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A ball is thrown straight up into the air. At its highest point, what is true of its velocity and its acceleration?
AThe velocity is zero, the acceleration is not
BBoth the velocity and the acceleration are zero
CThe acceleration is zero, the velocity is not
DBoth the velocity and the acceleration change
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. The velocity is zero, the acceleration is not
1. On the way up the ball slows down, and it stops for an instant at the top of the flight.
2. That instant of zero velocity is what marks the maximum height.
3. Gravity keeps pulling downwards the whole time, so the acceleration never becomes zero.
4. At the maximum height the velocity is zero while the acceleration still has its full downward value.
_Source: Siyavula Physical Sciences Grade 12 (Everything Science, CC BY 4.0), Chapter 3: Vertical projectile motion in one dimension_
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