Motion Diagrams - Directions

 

How it Works:

Using the Motion Diagrams Concept Builder is quite simple. You will be presented with a verbal description of an object's motion and you will have to use on-screen controls to create a motion diagram for that motion. First you will select the dots from a choice of three - pay careful attention to the spacing between dots and the manner in which that spacing changes (or remains constant). Read the dots from left to right for a rightward motion and from right to left for a leftward motion. Second, you will have to pick the vectors - either velocity, acceleration, or both - from among a choice of six. Give attention to the direction that the vectors point - right or left - and whether they becom shorter, longer, or remain the same length. Once you tap on a set of vectors, they are superimposed on your dot diagram. If you like the look of the vectors, tap on the Select These Vectors button.

 

Activities 1 and 2 Versus Activity 3

In Activity 1, you will have to select the appropriate dots and then the set of velocity vectors which accurately match the motion described in words. In Activity 2, you will have to select the appropriate dots and then the set of acceleration vectors which accurately match the motion described in words. In both these activities, you will be given immediate feedback regarding your selections and opportunities to immediately correct your answers. Activity 3 works a little differently. First you will have to select the dots and both the velocity and acceleration vectors. Your selections are not immediately checked for accuracy. You will have to complete the entire diagram - dots and both sets of vectors; then you will be able to h check your answers. But if your answer is incorrect, then you will not be given a chance to immediately correct the answer. In this sense, the activity in more like a "quiz."  If you miss a question, then at a later time (selected at random) you will be presented with a very similar question.

 

 

Earning Stars

When you start up any of the activities, the number of questions for that activity are shown in the Progress Report area of the Concept Builder. You will notice that there is either a Yellow or a Red background for each question number. When starting up a difficulty level, the background color is Yellow. In Activity 3, answering a "Yellow" question correctly earns you a star for that question number. However, answering it incorrectly turns the background color to Red. A question number with a Red background must be correctly answered twice (without a miss) in order to earn a star. In Activities 1 and 2, you never really "miss a question" since you are always given the chance to immediately sefl-correct. Thus, the red background is not used for Activities 1 and 2 ... only for Activity 3.

 

Getting Help

You will notice that there is a Help Me button underneath the Progress Report. You should learn to use this feature of the program. It's how you can turn an exercise in answering questions into an exercise in learning. Tapping on the Help Me button will open a page with help that is specific to each question. Of course, the Help pages are only helpful if you read them. So take the time to read them. Each Help page contains four sections: a discussion of the Fundamentals, a display of the various Questions in the Question Group, a section titled "How to Think About This Situation", and a set of links to resources in our Tutorial section. You should pay attention to the section titled How to Think About This Situation. You will find what you need to know in the two or three paragraphs in this section. You will also become a better Physics student for doing that. That is, after all, the goal of such an activity as Motion Diagrams.
 

 

Thanks for being patient with the Directions. Happy learning!