Re: [Phys-l] Deceleration or Negative Acceleration

[Joseph Bellina <jbellina@saintmarys.edu>]

I think there may be another issue here.  Some motion variables are  
scalars, like distance and speed, others are vectors like  
displacement and velocity.  Acceleration is ambiguous, which can be a  
problem.  Perhaps the word deceleration suggests a scalar concept,  
whereas negative acceleration is the vector concept.

joe

Joseph J. Bellina, Jr. Ph.D.
Professor of Physics
Saint Mary's College
Notre Dame, IN 46556

On Sep 9, 2008, at 10:02 AM, pschoch@nac.net wrote:

> 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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