Physics
Unit 2 Constant Velocity
Motion Maps
Motion Maps
 Motion maps are another way to represent the
motion of an object. (other representations are
graphical and mathematical models).
 Motion maps are a visual way to represent an
object’s motion at various time.
Motion Maps
 How would you describe the position of the car
moving with a constant velocity over time?
Motion Maps
 To make a motion map of the car’s motion, you
need to draw an arrow representing positive
direction.
 The beginning of the arrow is the reference point.
X
Motion Maps
 If the object is moving, its position will change over
time. If the object is stationary, its position will
remain the same as time increases
 On a motion map, this is illustrated by a signal dot
on the position arrow.
Constant Positive Velocity
X
X
Stationary
Motion Maps
 The object’s constant velocity is indicated by two
things: The displacement between the points are
constant, and the arrows indicating the object’s
velocity are the same length.
 If the object is stationary, then the velocity is zero
and there is not arrow indicating the velocity
Constant Positive Velocity
X
X
Stationary
Motion Maps
 If the velocity of the object increases, then the
arrows representing velocity should be longer and
the displacement between the points should be
greater.
large positive constant velocity
X
Motion Maps
 If the object begins at some positive position in
front of the reference point and moves toward the
reference point, the velocity will be negative and
the velocity arrows on the motion map point left
instead of right.
Negative constant velocity
X
Motion Maps
 A motion map for an object moving to the right with
a constant velocity, stops for two seconds, and
then moves with a slower constant velocity to the
left.
X