Motion & Velocity - Erin Morgan | Library

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Fill in these notes to summarize our learning about motion graphs.

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Practice reading the graph. The graph shows a snail's wild journey through a garden. Match the three sections of the graph above with the description of the snail's motion during that time period.

Draggable item		Corresponding Item
speeding up		A
not moving / speed = 0		B
travelling at a constant speed		C

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How fast was the snail moving from 6-9 minutes? Include units in your answer!

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Let's make sure we all understand the science vocab for these graphs. As you watch the video below, pause to match each description with the definition: Speed, Velocity or Acceleration?

The rate at which an object changes position, or distance / time.
Examples: 70mph, 5m/sec
Speed plus direction
Examples: 30mph north, 9m/sec down
The rate at which velocity changes
Often measured in m/s2
Examples: speeding up, slowing down or turning right

Speed
Velocity
Acceleration

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Calculate. A bowling ball moves 18 meters every 2 seconds down the lane at a bowling alley. What is the speed?

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Draw a graph that tells this story:
A gazelle walks towards the river at a steady velocity 1m/second for 10 seconds. She stops to drink for 5 seconds, then sees an alligator. She turns around and accelerates, covering 10 meters in 5 seconds. (The graph shows the gazelle's starting position. Please add axis labels, units and a line to show her motion.)

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The four graphs show distance over time. Match: what car motion would create each graph?

Draggable item		Corresponding Item
4		Parked, still
2		Driving forward at a steady pace
3		Accelerating
Not shown above		Decelerating
1		Driving backwards

Read to review the ideas, and answer questions 1-4. 

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An object can have velocity without acceleration.

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Pushing on the gas peddle causes: (choose all that are correct)

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Your car's speedometer says "25mph." What "point of reference" is being used?

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Opinion: is it ever okay to drive at a velocity higher than the posted speed limit?

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Put it all together. Here is a made-up time v. distance graph. The blue line shows one traveler and the red line a second. Explain what is taking place with as much detail as you can. Include the words "speed" "velocity" and "acceleration" in your story.

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This Porsch can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 2.2 seconds.
Meanwhile, this Nissan SUV takes over 10 seconds.

When we build a car for this unit, a goal will be to design a car that can move far and fast. Next week, we'll be talking about what that might involve. Below, guess three different reasons a car might be able to accelerate faster.

Submit! Here are choices when you are done: 
- Play the stickman game some more.
- This challenging game is similar but involves designing ramps for a rolling ball. 
- Go to Canvas "Done Do's" (from the bottom of the homepage) and choose an activity.