Does taking either up or down as positive change the answer in mechanics? (1 Viewer)

[oompaman]

Hi,

When doing a mechanics question e.g. where a particle is falling, Would taking either up as positive or down as positive change the answer because you will be using different limits?

I know the equation you get for acceleration would be the same but would the equation for velocity or displacement or time be different cause you can take the limit as either 0 to H or H to 0 giving different solutions?


Thanks

 

[seanieg89]

If you do it correctly then no. Similarly, when you analyse banked tracks and other higher dimensional systems you can choose whatever coordinate axes you like. (Well any coordinate axes that are inertial of course.)