Re: The sign of g

[Robert Cohen <Robert.Cohen@PO-BOX.ESU.EDU>]

> I usually say something like this:
>
> "We will learn later that an acceleration is always due
> to a net force acting on an object. Keep this in mind. In
> this case the force of gravity is causing g; it is directed
> down. If you decide to make 'up' positive then the
> 'down' must be negative, and vice versa."

Another good reason to do forces before kinematics.

____________________________________________
Robert Cohen; rcohen@po-box.esu.edu; 570-422-3428; http://www.esu.edu/~bbq
Physics, East Stroudsburg Univ., E. Stroudsburg, PA 18301