Name: ____________________________________________ Date: _________________ Period: ________
Length, Time, Distance and Displacement Investigation
Measuring Length
Estimate
Estimate in Meters
Actual
Diameter of a Pencil Eraser
Height of a Lab Table
Length of a Paper Clip
Length of the Classroom from
Front to Back
Distance From Where You
Live to School
Measuring Time
Stopwatch
Photogate Timer
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Average
1. Which method is more accurate when measuring time? How do you know?
Distance & Displacement
Go to phet.colorado.edu. Click on physics and then find “The Moving Man” simulation.
Draw a simple diagram of what you see on the screen. Include the following items on your diagram:
 The ruler (with markings)
 The two walls, tree, house, and the man (make sure each are drawn at the same point you see on the screen)
1. Making Observations about Distance:
a. What number and unit are written directly under the moving man? __________________
b. The position under the walking man which is labeled “0 meters” is called the “Origin”. It is the point
from which all motion will be referenced. You can use any point as an origin but in this case we have
chosen this point. Label this point on your diagram.
c. The amount of a certain unit between the reference point and an object is called the DISTANCE.
Distance does not tell you anything about the direction from the reference point. It only has an amount
and a unit.
d. Complete the table below.
The House
Distance from
the Origin
The Wall
The Tree
2. Making Observations about Displacement
a. You may have noticed that the position of the tree has been given a negative value while the position
of the house has been given a positive value. Why do has this been done?
b. When we add a “-” or a “+” to the number we are indicating a direction. A “-” sign means “backward
or behind” and a “+” sign means “forward or in front”. They indicate the direction of an object from
the chosen reference point. Adding the “+” or “-” sign indicates DISPLACEMENT (not distance).
Displacement, like distance has an amount (magnitude) and a unit, but displacement also has a
direction. Distance does NOT have a direction. When we want to indicate direction in more than two
directions (e.g. forward and backward), we use words like north, south, east, west, northwest etc.
c. Complete the table below with proper units and signs.
The House
The Wall
The Tree
Displacement from
the Origin
3. What is the difference between an object’s DISTANCE and its DISPLACEMENT?
4. Distance of the Moving Man
a. Move the man from the origin (0 meters) to the tree. What distance did the man travel? ___________
b. Move the man from the tree to the house. What distance did the man travel this time? ____________
c. Move the man from the house to the left wall. What distance did the man travel this time? _________
d. Add up the numbers in the last three steps to find the man’s total distance. What was the total distance
the man traveled? ____________
5. Displacement of the Moving Man (remember to use a positive (+) number if the man moves forward (to the
right) and a negative (-) number if the man moves backward (to the left).
a. Move the man from the origin (0 meters) to the tree. What is the man’s displacement? ____________
b. Move the man from the tree to the house. What is the man’s displacement this time? ______________
c. Move the man from the house to the left wall. What is the man’s displacement this time? __________
d. Add up the numbers in the last three steps to find the man’s total displacement. What was the man’s
total displacement? ___________
e. Compare the man’s total displacement to his position. What’s the relationship?
6. Click on the “Charts” tab. Minimize the “Velocity” and “Acceleration” graphs by clicking on the red “-“ sign
on the top right corner of the graph. Move the man and see the results on the graph. What relationship do you
notice between the graph and the man’s movement?