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Yes. For example, a ball thrown vertically in the air has a positive velocity (upwards) but a negative acceleration due to gravity (downwards at ~9.81 m/s^2), until it begins to move downwards.

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17y ago
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AnswerBot

6mo ago

Yes, the velocity of an object can be in a different direction than its acceleration. For example, when an object is thrown upwards, its velocity is upwards while the acceleration due to gravity is downwards. This can result in the object moving upwards while slowing down due to the opposing directions of velocity and acceleration.

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12y ago

Yes. The sign on velocity denotes direction. The sign on acceleration determines if

the object is speeding up or slowing down. If the sign on acceleration matches the

velocity then the object is speeding up. If the sign is opposite then the object is

slowing down.

-- A car is slowing down for a red light.

Velocity is forward. Acceleration is backward.

They're 180 degrees different.

-- A ball is tossed upward.

Before it reaches the peak, velocity is upward, acceleration is downward.

They're 180 degrees different.

-- A satellite or a roulette ball is in a circular orbit.

Velocity is tangent to the circle. Acceleration is toward the center.

They're 90 degrees different.

-- A canonball is fired horizontally.

As it leaves the muzzle, its velocity is horizontal, the acceleration of gravity is vertical.

They're 90 degrees different.

The horizontal component of its velocity doesn't change, but the vertical component grows.

The resultant velocity vector points more down as time goes on.

The angle between velocity and acceleration (of gravity) continually shrinks,

starting at 90 degrees and decreasing until the ball lands somewhere.

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Q: Can velocity of an object be in different direction than the acceleration?
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Continue Learning about Physics

How are velocity and acceleration different?

Velocity is the rate of change of position of an object with respect to time, while acceleration is the rate of change of velocity of an object with respect to time. Velocity describes how fast an object is moving and in which direction, while acceleration describes how quickly the velocity of an object is changing, either in speed or direction.


How can acceleration affect velocity?

Acceleration is the rate at which velocity changes. If an object experiences acceleration in the same direction as its velocity, its speed will increase. If acceleration is in the opposite direction of velocity, the object will slow down. Changes in acceleration can also affect the direction of velocity, causing the object to change direction.


Can the velocity of object reverse direction when its acceleration is constant?

Yes, the velocity of an object can reverse direction even when its acceleration is constant. This can happen when the object is subjected to an acceleration in the opposite direction to its initial velocity, causing it to slow down and eventually reverse direction.


What happens when velocity changes?

When velocity changes, the speed and/or direction of an object's motion is altered. This can result in acceleration or deceleration, depending on the direction of the change in velocity. If the velocity increases, the object is accelerating; if the velocity decreases, the object is decelerating.


What is the relationship between accerleration and velocity?

Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity over time. When an object experiences acceleration, its velocity changes either in magnitude, direction, or both. If acceleration is positive, the object's velocity is increasing; if acceleration is negative, the object's velocity is decreasing.

Related questions

How are velocity and acceleration different?

Velocity is the rate of change of position of an object with respect to time, while acceleration is the rate of change of velocity of an object with respect to time. Velocity describes how fast an object is moving and in which direction, while acceleration describes how quickly the velocity of an object is changing, either in speed or direction.


How can acceleration affect velocity?

Acceleration is the rate at which velocity changes. If an object experiences acceleration in the same direction as its velocity, its speed will increase. If acceleration is in the opposite direction of velocity, the object will slow down. Changes in acceleration can also affect the direction of velocity, causing the object to change direction.


Can the velocity of object reverse direction when its acceleration is constant?

Yes, the velocity of an object can reverse direction even when its acceleration is constant. This can happen when the object is subjected to an acceleration in the opposite direction to its initial velocity, causing it to slow down and eventually reverse direction.


What happens when velocity changes?

When velocity changes, the speed and/or direction of an object's motion is altered. This can result in acceleration or deceleration, depending on the direction of the change in velocity. If the velocity increases, the object is accelerating; if the velocity decreases, the object is decelerating.


What is the relationship between accerleration and velocity?

Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity over time. When an object experiences acceleration, its velocity changes either in magnitude, direction, or both. If acceleration is positive, the object's velocity is increasing; if acceleration is negative, the object's velocity is decreasing.


How does the direction of acceleration affect the directions of motion?

The direction of acceleration affects the direction of motion by causing a change in velocity. If the acceleration is in the same direction as the velocity, the speed of the object increases. If the acceleration is opposite to the velocity, the speed decreases, and if the acceleration is perpendicular to the velocity, the object changes direction without changing speed.


How is direction of acceleration related to direction of momentum?

The direction of an object's acceleration is related to the direction of its momentum change. If an object's velocity and acceleration are in the same direction, then the object will speed up. If they are in opposite directions, then the object will slow down. If the acceleration is perpendicular to the velocity, then the object will change direction without changing speed.


How is speed velocity and acceleration alike?

Speed, velocity, and acceleration are all related to an object's motion. Speed is the rate of motion in a specific direction, velocity is the rate of motion in a specific direction with consideration of the object's displacement, and acceleration is the rate at which velocity changes. They all involve the concept of how quickly an object is moving, but each one provides different information about the object's motion.


What indicates the acceleration of an object?

The acceleration of an object is indicated by a change in its velocity over time. If an object is speeding up, slowing down, or changing direction, it is experiencing acceleration. Acceleration is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction.


What is the difference between acceleration and velocity?

Velocity is the rate at which an object changes its position, while acceleration is the rate at which the velocity of an object changes. In other words, velocity is the speed and direction of motion, whereas acceleration is the change in speed or direction of motion.


Can two directions of velocity of an object change when acceleration is constant?

An object can have only one velocity at any point in time. That velocity can have components in two (or more) directions.If acceleration is constant (but non-zero), then the velocity in any direction other than perpendicular to the direction of the acceleration must change.


What happens when velocity and acceleration are not in the same direction?

When velocity and acceleration are not in the same direction, the object's speed may be changing. If the acceleration and velocity are in opposite directions, the object will slow down. If they are at right angles to each other, the object will change direction without changing speed.