+128 votes
in Classical Mechanics by
edited by

Your answer

Your name to display (optional):
Privacy: Your email address will only be used for sending these notifications.
+51 votes
by

No, it is not possible for an object on Earth to have zero acceleration and a non-zero velocity. According to Newton's laws of motion, when the net force acting on an object is zero, the object will either be at rest or move with a constant velocity in a straight line.

Acceleration is defined as the rate of change of velocity over time. If an object has zero acceleration, it means that its velocity is not changing. In other words, it is either at rest (with zero velocity) or moving at a constant velocity in a straight line.

If an object has a non-zero velocity and zero acceleration, it will continue moving in a straight line at that constant velocity indefinitely. This scenario occurs when the net force acting on the object is precisely balanced, resulting in no acceleration. Such situations can be observed, for example, when a car is cruising at a constant speed on a straight and level road, or when a satellite orbits the Earth at a constant speed without any significant gravitational or atmospheric disturbances.

Therefore, an object on Earth cannot have zero acceleration and a non-zero velocity simultaneously.

Welcome to Physicsgurus Q&A, where you can ask questions and receive answers from other members of the community.
...