MechanicsTopic 2.1 Kinematics

Graphical Representation of Motion

1.Position-graphs (Distance)3. Velocity-time graphs (Speed)4. Acceleration-time graphs

What do Position (distance) time graphs measure?

the distance traveled in a given amount of time

What do velocity (speed) time graphs measure?

the speed and direction traveled in a given amount of time

What do acceleration time graphs measure?

the speeding up or slowing down of an object in a given amount of time

Cut out your graphs and lay them out into three columns based on type.

Write time on all of the x-axisWrite above position -> distanceWrite above velocity -> speed

Object moving at a constant speed

Acc

eler

atio

n

Vel

ocity

Pos

ition

TimeTimeTime

A=0 becausethe object is not speeding up or slowing down

V = flat line because object is not changing speed

P = linear slope because object is increasing distance over time

Object is not moving

Acc

eler

atio

n

Vel

ocity

Pos

ition

TimeTimeTime

A= flat line at 0. Zero acceleration

V = flat line at 0. Zero speed or velocity

P = flat line – no distance

Object - positive acceleration

(speeding up)

Acc

eler

atio

n

Vel

ocity

Pos

ition

TimeTimeTime

A= flat line at a specific amount of positive acceleration

V = linear slope shows increasing speed over time

P = upward curved slope

Object - Negative acceleration

(Slowing down)

Acc

eler

atio

n

Vel

ocity

Pos

ition

TimeTimeTime

A= flat line at a specific amount of negative acceleration

V = linear slope shows decreasing speed over time

P = downward curved slope

SummaryOn notecard: write your name

What did you understand about today’s lesson?

What was confusing?