Question

The position-time graph below represents the motion of a hummingbird as it moves horizontally through the air. Which of the following tables best lists on the graph at the positions and times where the hummingbird's speed is the greatest and the magnitude of its acceleration is the greatest?

(A) Greatest speed 1, Greatest Acceleration 3
(B) Greatest speed 3, Greatest Acceleration 2
(C) Greatest speed 2, Greatest Acceleration 2
(D) Greatest speed 3, Greatest Acceleration 3
(E) Greatest speed 5, Greatest Acceleration 4

Answer 1

We should know that velocity is defined as the rate change of displacement per unit time. Speed in a specific direction is also known as velocity. Velocity is equal to displacement divided by time. Speed, being a scalar quantity, is the rate at which an object covers distance. The average speed is the distance which is a scalar quantity per time ratio. On the other hand, velocity is a vector quantity; it is direction-aware. An object which moves in the negative direction has a negative velocity. If the object is slowing down then its acceleration vector is directed in the opposite direction as its motion in this case. Based on this we have to solve this question.

Complete step by step answer
We can say that the velocity of hummingbird at an instant of time is given by $\mathrm{v}=$ $\dfrac{\mathrm{dx}}{\mathrm{dt}}=$ Slope of curve
Hence the speed of hummingbird at an instant is $\left|\dfrac{\mathrm{dx}}{\mathrm{dt}}\right|=$ Magnitude of slope of curve.
The magnitude of slope is greatest at point 3.
Acceleration is the rate of change of speed, or slope here, which is greatest at point 2.

So, the correct option is option A.

Note: We should know that if an object's speed or velocity is increasing at a constant rate then we say it has uniform acceleration. The rate of acceleration is constant. If a car speeds up then slows down then speeds up it doesn't have uniform acceleration. The instantaneous acceleration, or simply acceleration, is defined as the limit of the average acceleration when the interval of time considered approaches 0. It is also defined in a similar manner as the derivative of velocity with respect to time. If an object begins acceleration from rest or a standstill, its initial time is 0. If we get a negative value for acceleration, it means the object is slowing down. The acceleration of an object is its change in velocity over an increment of time. This can mean a change in the object's speed or direction. Average acceleration is the change of velocity over a period of time. Constant or uniform acceleration is when the velocity changes the same amount in every equal time period.