Name ___________________________________________ Period _____ Date ____________________
Motion Simulation: The Moving Man
Through a web browser, navigate to http://phet.colorado.edu. Click "Play with Sims," then "Physics," then "Motion,"
then choose the "Moving Man" simulation. Click "Run now" to start the simulation. When it is up, click the “Charts” tab.
Position – Velocity - Acceleration
Reset all of the man's values to zero. When drawing the graphs, draw them as accurately as possible.
Click  to start the man in motion until he hits the wall, then hit to stop recording.
Directions: For each of the given situations, sketch the position vs. time, velocity vs. time, and acceleration vs. time
graphs. Then describe the motion of the man; what direction are they moving; are they speeding up, slowing down,
moving at a constant velocity, or stopped. Make sure to use time intervals in your description of the motion.
1. Using the position slider, set the man to stand near the left wall (-10 m). Give him a velocity of 0.5 m/s and an
acceleration of 0.0 m/s2.
2. Using the position slider, set the man to stand near the right wall (10 m). Give him a velocity of -0.5 m/s and an
acceleration of 0.0 m/s2.
3. Using the position slider, set the man to stand near the left wall (-10 m). Give him a velocity of 0 m/s and an
acceleration of 1.0 m/s2.
4. Using the position slider, set the man to stand near the right wall (10 m). Give him a velocity of 0 m/s and an
acceleration of -1.0 m/s2.
5. Using the position slider, set the man to stand near the left wall (-10 m). Give him a velocity of 4 m/s and an
acceleration of -0.4 m/s2.
6. Using the position slider, set the man to stand near the right wall (10 m). Give him a velocity of -4 m/s and an
acceleration of 0.4 m/s2.
Name ___________________________________________ Period _____ Date ____________________
Directions: For the given position vs. time or velocity vs. time graph, describe the motion of the man (the direction he is
moving, and if he is speeding up, slowing down, at a constant velocity, or stopped). Be specific when describing the
motion making sure to use time intervals (i.e. 0 to 5 seconds they are moving to the right at a constant velocity) and any
values for velocity, if the velocity is constant.
7. Position vs. Time
8. Position vs. Time
9. Position vs. Time
10. Position vs. Time
11. Position vs. Time
12. Velocity vs. Time
13. Velocity vs. Time
14. Velocity vs. Time
15. Velocity vs. Time