Name _________________________________ Date ______________ Period ______ Score _________
Virtual Lab: The Moving Man
Objective
To discover, identify and describe motion in terms of relationships between position, velocity, acceleration
and time.
Directions
 Go to phet.colorado.edu
 Click “Play with Sims…”
 On the left hand side, click “Physics” and find “The Moving Man” simulation
NOTE: Simulations are listed alphabetically
 Click to open the simulation and select the “Run Now!” button
 Select the “Charts” tab along the top of the page
Activity Directions
For each situation, enter the information provided on this handout into the boxes under each category
heading on The Moving Man page. This info may include initial velocity, acceleration, and/or position.
Next, click the play button. Watch the man and observe the corresponding graphs that are created. Click
the pause button just before the man strikes the wall. Reproduce the graphs on this handout, then answer
the questions for each situation.
* Click the clear button on the bottom left on the screen before moving on to the next situaton!
Situation 1: No Motion
(velocity = 0 m/s and acceleration = 0 m/s2)
Position vs. Time
Velocity vs. Time
Acceleration vs. Time
On a position vs. time graph, a straight line with no slope (-----) illustrates what type of motion?
On a velocity vs. time graph, a straight line with no slope (-----) illustrates what type of motion?
What does zero acceleration do to an object that is at rest?
Situation 2: Moving at a constant velocity to the RIGHT
(position= -9 m, velocity= +5 m/s, acceleration= 0 m/s2)
Position vs. Time
Velocity vs. Time
Acceleration vs. Time
On a position vs. time graph, a straight line with positive slope (-----) illustrates what type of motion?
Situation 3: Constant velocity to the LEFT
(position = +9m, velocity = -5 m/s, acceleration = 0 m/s2)
Position vs. Time
Velocity vs. Time
Acceleration vs. Time
On a position vs. time graph, a straight line with negative slope ( \ ) illustrates what type of motion?
What does zero acceleration do to an object that is moving?
Situation 4: Acceleration from REST
(position = -9m, velocity = 0 m/s, acceleration = +1 m/s2)
Position vs. Time
Velocity vs. Time
Acceleration vs. Time
On a position vs. time graph, an upward curve pattern illustrates what type of motion?
On a velocity vs. time graph, a straight line with a positive slope illustrates what type of motion?
Situation 5: Moving to the right with constant negative acceleration
(position = -9 m, velocity = +5 m/s, acceleration = -1 m/s2)
Position vs. Time
Velocity vs. Time
Acceleration vs. Time
On a position vs. time graph, a downward curve pattern illustrates what type of motion?
On a velocity vs. time graph, a straight line with negative slope ( \ ) illustrates what type of motion?
What does negative acceleration do to an object moving to the right?
Situation 6: Moving to the left with constant positive acceleration
(position = +9 m, velocity = -5 m/s, acceleration = +1 m/s2)
Position vs. Time
Velocity vs. Time
Acceleration vs. Time
Review Questions
On a position vs. time graph, what type of motion is illustrated by a(n):
 Straight line with no slope ( --- )? ___________________________________________________
 Straight line with positive slope ( / )? ________________________________________________
 Straight line with negative slope ( \ )? ________________________________________________
 Upward curve pattern (
 Downward curve pattern (
)? ______________________________________________________
)? ____________________________________________________
On a velocity-time graph, what type of motion is illustrated by a:
 Straight line with no slope ( --- )? ___________________________________________________
 Straight line with a positive slope ( / )? _______________________________________________
 Straight line with negative slope ( \ )? ________________________________________________
Apply What You Learned
Look at the graph below and for the different parts of the graph that are marked write a statement about
what is happening. Be sure to include the direction of motion and the speed of motion.
Part C
Part D
Part B
Part E
Part A
Part
A
B
C
D
E
F
Description of Direction
Part F
Description of Speed