When talking about velocity, what is significant about the sign (+ or -)?

Water at room temperature of 20.0°c is poured into an aluminum cylinder which has graduation markings etched on the inside. the reading in the graduations is 300.0 cc. the cylinder with the water in it is then immersed in a constant temperature bath at a temperature of 100°c. what is the reading for the level of water on the graduations of the cylinder after the water and the cylinder reach thermal equilibrium with the bath? the volume coefficient of expansion of water is 2.07 x 10^-4 k-1, and the linear coefficient of expansion of aluminum is 23.0 x 10^-6 k-1. a) 305.0 cc b) 304.0 cc c) 303.5 cc d) 303.3 cc e) 304.5 cc

Light from a sodium lamp passes through a diffraction grating that has 1000 slits per millimeter. the interference pattern is viewed on a screen 1.000 m behind the grating. the first (m = 1) two bright yellow fringes that are visible are 0.7288 m and 0.7300 m from the central maximum. what are the wavelengths of these two fringes?

Which of the following situations is impossible? a) an object has velocity directed east and acceleration directed east. b) an object has zero velocity but non-zero acceleration. c) an object has constant non-zero velocity and changing acceleration. d) an object has velocity directed east and acceleration directed west. e) an object has constant non-zero acceleration and changing velocity.