If by "negative acceleration" you mean slowing down, then it is
incorrect usage. (This is often what people mean by deceleration and is
confusing at best; and incorrect at worst.)
If by negative acceleration you mean an acceleration vector pointing in
the negative direction (I'm assuming one dimensional motion here). Then
it is correct usage.
___________________
Joel Rauber
Department of Physics, SDSU
Brookings, SD 57007
Joel.Rauber@sdstate.edu
605.688.4293
| -----Original Message-----
| From: phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu
| [mailto:phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu] On Behalf
| Of pschoch@nac.net
| Sent: Tuesday, September 09, 2008 9:03 AM
| To: Forum for Physics Educators
| Subject: [Phys-l] Deceleration or Negative Acceleration
|
| I instituted the use of "Reading Questions" in my classes
| this year, and I am getting some of the most interesting
| questions this semester from my students.
|
| This is one that I've not run into before... A student has
| asked which is proper terminology: "Negative Acceleration"
| or "Deceleration".
|
| Of the textbooks on my shelf, about half are for the first
| and the other half seem to use both interchangeably.
| Interestingly, those that say "Negative Acceleration" is the
| proper term are all of a more recent vintage.
|
| Is one or the other really more used/acceptable?
|
| Thanks,
| Peter
|
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