SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Science Subject Area

Worksheet 7: Motion Graphs (Position vs Time) Name: Ted Joshua L. Javines

Physical Science Grade-Section: Bellarmino
Date:2/8/21 Class Number: 23

Graphical Analysis of Motion: Position-Time Graphs I

Velocity is defined as the rate of change of position. Velocity is a vector quantity, having both magnitude
(speed) and direction.

In a position-time graph, the slope of any non-vertical line is the velocity.

Given any two points A (t1 , d1) and B (t2 , d2) on a position-time graph in which each point is defined as an
ordered pair where t1 and t2 are time values with t2 > t1 and d1 and d2 are position values.

The change in position or the displacement is computed as d = d2 – d1

The average velocity as indicated between any two points on the position-time is computed using a method
similar to the slope formula:

Average velocity = d2 – d1

t 2 – t1

Part I. Study the position time graph below and answer the questions that follow.

E F

D
C

A B

A. Given the position-time graph, describe the motion of the object for each time interval - whether it is moving or
at rest; if it is moving, indicate the direction (left or right) then state whether it is moving at constant, increasing
or decreasing speed.
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Time Interval Description of Motion

AB

BC

CD

DE

EF

FG

B. Given the position-time graph, represent each of the points A – G with an ordered pair showing the time and
displacement values. Point A has been done as an example.

Point Ordered Pair

2
A (0 s, 10 m)

3
 C. Given the position-time graph, compute for the displacement and the average velocity for each of the given time
intervals. Show solutions. The displacement and average velocity for time interval AB has been done as an
example.
Time Interval Displacement Average velocity

AB

d = (10 m - 10 m) Ave. Velocity = (10 m - 10 m) = 0 m/s

= 0m (10 s – 0 s)

BC

CD

DE

EF
4
FG

5
Part II. The displacement-time graph below shows the motion of a cart as it moves along a straight line path.

__________ 1. At which time interval is the cart

stationary?

__________ 2. At which time interval is the cart

moving toward the positive
direction?

__________ 3. What is the cart’s average

velocity from 2 s to 4 s?

__________ 4. What is the displacement of the

cart after 8 s?

__________ 5. What is the total distance travelled by the cart after 8 s?

Part III. Aesop’s Fable: The Tortoise and the Hare

Recall the story of “The Tortoise and the Hare” from Aesop’s Fables by clicking on this link:
http://read.gov/aesop/025.html

1. What is the moral of the story?

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2. Assume the race course in the story was purely a straight line. Draw the position-time graph of the very slow,
plodding tortoise using broken or dashed lines. Using the same of axes, draw the position-time graph of the fast hare
using solid lines.

Part IV. Answer the following questions in 3-5 sentences.

1. How can motion of an object be observed, described or measured?

2. Where there any instances in your life that your decisions limited how you respond or act upon a situation? To
which situations you have chosen to decline? Cite specific examples to support your answer.