Question 1

A motion diagram shows an object moving along the x-axis with equal spacing between each dot and arrows of equal length pointing to the right. What does this indicate about the object's motion?

Accepted Answer

The object is moving with a constant velocity in the positive x-direction.

Question 2

Given a position vs. time graph that is a straight line with a positive slope, what can you conclude about the object's velocity?

Accepted Answer

The object has a constant positive velocity.

Question 3

If a velocity vs. time graph shows a horizontal line at $$v_x = 5\ \mathrm{m/s}$$ from $$t = 4\ \mathrm{s} to$$ $$t = 6\ \mathrm{s}$$, what is the displacement during this interval?

Accepted Answer

$$10\ \mathrm{m}$$

Question 4

A cart moves from $$x = 23\ \mathrm{m}$$ and undergoes a displacement of $$\Delta x = -50\ \mathrm{m}. $$What is its final position?

Accepted Answer

$$-27\ \mathrm{m}$$

Question 5

Which of the following best describes the relationship between the slope of a position vs. time graph and velocity?

Accepted Answer

The slope of the position vs. time graph gives the velocity.

Question 6

A velocity vs. time graph is a horizontal line at $$v_x = -2\ \mathrm{m/s}$$ from $$t = 0 to$$ $$t = 2\ \mathrm{s}. $$What is the displacement during this interval?

Accepted Answer

$$-4\ \mathrm{m}$$

Question 7

A cart passes through two photogates. The time to pass through the first gate is $$0.15\ \mathrm{s}$$ and through the second gate is $$0.10\ \mathrm{s}. $$What does this indicate about the cart's motion?

Accepted Answer

The cart is speeding up.

Question 8

If the area under a velocity vs. time graph from $$t = 1\ \mathrm{s} to$$ $$t = 3\ \mathrm{s} at$$ $$v_x = 12\ \mathrm{m/s} is $$calculated, what does this area represent?

Accepted Answer

The displacement during that time interval.

Question 9

A position vs. time graph for a basketball player shows a steep positive slope, then a gentle positive slope. What does this indicate about the player's motion?

Accepted Answer

The player moves fast at first, then slows down but continues in the same direction.

Question 10

Which of the following is the correct operational definition of velocity?

Accepted Answer

$$v_x = \frac{\Delta x}{\Delta t}$$

Question 11

A velocity vs. time graph shows $$v_x = 3\ \mathrm{m/s}$$ from $$t = 4\ \mathrm{s} to$$ $$t = 6\ \mathrm{s}$$, and $$v_x = 1\ \mathrm{m/s}$$ from $$t = 6\ \mathrm{s} to$$ $$t = 12\ \mathrm{s}. $$What is the total displacement from $$t = 4\ \mathrm{s} to$$ $$t = 12\ \mathrm{s}$$?

Accepted Answer

$$9\ \mathrm{m}$$

Question 12

A student analyzes a motion diagram and notes that the spacing between dots increases as time progresses. What does this indicate?

Accepted Answer

The object is speeding up.

Question 13

A cart moves from $$x = 25\ \mathrm{cm} at$$ $$t = 0.2\ \mathrm{s} to$$ $$x = 21\ \mathrm{cm} at$$ $$t = 0.6\ \mathrm{s}. $$What is its velocity?

Accepted Answer

$$-10\ \mathrm{cm/s}$$

Question 14

Which of the following best describes the difference between speed and velocity?

Accepted Answer

Speed is the magnitude of velocity and does not include direction.

Question 15

A velocity vs. time graph shows a value of $$v_x = 0\ \mathrm{m/s} at$$ $$t = 2\ \mathrm{s}. $$What does this indicate about the object's motion at that instant?

Accepted Answer

The object is momentarily at rest.

Question 16

A student uses a motion detector to generate a position vs. time graph that is a straight line with a negative slope. What does this indicate?

Accepted Answer

The object is moving with constant velocity in the negative direction.

Analyzing Motion Diagrams and Calculating Velocity from Position-Time Data

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