Question map
Which one of the following statements is not correct?
Explanation
In kinematics, the relationship between velocity and acceleration is defined by the rate of change. Statement 1 is correct because when velocity and acceleration have opposite signs, the acceleration acts against the motion, causing the object to slow down. Statement 3 is correct because if velocity is zero for a finite time interval, its derivative (acceleration) must also be zero throughout that interval. Statement 4 is correct because if position (x) and velocity (v) have opposite signs (e.g., positive position but negative velocity), the object is moving back toward the origin. However, statement 2 is incorrect. An object can have zero instantaneous velocity while possessing non-zero acceleration. A classic example is a ball thrown vertically upward; at its peak, the velocity is momentarily zero, but the acceleration due to gravity remains constant at 9.8 m/s².