CH2 Describing Motion: Kinematics in One Dimension

NV-College

VG2.57Physics A.1D.Motion. The figure below is a position versus time graph for the motion of an object along the x-axis. As the object moves from A to B [4/2] a. Is the object moving in the positive or negative direction? b. Is the object speeding up or slowing down? c. Is the acceleration of the object positive or negative? Next, for the time interval from D to E : d. Is the object moving in the positive or negative direction? e. Is the object speeding up or slowing down? f. Is the acceleration of the object positive or negative? Finally, answer these same three questions for the time interval from C to D .

Position vs time 30 25 20 x [m]

E

15 10 5
D

0 0 1 2 3 t [s]
Suggested solution: From A to B :
a. The object is moving in the negative direction. Its position is

[1/1]

changed from 25 m to 23 m .

b. The object is speeding up. The slope of the graph is (negatively)

rising. At A it started from rest, gradually accelerating all the way. Its instantaneous velocity at B is the slope of the tangent to the curve at the point: 14 26 m v= = 12 m / s 2 1 s The negative sign is indication of the direction of motion: The object is moving in the negative direction at B .

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CH2 Describing Motion: Kinematics in One Dimension c. The acceleration of the object is negative from

NV-College

A to B . The object is speeding up but in the negative direction: its speed increases, but in the negative direction. Note that that the term deceleration is not appropriate in this situation. Deceleration is used if the object slows down, and of course it is negative, but not all negative accelerations may be called deceleration!
[1/1] [1/0]

For the time interval from D to E : from 5 m at D to 15 m at E .

d. The object is moving in the positive direction. Its position is changed

e. The object is speeding up (its speed is gradually increasing). The

slope of the graph is gradually increasing. At D , it is stationary. It started from rest again, gradually accelerating all the way up to the point E . The positive sign is indication of the direction of motion: The object is moving in the positive direction at E . [0/1]
f.

The acceleration of the object is positive from D to E . The object is speeding up: its speed increases. [2/0]

Finally from C to D :
g. The object is stationary. During the time interval

C to D .

h. The object is stationary, i.e. its velocity is constant and zero. Note

that the slope of the function between C and D .

i.

During the time interval C to D . Both the acceleration and speed of the object are zero. During this time the object is stationary.

behzad.massoumzadeh@huddinge.se Not for sale. Free to use for educational purposes.

Sjdalsgymnasiet