Name_______________

Block_______________
Date________________

Motion Graphs Exploration Lab

Objectives:

The student will conceptually understand and interpret Position vs Time graphs
The student will conceptually understand and interpret Velocity vs Time graphs
The students graph given various information correctly

Instructions:
Go to the following website
1) http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/moving-man
2) Click on run
3) Play with the program and get familiar with the functions.
4) Go the introduction tab
SECTION 1: Observing Motion
Position change
1) What happens if you move position, without adjusting the velocity or acceleration?
Press play, and record what you notice about the following:
a) his motion?
b) his velocity?
c) his acceleration?

2) What does a velocity of zero mean?

Velocity Change
Reset the activity using the reset all button
1) Set the mans velocity to a positive 2.00.
a) Predict how long should it take him to hit the wall that is 10 meters away?
Show your work.

b) Press play, then stop the man as soon as he hits the wall. Was your
prediction correct?

2) Reset the activity using the reset all button. Move the velocity to a positive 1.00 .
Press play, and record what you notice about the following:
a) his motion?
b) his velocity?
c) his acceleration?

3) If the velocity is constant, what does this mean about acceleration? (try to prove it
using the acceleration equation)

Changing Acceleration
1) Reset the activity using the reset all button. Change the acceleration to 2.00 ms2
. Press play, and record what you notice about the following:
a) his motion?

b) his velocity?

c) his acceleration?

SECTION 2: Graphing Velocity

1) Click on the Charts tab at the top. In the position box, place the man at -8.00
m. Without changing the velocity and the acceleration. Press play, and
describe the graph created for the following (please be specific):
a. Position vs Time

b. Velocity vs Time

c. Acceleration vs Time

2) Reset the activity using the reset all button. Keep the man in the middle at 0,
then press play. Click and drag on the man. What happens to the following
graphs if you move the man to the right? To the left?
a. Position vs Time

b. Velocity vs Time

3) Reset the activity using the reset all button. Now, in the position box, place
the man at
-8.00m. Set the velocity at 2 ms-1. Press play, and describe the
graphs created specifically for the following:
a. Position vs Time

b. Velocity vs Time

c. Acceleration vs Time

4) Compare and contrast the Position versus Time graph before the man hits the
wall and after? Please explain why you think the graph looks like this.

5) Compare and contrast the Velocity versus Time graph before the man hits the
wall and after? Please explain why you think the graph looks like this.

6) Reset the activity using the reset all button. Now, in the position box, place
the man at
-8.00m. Set the acceleration at 2 ms-2. Press play, and

describe the graphs created specifically for the following (You may draw the
graphs to help you):
a. Position vs Time

b. Velocity vs Time

c. Acceleration vs Time

6) What happens to acceleration AND velocity when the man hits the wall? Why does
this occur?

SECTION 3: GRAPHING BY HAND

1) Below is a chart representing a position and a time data for a constant velocity.
Time / sec
0
1
2
3
4
5

Position / m
0
2
4
6
8
10

a) What is the average velocity of the object? (use the equation)

b) What is the acceleration during this time? (Hint: velocity is constant)

b) Graph the chart in the space below, using the good graphing skills you have
learned.

c) Describe the graph in detail. What patterns do you notice?

2) Below is a chart representing a position and a time data for a constant acceleration.
Time / sec
0
1
2
3
4
5

Velocity/ ms-2
0
2
4
8
16
32

a) Graph the chart in the space below, using the good graphing skills you have
learned.

b) Describe the graph in detail. What patterns do you notice?

c) Do you think the graph of the Position vs Time graph will be a straight line in
this case? Why or why not?