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Mini-Quiz: Direction Convention in Gravity Equations

by Ron Kurtus (updated 9 February 2022)

Take this Mini-Quiz to check your understanding of the lesson material.

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1. Why isn't "up" considered positive as it is in the x-y coordinate system?

There is no such thing as upward or downward in the x-y coordinate system

Since the force of gravity is downward, it is more logical to have that direction as positive for gravity studies

Many people have wondered about that convention

2. From where is the displacement of a projected object measured?

Displacement is measured from the starting point

Displacement is always measured from the ground

Displacement varies according to distance traveled

3. If a ball is thrown upward, what sign is its velocity on the way down?

It is negative, since it started going upward

It is positive, since it is moving toward the ground

It depends whether the displacement is positive or negative

If you got all three correct, you are on your way to becoming a Champion in Physics. If you had problems, you had better look over the material again.

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Resources and references

Ron Kurtus' Credentials

Websites

Vectors and Direction - Physics Classroom

Gravity Resources

Books

(Notice: The School for Champions may earn commissions from book purchases)

Top-rated books on Simple Gravity Science

Top-rated books on Advanced Gravity Physics

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Students and researchers

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Where are you now?

School for Champions

Gravity topics

Mini-Quiz: Direction Convention in Gravity Equations

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Gravity and Gravitation

• Overview of Gravity and Gravitation
• Gravity Resources

Gravity topics

• Overview of the Force of Gravity

Preliminaries

• Using Vectors in Gravity Equations
• Gravity Direction Convention

Basics

• Equivalence Principle of Gravity
• -- Gravity Acceleration is Constant
• -- Gravity on Earth versus on Moon
• Mass, Weight and Gravity
• -- Confusion about Mass and Weight
• Gravity and Horizontal Motion

Derivations of equations

• Gravity Equation Derivations
• Velocity-Time Gravity Equations
• Displacement-Time Gravity Equations
• Displacement-Velocity Gravity Equations

Falling objects

• Equations for Falling Objects
• Velocity Equations for Falling Objects
• Displacement Equations for Falling Objects
• Time Equations for Falling Objects

Projected downward

• Objects Projected Downward
• Downward Velocity Equations
• Downward Displacement Equations
• Downward Time Equations

Projected upward

• Objects Projected Upward
• Upward Velocity Equations
• Upward Displacement Equations
• Upward Time Equations

Gravity and energy

• Overview of Energy from Gravity
• Energy of Falling Objects
• Energy of Objects Projected Downward
• Energy When Projected Upward

Gravity and work

• Work by Gravity
• Work Against Gravity

Effects of gravity

• On Sideways Motion
• On an Artillery Projectile
• On a Rocket Projectile

Gravity applications

• Gravity and Newton's Cannon
• Escape Velocity from Gravity
• Artificial Gravity in Spacecraft
• -- Artificial Gravity Equations
• Center of Gravity

Gravitation

• Gravitation topics
• Overview of Gravitation

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