Physics Essential Standards Covered:

Phy1.1.1 

• Describe graphically the velocity of an object as the rate of change of position; distinguish between constant, average, and instantaneous velocity.

• analyze position versus time graphs of an object moving with a constant velocity:

  • recognize a linear relationship provided be a best fit line where velocity is the slop of the line.

  • apply the slope-intercept equation, y = mx + b, to derive the relationship for final position.

• Analyze position versus time graphs of an object moving with constant acceleration:

  • compare the graph of an object moving at constant velocity;

  • recognize the shape of the curve as parabolic indicating that position is proportional to the square of the time;

  • relate the concept of instantaneous velocity to the slope of a tangent line. 

• Describe graphically the acceleration of an object as the rate of change of velocity.

• Analyze velocity versus time graphs of an object moving with a constant acceleration;

  • recognize the slop of the line as the acceleration;

  • recognize that the displacement during any time period is equal to the area under the graph;

  • develop the relationships for objects moving at constant acceleration (such as rolling down an inclined plane or falling toward the Earth);

• Analyze position vs. time, velocity vs. time, and acceleration vs. time graphs of objects in motion; identify the motion as constant velocity or accelerating based on the shape of the graph; interpret the graph in order to quantitatively describe the motion.