Moving Man - Velocity vs. Time Graphs
Simulation LAB WRITEUP!!!! Name _______________
Background – Graphs are a way of communicating by using pictures, and since a picture is worth a thousand words,
knowing how to make and interpret graphs will save you a lot of writing!
Lab Write-up – Title, Procedures, Data (i.e. all of your graphs, with explanations, predictions in one color and
correct graph in another), and answers to questions 6 – 8. This will be recorded in YOUR LAB NOTEBOOK!! YOU
ARE EACH RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LAB REPORT!
Learning Goals – The students will be able to accurately interpret and draw position and velocity graphs for
common situations and explain their reasoning.
Procedure – Go to http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/moving-man and open the “Moving man” sim.
1. After “The Moving Man” is open leave the position graph and the velocity graph open but close the
acceleration graph by clicking the symbol in the upper righthand corner of the graph.
Investigate Moving Man by dragging the dude around with your mouse. This will give you very jumpy data,
especially in the acceleration graph – why? Now try making the man move using the slider arrows. Use the
playback features to look at the graphs. While you make observations, discuss in your group the reasons the
graphs look the way they do.
2. Making predictions: on your paper, sketch six of the following graphs. Label them A – F. For each of
the six scenarios below, in one color, PREDICT what the distance vs. time and velocity vs. time will look
like. Don’t be afraid to be wrong – and don’t cheat by looking at Moving Man first! Leave some space for
explanations beside or below each graph SUCH AS THOSE HERE IN YOUR LAB NOTEBOOK! THIS
MEANS A P-T GRAP AND A V-T GRAPH FOR EACH SCENERIO a-f!! These are just an example of how
your graph axes could look!
10
-5
-10
Time
(s)
Velocity (m/s)
Distance (m)
5
0
10
5
0
-5
-10
Time
(s)
Explain your reasoning for the
appearance of each of the
graphs. Do this beside each
graph in your notebook!!
Example axes for scenario A!!
A) A man moving from the center of the screen (0 m) to the house (8m)
at a slow, steady pace.
B) A man moving from 0 to the house at a faster pace than above.
C) A man standing still at 4 m.
D) A man moving from 0 to the house at a fast pace then moving back to 0 at a slower pace.
E) A man moving from 8 m to the tree m at a fast pace.
F) A man moving from 0 to the house, speeding up as he walks.
3. Use the Moving Man simulation to verify or correct your predicted graphs with a different colored pen or
pencil.
4. In the space below or beside each graph, explain why the distance and velocity graphs appear the way they
do.
Moving Man - Velocity vs. Time Graphs Simulation LAB WRITEUP!!!! Name _______________
5. Make new distance vs. time and velocity vs. time graphs for each of the following scenarios. Predict what
you think the graphs will look like, and then use Moving man to verify or correct your predicted graphs and
reasoning with a different color pen.
G) The man stands still while he talks on his cell phone at the middle of the sidewalk, then walks toward
the house at a constant rate trying to get better cell reception. He comes to a sudden stop when the
coverage is good (about a meter before the house) and stands still to finish his conversation.
H) The man starts close to the tree, stands still for a little while, then walks toward the house at a
constant rate for a while, then slows gradually to a stop.
I) A man wakes up from his nap under the tree and speeds up toward the house. He stops because he is
worried that he dropped his keys. He stands still as he searches his pockets for his keys. Once he finds
them, he continues calmly to walk toward the house and then slows to a stop as he nears the door.
J) The man starts three meters from the house and speeds up as he walks towards the tree.
6. Look at your graphs, reasonings, and the corrections from questions 2 – 5. Discuss (with your partner, and
then write down your discussion) why some of your predictions were wrong and how your ideas about motion
have changed.
7. With your lab partner, write a motion scenario that you could test. Test it, and then write a description of
how you used the program to generate the graphs. Sketch the graphs.
8. Individually write a possible scenario for the following graph. Then compare your scenario with your lab
partner to check if it is reasonable.
time
SOME HELPFUL HINTS!!
1. DO NOT PLAY A ROUND!! TODAY DETERMINES IF YOU GET TIME IN CLASS TO WORK
THESE SIMULATIONS OR IF THE SIMULATIONS NEED TO BE ASSIGNED AS OUTSIDE OF
CLASSTIME!!
2. WORK WITH A PARTNER!! THIS WILL REDUCE TIME AS TWO BRAISN ARE USUALLY
BETTER THAN ONE!
3. FOLLOW GUIDELINES AND DIRECTIONS AS SPECIFICALLY WRITEN AND DISCUSSED. DO
NOT SKIP STEPS! READ!! READ!!! READ!!!!
4. THE DIRECTION STATE THAT YOU NEED TO RECORD THE DATA AND OBSERVATIONS IN
YOUR LAB NOTEBOOK! IT WILL BE GRADED FOR CORRECTNESS AND COMPLETEION!
5. ONE MORE TIME, DO NOT GOOF AROUND! IF YOU WASTE YOUR CLASSTIME, I HAVE NO
OPTION BUT TO ASSIGN AS OUTSIDE HOMEWORK!
6. DO A GOOD JOB WITH COLLECTING YOUR DATA AND RECORDING YORU DATA! YOU
MAY WANT TIO INVEST IN A 6” RULER! AND COLORED PENCILS.