Question

An object has a net force. The net force points in the south west direciton. Knowing this, what can you can you conclude about the accleration, and velocity of the object

Answer 1

Answer:

1) The acceleration is in the SW direction.

2) It is not possible to make a conclusion regarding the direction of the velocity.

Explanation:

1)

• According Newton's 2nd Law, the acceleration is directly proportional to the net force applied, and has the same direction than it.

• Since the net force points in the SW direction, so does  the acceleration.

2)

• By definition, acceleration is the rate of change of the velocity with respect to time.
• Since acceleration is a vector, it can represent a change in  the magnitude of the velocity (if it speeds up or if it is slows down), along the same direction (NW or SW in this case), and/or a change in the direction, as in the circular movement case, in which acceleration and speed are perpendicular each other.
• So, with the information that we have, we can't say in which direction the velocity points.