Consider the following velocity and time graph : Which one of the following is the value of average acceleration from 8s to 12s?

Average acceleration is defined as the rate of change of velocity over a specific time interval. On a velocity-time graph, this value corresponds to the slope of the line connecting the two points in time. For the interval from 8s to 12s, the initial velocity (v1) at 8s is 8 m/s, and the final velocity (v2) at 12s is 4 m/s. Using the formula for average acceleration, a = (v2 - v1) / (t2 - t1), we calculate (4 m/s - 8 m/s) / (12s - 8s). This results in -4 m/s divided by 4s, which equals -1 m/s". The negative sign indicates a downward slope, representing deceleration or a decrease in velocity over time [1]. Therefore, the average acceleration is -1 m/s".

Sources

1. [1] Microeconomics (NCERT class XII 2025 ed.) > Chapter 2: Theory of Consumer Behaviour > EXAMPLE 2 > p. 22