PhysicsQuest

Linear Motion

INTRODUCTION

We completed a Kinematics unit and you want to be sure that you understand all the concepts related to the multiple representations of knowledge: verbal, motion diagrams, graphical and mathematical.

This PhysicsQuest is designed to help you in reviewing for the exam.

TASK

The activity consists of three sections related to Kinematics in One-Dimension.   Read through

each link and answer the questions.

By the end of this PhysicsQuest you will have

reinforced the concepts learned in class.

PROCESS AND RESOURCES

The PhysicsQuest is divided into three sections.

Each section contains links to internet sites that

will help you answer the questions.

Part I. Constant Velocity versus Acceleration.

Watch the Car Animation:

1. Which car or cars (red, green, and/or blue) are undergoing an acceleration?  How can you tell the difference in motion?

2. Look at the Position-Time graphs of each of the cars.

Sketch and label the graphs with a ruler.

3. Write the mathematical relationship of the position and time described by each of the car's graphs. Right below each of them substitute the appropriate variables.

4. Sketch a qualitative Velocity-Time graph for each car and label each line.

Part IV. Motion Virtual Lab

Complete the activity on the  Virtual Lab

Be sure to use a ruler for your graphs!

Part III. Watch The Stoplight

A blue car moving at a constant speed of 10 m/s passes

a red car that is at rest. This occurs at a stoplight the moment that the light turns green.

The red car accelerates from rest at 4 m/s/s for 3 s

and then maintains a constant speed.

9. Calculate at what speed does the red car travel

    after 3 s. Show all your work.

10. Use your ruler to plot a velocity-time graph for both

    cars for an interval of 12 seconds.

11. Calculate the slope of the line for the red car for the first

      three seconds. Show all your work!

5. What quantity (i.e. variable not a numerical value) is obtained by   

   calculating the area under the curve of a velocity-time graph?

6. What quantity (i.e. variable not a numerical value) is obtained by

   calculating the slope of the velocity-time graph?

Part II. Direction of Velocity and Acceleration

Watch the Hot Wheels car animation

7. Accelerating objects have a changing velocity - either

    due to a speed change or a direction change.

    Considering east as a positive direction and west as a

    negative direction, complete the table below by

    writing the direction of each vector as (+) or (-)

  SituationVelocity Acceleration 

Car speeding up going East

Car speeding up going West

Car slowing down going East

Car slowing down going West

8. What is the Rule of Thumb to determine the direction of acceleration?

PART V. Kinematic Equations and Graphs

Read the information and scroll down the page to the section Check Your Understanding and solve the first 5 problems.

12. Use the graph to find the displacement of each individual car after

9 seconds. Mark your work clearly on the graph.

13. Does the red car pass the blue car at three seconds?

     If not, then when does the red car pass the blue car?

14. When lines on a velocity-time graph intersect, does this mean that

      the two cars are passing by each other? If not, what does it mean?

Note: Even though the answers are given at the end of the animation, you have to show all your work i.e. equations, slopes, and/or areas in order to get credit. Use a ruler to construct the graphs.

If you just copy directly from the website you will receive NO CREDIT!