Representations of Motion
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Physics › Representations of Motion
What is the object’s total distance traveled at 
Explanation
This is a position versus time graph. The total distance traveled is the total position that has been traveled during the entire time.
From 0 to 10 seconds, the object traveled 
From 10 seconds to 15 seconds, the object did not move.
From 15 seconds to 30 seconds the object traveled 
The distance is the total amount traveled.
The displacement which is the distance traveled from the original position. Since at 
What is the object’s total distance traveled at
Explanation
This is a position versus time graph. The total distance traveled is the total position that has been traveled during the entire time.
From 0 to 10 seconds, the object traveled
From 10 seconds to 15 seconds, the object did not move.
From 15 seconds to 30 seconds the object traveled
The distance is the total amount traveled.
The displacement which is the distance traveled from the original position. Since at
What is the acceleration of the object at 
Explanation
This is a position versus time graph. To find the velocity of an object at a particular time, determine the slope of the graph at that time. Using the points 
Describe the motion of the object.
The object speeds up for 10 seconds, then remains at a constant speed. At 15 seconds it starts to slow down until 40 seconds. Then it speeds up for the final 20 seconds.
The object travels at a constant speed for the first 10 seconds. Then the object does not move. At 15 seconds it travels at a constant speed in the opposite direction. At 40 seconds the object turns around again and travels at a constant speed.
The object travels at a constant speed, then does not move, then slows down until 40s. Then the object speeds up for the final 20 seconds.
The object speeds up for the first 10 seconds. Then the object remains at a constant speed. Then the object travels in the positive direction with a positive speed until 30 seconds. At 30 seconds it travels in the negative direction with a negative speed for the remaining time.
Explanation
This is a position versus time graph. The slope of the line of the graph tells us the velocity of the object.
For the first 
From 
From 
At 
Describe the motion of the object.
The object speeds up for 10 seconds, then remains at a constant speed. At 15 seconds it starts to slow down until 40 seconds. Then it speeds up for the final 20 seconds.
The object travels at a constant speed for the first 10 seconds. Then the object does not move. At 15 seconds it travels at a constant speed in the opposite direction. At 40 seconds the object turns around again and travels at a constant speed.
The object travels at a constant speed, then does not move, then slows down until 40s. Then the object speeds up for the final 20 seconds.
The object speeds up for the first 10 seconds. Then the object remains at a constant speed. Then the object travels in the positive direction with a positive speed until 30 seconds. At 30 seconds it travels in the negative direction with a negative speed for the remaining time.
Explanation
This is a position versus time graph. The slope of the line of the graph tells us the velocity of the object.
For the first
From
From
At
What is the acceleration of the object at
Explanation
This is a position versus time graph. To find the velocity of an object at a particular time, determine the slope of the graph at that time. Using the points
Describe the motion of the object.
The object travels in the negative direction for 10 seconds and then does not move.
The object travels with a negative velocity for 10 seconds and then travels at a constant velocity.
The object travels in the positive direction for 5 seconds. Then the object travels in the negative direction at the same speed for the next 5 seconds. Then the object stops moving.
The object is slowing down for the first 5 seconds. Then the object is speeding up for the next 5 seconds. Then the object travels at a constant velocity.
The object is slowing down for 10 seconds. Then the object travels at a constant speed.
Explanation
This is a velocity versus time graph. During the first 5 seconds, the velocity is approaching 0. This means that the object is slowing down.
During the next 5 seconds, the velocity is increasing in the negative direction. This means that the object is speeding up in the negative direction.
During the final 5 seconds, the velocity value does not change. This means that the object is remaining at a constant velocity.
You are given a graph of displacement vs. time. Which of the following ways can be used to determine velocity at any given point?
The velocity is the y-intercept of the graph
The velocity cannot be determined from a graph of displacement vs time
The velocity is the area under the curve for any time interval
The velocity is the slope of the line at any given time
The velocity is the total change in displacement over the total time
Explanation
The important thing to note is that the question asks for the velocity at any given point. The average velocity will be equal to the total displacement divided by the total time, but the question is asking for the instantaneous velocity.
Velocity is calculated by a change in displacement over a change in time. In a displacement versus time graph, this is equal to the slope.
This tells us that the slope at a certain time will be equal to the velocity at that time.
In calculus terms, velocity is the derivative of the function for displacement in terms of time. What this means is that at any point on the graph, the instantaneous slope is the velocity for that given time. To determine velocity, one must find the slope of the line at that particular time interval.
You are given a graph of displacement vs. time. Which of the following ways can be used to determine velocity at any given point?
The velocity is the y-intercept of the graph
The velocity cannot be determined from a graph of displacement vs time
The velocity is the area under the curve for any time interval
The velocity is the slope of the line at any given time
The velocity is the total change in displacement over the total time
Explanation
The important thing to note is that the question asks for the velocity at any given point. The average velocity will be equal to the total displacement divided by the total time, but the question is asking for the instantaneous velocity.
Velocity is calculated by a change in displacement over a change in time. In a displacement versus time graph, this is equal to the slope.
This tells us that the slope at a certain time will be equal to the velocity at that time.
In calculus terms, velocity is the derivative of the function for displacement in terms of time. What this means is that at any point on the graph, the instantaneous slope is the velocity for that given time. To determine velocity, one must find the slope of the line at that particular time interval.
Describe the motion of the object.
The object travels in the negative direction for 10 seconds and then does not move.
The object travels with a negative velocity for 10 seconds and then travels at a constant velocity.
The object travels in the positive direction for 5 seconds. Then the object travels in the negative direction at the same speed for the next 5 seconds. Then the object stops moving.
The object is slowing down for the first 5 seconds. Then the object is speeding up for the next 5 seconds. Then the object travels at a constant velocity.
The object is slowing down for 10 seconds. Then the object travels at a constant speed.
Explanation
This is a velocity versus time graph. During the first 5 seconds, the velocity is approaching 0. This means that the object is slowing down.
During the next 5 seconds, the velocity is increasing in the negative direction. This means that the object is speeding up in the negative direction.
During the final 5 seconds, the velocity value does not change. This means that the object is remaining at a constant velocity.