The Moving Man
Name _________________
http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/moving-manGo to Mrs. Armstrong’s
Web page click on the Moving Man Link.
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Click “Run”. When the simulation opens, click on the “Charts” tab.
Close the velocity and acceleration graphs by clicking on the minus sign on the right
hand side of each graph.
1. Play with the Moving Man by dragging him back and forth. Click on
the playback button at the bottom of the page to look at the graphs
when you are done. Notice what is happening to the graphs as he
moves.
Sketch the shape of the graph line that
was created.
Explain what the graph line is showing..
Be sure to click the “clear” button on the left side of the screen to
reset your graph. He will not be at zero unless you move him there
before you hit “clear”.
2. Write down what the graph looks like when you drag the man towards
the house.
Motion to the Right of Zero
GRAPH
3.
Explanation
Write down what the graph looks like when the man is standing
still.
Standing Still
Sketch the Graph
Explanation
4. Do you think the line will always look this way when the man is
standing still? Test out your ideas on the simulation. What did you
discover? Why does this make sense?
5. What do you think will happen to the line if the man moves away
from the house? Draw your prediction in the space below, then test
out your idea.
Moving to the Left of Zero.
Prediction
Explain.
Actual
Explain.
6. Do you think the line will always look this way when the man is
moving away from the house? Test out your ideas on the simulation.
What did you discover? Based on what you saw in the examples,
summarize what you know.
When the graph
looks like
this:
Describe how the man is moving.
Distance vs. Displacement
7. Start moving man at 0. Try to move him at constant speed. Move him 4m to the right and
then 3 m back to the left. Calculate the distance traveled by the man. Show your work. Sketch
how a distance vs. time graph would look if showing this scenario. Is distance traveled + or -?
GRAPH
Explanation
Why do you think it should look like
this?
8. Calculate the displacement of Moving Man using the situation from above. Show your work.
Remember, final position minus initial position will give you displacement.
GRAPH
Explanation
Why do you think it should look like
this?
9. Move the man from zero to 2m. Now move him to -2m. Hit pause.
Calculate distance traveled. Show your work. Is your answer + or -?
Explain. Now sketch the d vs. t graph.
GRAPH
Explanation
Why do you think it should look like
this?
10.
Calculate the displacement of Moving Man using the situation from above. Show your
work. Remember, final position minus initial position will give you displacement. Is it + or -?
Explain. Now sketch the position vs. time graph.
GRAPH
Explanation
Why do you think it should look like
this?
11. Define distance traveled and displacement.
ways that they are different.
Explain at least 3