The speed of a body can never be ______.

Options

A. positive
B. negative
C. zero
D. Both (a) and ( c)

Explanation

To solve the question "The speed of a body can never be ______," we need to understand the concept of speed in physics.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Speed**:
- Speed is defined as the rate of change of distance with respect to time. It is calculated using the formula:
\[ \text{Speed} = \frac{\text{Distance}}{\text{Time}} \]
- Here, distance is the total path covered by an object, and time is the duration taken to cover that distance.

2. **Nature of Distance**:
- Distance is a scalar quantity, which means it has only magnitude and no direction. It can take values that are either positive or zero, but it cannot be negative.

3. **Speed as a Scalar Quantity**:
- Since speed is derived from distance (which is scalar), speed is also a scalar quantity. This means it only has magnitude and does not have a direction.

4. **Possible Values of Speed**:
- The value of speed can be:
- Positive (when the object is moving),
- Zero (when the object is at rest and has not covered any distance),
- Negative speed is not possible because speed cannot have a direction; it can only be a measure of how fast something is moving.

5. **Conclusion**:
- Therefore, the correct answer to the question "The speed of a body can never be ______" is "negative." Speed can be positive or zero, but it can never be negative.

### Final Answer:
The speed of a body can never be **negative**.