundamental and accurate statement about velocity change and acceleration.

Answer:

C) If an object's velocity is changing, it's experiencing either acceleration or deceleration.