question_answer 17)

Fig. 3.88 shows the x-t plot of one-dimensional motion of a particle. Is it correct to say from the graph that the particle moves in a straight line for t < 0 and on a parabolic path for t > 0 ? If not, suggest a suitable physical context for this graph.    

Answer:

No, it is wrong to say that the particle moves in a straight line for t < 0 and on a parabolic path for t > 0, because a position-time (x-t) graph does not represent the trajectory of a moving particle. This graph can represent the motion of a freely falling particle dropped from a tower when we take its initial position as x = 0, at t = 0.