Name
Lab - Moving Man
http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/moving-man
Class Period
Date
Question: How are position vs time and velocity vs time graphs related?
Can you select the initial position, velocity, and acceleration
to match graphs of the moving man’s motion?
Experiment with the Moving Man simulation.
Go to the URL above. When the page opens, click on Run Now!
Familiarize yourself with the program then answer the following questions.
What does constant velocity look
like on a velocity vs. time graph?
Position
Velocity
What does constant velocity look
like on a position vs. time graph?
Time
Time
What does constant acceleration look
like on a velocity vs. time graph?
Velocity
What does constant acceleration look
like on a position vs. time graph?
Position
1
Time
Time
2
Matching the graphs
Select initial values for position, velocity, and acceleration to match both of the following position vs.
time and velocity vs. time graphs. When you match the curves, record each variable’s initial condition.
A)
position ________
velocity ________
acceleration ________
B)
position ________
velocity ________
acceleration ________
C)
position ________
velocity ________
acceleration ________
D)
position ________
velocity ________
acceleration ________
Questions:
1)
Describe the motion when velocity and acceleration have the same sign.
Does it matter if both are positive or both are negative?
2)
Describe the motion when velocity and acceleration have opposite signs.
Does it matter which is positive and which is negative?
A)
B)
P -10
V
3
A
0
P -10
V
0
A
3
C) P
0
V
4
A
1
D) P
8
V
3
A
-3