Motion Graphs
On a position-time graph, what does a straight line with an upward slope tell you?
constant positive velocity
the slope of a position vs. time graph represents velocity
Which is a scalar: displacement, velocity, mass, or force?
mass
a scalar has size only; vectors include direction
In uniform circular motion, which way does the acceleration point?
toward the center
Name the property that makes an object resist changing its velocity.
inertia
inertia depends on mass
A balloon rocket moves forward. In what direction is air expelled?
backward
One segment of a position-time graph is steep, one is flat. Which has a smaller speed?
The flat segment (zero speed)
A drone flies 6 m east, then 8 m north. How far is it displaced?
10m
A ball rolls horizontally off a ledge. What happens to its downward velocity as it falls?
It increases in magnitude
Carts have masses 1.5, 2, 3, and 5 kg. Which is hardest to change motion?
The 5 kg cart
More mass means more inertia.
Earth pulls the Moon. How does the Moon pull Earth?
Same force magnitude, opposite direction
Newton's third law holds even when masses differ.
A velocity-time line jitters a little around 1.2 m/s. What likely happened?
The speed varied slightly
Small fluctuations often reflect variation in motion
A vehicle slows uniformly from 40 m/s to 0 with acceleration -5 m/s². Time?
8s
At the top of a vertical circle, where must net centripetal force point?
Down, toward the center
It always aims toward the center of the circle.
Which interaction makes a car slow during braking?
Friction between tires and road and brakes and rotors
Two vectors combine to point southeast. What two perpendicular directions could combine? (draw them)
south and east
A cart moves from 2 m to 14 m in 4 s on a straight position-time graph. Find its velocity.
3 m/s
Starting from rest, a car reaches 4 m/s in 3 s with constant acceleration. Distance?
6m
Ignoring air drag, what stays unchanged for a horizontally launched projectile?
Horizontal velocity
No horizontal acceleration in ideal projectile motion.
A 10 kg box has 50 N forward and 20 N backward. Find acceleration.
3 m/s² forward
At the top of a thrown ball's flight, what direction is gravity?
downward
Gravity acts downward throughout the flight.