High School Physics : Representations of Motion

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for High School Physics

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Representations Of Motion

Q3

Calculate the total displacement of the object.

 

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle -50m

\displaystyle 0m

\displaystyle 100 m

\displaystyle 50 m

\displaystyle -10m

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 50 m

Explanation:

This is a velocity versus time graph.  The displacement can be determined from the area under the curve of the graph.

 

Begin with the first \displaystyle 5 seconds.  This is a triangle with a base of \displaystyle 5s and height of \displaystyle 10m/s.

 

\displaystyle Area\,of \,Triangle = \frac{1}{2}bh

 

\displaystyle Area = \frac{1}{2}*5s*10m/s

 

\displaystyle Area = 25m

 

Next look at the next \displaystyle 5 seconds.  This is a triangle with a base of \displaystyle 5s and height of \displaystyle -10m/s.  That negative is important as it indicates that the object was traveling in the opposite direction.

 

\displaystyle Area\,of \,Triangle = \frac{1}{2}bh

 

\displaystyle Area = \frac{1}{2}*5s*-10m/s

 

\displaystyle Area =-25m

 

For the final \displaystyle 5 seconds, the area is that of a rectangle with a base of \displaystyle 5s and a height of \displaystyle -10m/s. Again this negative is important as it indicates what direction the object was traveling in.

 

\displaystyle Area\, of \, Rectangle = bh

 

\displaystyle Area = 5s*-10m/s


\displaystyle Area =-50m

 

To find the total displacement, add all of the areas together.

 

\displaystyle 25m + (-25m) + (-50m) = -50m

 

Therefore the final displacement is \displaystyle -50m.

 

 

 

 

Example Question #2 : Representations Of Motion

Q1 6

What is the object’s total distance traveled at \displaystyle 30 s?  What is the object’s displacement at \displaystyle 30s?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 60m, 120m

\displaystyle 0m, 60m

\displaystyle 0m, 120m

\displaystyle 60m, 0m

\displaystyle 120m, 0m

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 120m, 0m

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 \displaystyle 60m.

 

From 10 seconds to 15 seconds, the object did not move.

 

From 15 seconds to 30 seconds the object traveled \displaystyle 60m backward.

 

The distance is the total amount traveled.

 

\displaystyle 60m + 60m = 120m

 

The displacement which is the distance traveled from the original position.  Since at \displaystyle 30 seconds the object has returned to the \displaystyle 0\, point, the displacement is \displaystyle 0m.

 

Example Question #3 : Representations Of Motion

Q3

What is the acceleration of the object at \displaystyle 5 s?

 

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 0m/s^2

\displaystyle -10m/s^2

\displaystyle 10m/s^2

\displaystyle -2m/s^2

\displaystyle 2m/s^2

Correct answer:

\displaystyle -2m/s^2

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 \displaystyle (0, 10) and \displaystyle (5, 0) we can determine the slope of the graph at 5 seconds since it is a constant slope.

 

\displaystyle Slope =\frac{Rise}{Run}=\frac{y2-y1}{x2-x1}

 

\displaystyle Slope = \frac{0m-10m/s}{5s-0s}


\displaystyle Slope = -2m/s^2

Example Question #4 : Representations Of Motion

You are given a graph of displacement vs. time. Which of the following ways can be used to determine velocity at any given point?

Possible Answers:

The velocity is the slope of the line at any given time

The velocity is the total change in displacement over the total time

The velocity is the y-intercept of the graph

The velocity is the area under the curve for any time interval

The velocity cannot be determined from a graph of displacement vs time

Correct answer:

The velocity is the slope of the line at any given 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.



\displaystyle Slope =\frac{Rise}{Run}=\frac{y2-y1}{x2-x1}=\frac{distance}{time}

 

\displaystyle v=\frac{distance}{time}



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.

 

 

Example Question #5 : Representations Of Motion

You are given a graph of velocity vs. time. Which of the following ways can be used to determine acceleration at any given point?

Possible Answers:

The acceleration cannot be determined from the graph

The acceleration is the total change in velocity over the total time

The acceleration is the y-intercept of the velocity vs time graph

The acceleration is the slope at any particular point in time

The acceleration is the area under the curve for any given time interval

Correct answer:

The acceleration is the slope at any particular point in time

Explanation:

The important thing to note is that the question asks for the acceleration at any given point. The average acceleration will be equal to the net change in velocity divided by the total time, but the question is asking for the instantaneous acceleration.

 

Acceleration is calculated by a change in velocity over a change in time. In a velocity versus time graph, this is equal to the slope.

 

\displaystyle Slope =\frac{Rise}{Run}=\frac{y2-y1}{x2-x1}=\frac{velocity}{time}

 

\displaystyle acceleration=\frac{velocity}{time}

 

This tells us that the slope at a certain time will be equal to the acceleration at that time.

 

In calculus terms, acceleration is the derivative of the function for velocity in terms of time. What this means is that at any point on the graph, the instantaneous slope is the acceleration for that given time. To determine acceleration, one must find the slope of the line at that particular time interval.

 

Example Question #6 : Representations Of Motion

Q2

Describe the motion of the object.

 

Possible Answers:

The object travels with a negative velocity for 10 seconds and then travels at a constant velocity.

 

The object travels in the negative direction for 10 seconds and then does not move.

 

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.

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.

Correct answer:

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.

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.

 

Example Question #7 : Representations Of Motion

Q1 6

 

What is the velocity of the object at 25 s?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 20m/s

\displaystyle 0.8m/s

\displaystyle -4m/s

\displaystyle 4m/s

Correct answer:

\displaystyle -4m/s

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 \displaystyle (20,40) and \displaystyle (30,0) we can determine the slope of the graph at 25 seconds since it is a constant slope.

 

\displaystyle Slope =\frac{Rise}{Run}=\frac{y2-y1}{x2-x1}

 

\displaystyle Slope = \frac{0m-40m}{30s-20s}


\displaystyle Slope = -4m/s

Example Question #8 : Representations Of Motion

You are given a graph of velocity vs. time. How can you find the change in displacement for a particular time interval? 

Possible Answers:

The displacement is the total area under the curve of the graph

The displacement is the area under the curve for the given time interval

The displacement can only be found when the velocity crosses the x-axis

The displacement is the average slope during the given time interval

The displacement cannot be determined from the graph

Correct answer:

The displacement is the area under the curve for the given time interval

Explanation:

Velocity is equal to a change in displacement per unit time. Consider a basic velocity vs. time graph that depicts a constant velocity, given by a straight horizontal line. How can we determine the displacement during a given time interval? Use the kinematics equation:

 

\displaystyle x = x_0 +v_0\Delta t + \frac{1}{2}a\Delta t^2

Acceleration will be zero, allowing us to reduce the equation. We can also assume that there is zero initial displacement.

 

\displaystyle x = v_0\Delta t

 

So, the displacement will be equal to the velocity multiplied by the time. In the graph, velocity will be represented by the vertical location and time will be represented by the horizontal location of any point. Displacement will be equal to the height of the graph times the width of the graph, or the area of the rectangle created by the constant velocity over a unit of time.

 

Though this is just one example, displacement will always be equal to the area under the curve of a velocity vs. time graph.

 

In calculus terms, velocity is the derivative of the function for displacement in terms of time. To find the displacement, one must take the integral of the velocity function. The result is the area under the curve of the velocity function.

 

Example Question #9 : Representations Of Motion

 Q1

Describe the motion of the object.

Possible Answers:

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 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 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.

Correct answer:

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.

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 \displaystyle 10 seconds the object has a constant positive slope indicating that the object is traveling at a constant positive speed.

From \displaystyle 10s to \displaystyle 15s the object remains at the same position which means that the object has stopped. 

 

From \displaystyle 15s to \displaystyle 40s the object has a constant negative slope meaning that the object is traveling at a constant negative speed.  

 

At \displaystyle 40s, the object switches directions and now has a constant positive slope meaning that the object is traveling at a constant positive speed.

 

 

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