Speeding Up and Slowing Down Lab

(g) On the observed graphs, describe the slope as 

a) constant, increasing or decreasing

b) positive or negative
c) state what the slope represents

Graph #1
This graph is both decreasing at first, and then increasing. It is never constant though.  The graph starts positive, then finishes back in negative ground. The slope represents the car moving up the ramp then coming back down the ramp without ever coming to a complete stop.

Graph #2
This graph is constant from start to finish.  The graph is negative. The slope represents that the velocity starts high when the spring is released, then it comes to a stop at the top of the ramp.  The cart velocity returns to the initial velocity before it hits the bottom of the ramp again.

Graph #3
The graph is constant throughout, there are no changes in acceleration.  The acceleration is negative because gravity is always pushing the cart back to the ground.  This slope represents that even though the velocity is changing throughout the ramp, the acceleration never changes.  When an object is moving up, there is always a negative acceleration because of earth's gravity pull. If the acceleration wasn't negative, the object would never stop moving up.