What happens when an object is said to be decelerating?

When an object is described as decelerating, it means that the object's speed is decreasing over time. Deceleration refers specifically to a negative acceleration, where the velocity of the object is reducing rather than increasing.

In practical terms, this can be observed when a car slows down while approaching a stop sign or when a ball thrown upward begins to slow down due to the force of gravity acting against its motion. When an object experiences deceleration, its rate of motion diminishes, which indicates a reduction in speed until possibly coming to a complete stop or even reversing direction if the slowing continues.

Understanding deceleration is crucial in physics as it demonstrates the effects of forces acting on objects and the concept of acceleration in both positive and negative terms.