Mission KG10 Common Misconceptions Concerning Motion Graphs
Hold down the T key for 3 seconds to activate the audio accessibility mode, at which point you can click the K key to pause and resume audio. Useful for the Check Your Understanding and See Answers.
As represented by this position-time graph, this object is ____.
Questions in this assignment pertain to both position-time and velocity-time graphs. When presented together, there is a strong probability that any confusion which a student has concerning the graphs will rise to the surface. As a first step in answering each question, make a mental note of which graph is being displayed. Then review the rules for that graph before looking for a reasonable answer. See Know the Law section.
This is a position-time graph. The line starts out as a diagonal line with positive slope. Ask yourself: What type of motion is consistent with a positively-sloped diagonal line on a p-t graph? Refer to the Know the Law section. Finally, the line is diagonal with negative slope. Ask yourself: What type of motion is consistent with a negatively-sloped diagonal line on a p-t graph? Refer to the Know the Law section. Be cautious and do not confuse your position-time graph with a velocity-time graph.
Position versus time graphs represent changes that occur in an object's position with respect to time. These graphs most commonly display horizontal lines, straight diagonal lines and curved lines. Horizontal lines represent an object at rest. Straight diagonal lines represent a constant speed motion. And curved lines represent an accelerated motion. The slope of the line is the velocity of the object.
