Key terms
Interpreting position and velocity graphs
Velocity, Acceleration, Displacement
Quantitative problems
Notes and Errata
100

This is the definition of velocity.

What is the speed of an object and the direction of its motion?

100

Draw a position vs. time graph for these two velocity vs. time graphs. Explain why there could be more than one correct answer for each.

See board.

There are an infinite number of possible graphs because we do not know the initial position of the object. The y-intercept could be anywhere.

100

What is the sign of velocity and acceleration for each graph?

Both have positive velocity. The red line has no acceleration; the green line has positive acceleration.
100

Calculate the average velocity between t = 0 and t = 10.

What is 4 m/s? (40 meters / 10 seconds)

100

Joaquín is this species of turtle.

What is a Guadalupe Turtle -or- Southern Slider turtle?

200

This is the definition of acceleration.

What is the change in velocity over time?

200

After choosing your velocity vs time graph, draw the acceleration graph.

The correct velocity vs. time graph is C. The original graph has a negative slope to start, then becomes positive, later slowing down and approaching zero.

200

Between point A and point B, which graph has more displacement, the red line or the green line?

The displacement of the two graphs is equal between those two points.

200

Assume this is a velocity vs. time graph. What is the displacement from t = 0 to t = 3?

The displacement is 12 meters. (4 m/s * 3 s = 12 m)

200

This is the year MFS was founded.

What is 1951?

300

This is the name for motion that does not change velocity.

What is uniform motion?

300

Describe the motion for these two velocity vs. time graphs. 

First graph: Stopped, then moving around 3 m/s in the positive direction, then stopped, then moving around 3 m/s in the negative direction, then stopped again.

Second graph: Moving around 3 m/s in the positive direction for 2 seconds, then stopped for 2 seconds, then going about 4 meters per second in the negative direction and slowing down over the next two seconds to a stop.

300

Between 1 second and 2 second, which object travels farther, the red line or the green line?

The red line goes farther - it is farther from the origin than the other line.

300

Assume this is a velocity vs. time graph. What is the total displacement from t = 3 to t = 9?

from t = 3 to t = 7 is the green triangle, 1/2 x (4 x 4) = 8 meters

from t = 7 to t = 9 is the red triangle, 1/2 x (2 x -2) = -2 meters

Total = 8 + -2 = 6 meters displacement

300

This is how tall Amber is in centimeters.

What is 185 cm?

400

This is the name for motion that is constantly changing speed at the same rate.

Uniform acceleration / Uniformly accelerated motion

400

Draw a position vs. time and acceleration graph for these two velocity vs. time graphs.

See board.

400

At point B, which object has a higher velocity, the red line or the green line? Why?

The green line has a higher velocity; the slope of the line is more positive than the red line.

400

Assuming initial velocity is 10 m/s, calculate the displacement from t = 0 to t = 14.

What is 380 meters? (Use the area method - the bottom rectangle is 10 x 14 = 140 meters, plus the triangle on top is 1/2  x (30 x 14) = 240 meters. 

140 + 240 = 380 meters total displacement.

400

This is the name of the first Costa Rican president.

Who was José María Castro Madriz?

500

This is a drawing of a tangent line and what it tells us on a position vs. time graph.

It tells us the instantaneous velocity at that point.

500

Draw the velocity and acceleration graphs for position vs. time graphs B and C.

See board

500

Draw two motion maps: one for the red line and one for the green line. 

See board

500

Using this graph, find the total displacement from t = 0 to t = 8. Then, draw a position vs. time graph and acceleration graph to match the motion.

Displacement is the area under the curve.

A = 1/2 x (30 x 2) = 30 meters

B = 30 x 3 = 90 meters

C = 30 x 3 + 1/2 x (20 x 3) = 120 meters

Total = 30 + 90 + 120 = 240 meters

500

This is the name of Lewis's baby.

What is Solan?