Motion Review
Distance, Displacement, Scalar vs. Vector, Speed, Velocity,
Acceleration, Interpreting Graphs
A student leaves her science class and walks 10 meters
north to a water fountain. Then she turns and walks 2
meters back to the library.
What distance does she travel?
a. 12m
b. 20m
c. 8m
d. 5m
A student leaves her science class and walks 10 meters
north to a water fountain. Then she turns and walks 2
meters back to the library.
What is her displacement?
a. 12m north
b. 12m south
c. 8m north
d. 8m south
 A softball player leaves the batter’s box and overruns 1st
base by 3 m, then returns to the base. How does her
displacement compare to her total distance run?
a. It is larger.
b. It is smaller.
c. It is the same.
Remember…
 Distance is a scalar,
displacement is a
vector quantity.
 Displacement must
always be a straight
line and include the
direction traveled
from starting point
to end point.
A scalar quantity…
a. Always has mass.
b. Is fully described by its magnitude.
c. Shows direction
d. Does not have units.
Identify each of the following as Scalar or Vector.
 Distance
 Displacement
 Speed
 Velocity
 Distance and speed are examples of scalar quantities.
 Displacement and velocity are examples of vector
quantities.
The SI unit for speed is
a.mph.
b.m/s.
c.ft/s2.
d.Dv / t.
On a velocity-time graph, a line with a negative slope
indicates that the object is
a.speeding up.
b.not moving.
c.slowing down.
d.traveling at a constant speed.
An object that changes position relative to a reference
point is
a.stationary.
b.moving at constant speed.
c.in motion.
d.moving at constant velocity.
Average speed can be represented by the mathematical
expression
a. distance ÷ time.
b. time – distance.
c. distance × time.
d. time + distance.
The _____ of an object consists of its speed and direction.
a.velocity
b.average speed
c.instantaneous speed
d.displacement
The average speed of a runner who runs 500.0 m in 1.6
min is
a.0.19 m/s.
b.96 m/s.
c.5.2 m/s.
d.312 m/s.
60 sec. = 1 min.
The average speed of a runner who runs 500.0 m in 1.6
min is
a.0.19 m/s.
b.96 m/s.
c.5.2 m/s.
d.312 m/s.
60 sec. = 1 min.
A car moving at an average speed of 55.0 mi/h for 4.25 h
has traveled
a.0.08 mi.
b.55 mi.
c.13 mi.
d.234 mi.
A car moving at an average speed of 55.0 mi/h for 4.25 h
has traveled
a.0.08 mi.
b.55 mi.
c.13 mi.
d.234 mi.
On a distance vs. time graph of an object’s motion,
distance is usually
a.plotted on the x-axis.
b.the dependent variable.
c.greater than time.
d.measured in ft/min.
A pitcher throws a baseball to home plate, a distance of
60.5 ft. The ball reaches home plate in 0.63 s. What is the
velocity of the ball?
a.38 ft/s
b.96 ft/s
c.38 ft/s toward home plate
d.96 ft/s toward home plate
A pitcher throws a baseball to home plate, a distance of
60.5 ft. The ball reaches home plate in 0.63 s. What is the
velocity of the ball?
a.38 ft/s
c.96 ft/s
b.38 ft/s toward home plate
d.96 ft/s toward home plate
When the motion of an object is shown by a straight line
on a distance vs. time graph with distance on the y-axis,
the slope of the line is the
a.distance traveled.
b.speed.
c.displacement.
d.time of travel.
Displacement must always indicate
a.velocity.
b.speed.
c.direction.
d.time.
Speeding up, slowing down, and changing direction is best
described as
a.velocity.
b.displacement.
c.distance.
d.acceleration.
The equation for finding average acceleration for straightline motion is
a.initial velocity – final velocity × time.
b.final velocity – initial velocity/time.
c.initial velocity + final velocity + time.
d.initial velocity + final velocity – time.
Moving from 0 m/s to 25 m/s in 8.0 s equals an average
acceleration of
a.0.32 m/s.
b.3.1 m/s.
c.0.32 m/s2.
d.3.1 m/s2.
Moving from 0 m/s to 25 m/s in 8.0 s equals an average
acceleration of
a.0.32 m/s.
b.3.1 m/s.
c.0.32 m/s2.
d.3.1 m/s2.
A cyclist is traveling from an initial speed of 10.0 m/s to a
final speed of 14.5 m/s. What is her acceleration after
9.0 s?
a.0.5 m/s
b.45 m/s
c.0.5 m/s2
.45 m/s2
A cyclist is traveling from an initial speed of 10.0 m/s to a
final speed of 14.5 m/s. What is her acceleration after
9.0 s?
a.0.5 m/s
b.45 m/s
c.0.5 m/s2
d.45 m/s2
Peter runs in a constant direction on a straight road. The
velocity vs. time graph of Peter’s motion shows a straight
line with a negative slope. What does the line tell you
about Peter’s speed?
a. It is increasing.
b. It is decreasing, then increasing.
c. It is decreasing.
d. It is constant.
When velocity changes by the same amount over each
time interval, acceleration is
a.zero.
b.positive.
c.constant.
d.negative.
A cheetah can accelerate at up to 6.0 m/s2. How long does
it take for a cheetah to speed up from 10.5 m/s to 12.2
m/s?
a.0.28 s
b.3.5 s
c.1.7 s
d.10 s
A cheetah can accelerate at up to 6.0 m/s2. How long does
it take for a cheetah to speed up from 10.5 m/s to 12.2
m/s?
a.0.28 s
b.3.5 s
c.1.7 s
d.10 s
The distance traveled by an object divided by the time it
takes to travel that distance is called
a.average velocity.
b.average acceleration.
c.average speed.
d.negative acceleration.
On a distance vs. time graph, the line of an object at rest is
a
a.curved line with a slope of zero.
b.jagged line with a negative slope.
c.flat line with a slope of zero.
d.curved line with a positive slope.
The difference between speed and velocity is that velocity
includes
a.direction.
b.time.
c.distance.
d.weight.
In order to determine speed, you must know
a.only time.
b.both time and distance.
c.only distance.
d.neither time nor distance.
When an object slows down, its acceleration is
a.positive.
b.negative.
c.centripetal.
d.constant.
Displacement
a.must be in a particular direction.
b.is the change in position of an object.
c.must be a straight line.
d.All of the above
On a speed vs. time graph, constant acceleration is
represented by a
a.straight line.
b.jagged line.
c.slightly sloped line.
d.steeply sloped line.
 Means “change of” and is found by taking final - initial.
 Δ
 Initial velocity/speed. Equals zero for an object that begins at
rest.
 Vi
 Units for velocity
 m/s
 Final velocity/speed. Equals zero for an object that is
stopping.
 Vf
 How far something moves in a certain amount of time; the
slope of a distance vs. time graph.
 Speed
 A variable that is not dependent on the other (on the x-axis).
 Independent variable
 The rate of change in the speed of an object (how fast
something changes speed).
 Acceleration
 A measurement of how steep a line is.
 Slope
Speed or Velocity?
a)A person walking 2 mph north.
velocity
b) A bird flies 20 m/s.
Speed
Are these are accelerating (yes or no)?
a) At constant velocity?
no
B) Going 20 m/s around a corner?
yes
C) Stopping from 20 m/s.
yes
D) An object at rest.
no
An object is accelerating at 10 m/s2. If the object starts at
rest:
a) How fast is it going after 1 second?
10 m/s
b) How fast will it be going after 3 seconds?
30 m/s
An object is traveling 3 m/s.
a) How far does it travel each second?
3m
B) How far will it go in 3 seconds?
9m
Car A is going 12 m/s. Car B is going 20 m/s.
a)Which car travels more distance each second?
B
b)Which car reaches 50 m last?
A
Which car goes 100 m?
Both
Acceleration
 Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity
 Velocity is speed with direction.
 Changing your direction means you are accelerating.
 Positive Velocity
Zero Acceleration
 Positive Velocity
Positive Acceleration
 Slope =
∆𝑦
∆𝑥
Displacement vs. Distance
 Be able to draw the vector.
For example:
Ray runs 30 feet north, 30 feet west, and then 30 feet
south. What is his displacement in each direction? What
is his total distance?
 Explain why displacement and distance are not the
same.