Bag o'Cars

To explore ideas about motion – description of an object's movement not why they move. Before we can discuss causation, we will describe the manner in which objects move.

One Object - One Motion

On your table, draw three lines 0.5 m apart.
Choose the middle line as a starting point (0 meters) and a direction to be positive (usually to the right). Label the other lines as +0.5 m and -0.5m.
Individually, set each car into motion as described in the table below.

Observe the motion of each of the cars BETWEEN two lines drawn on your table.
Describe the motion of the car between the two lines - not the car or what makes it do what it does. Using a minimum of 5 motion maps, illustrate the motion of each car.
Sketch a graph of the motion of each car, on the same graph. Consider the point at which you release the car as time 0 sec and position as indicated for each car.
Rank type of motion you think is easiest (or simplest) to hardest (most complex) to study, and why?
List and define key words that you have used when you described the motion of the cars that you think are important.
1. Research the definitions of the terms you listed. How do the definitions used by physicists differ from your personal definitions.

Vocabulary to support your explanations.

Comparison of Motion

More Complex Motions:
1. Create the following for your assigned motion:
  1. Description of the motion.
  2. Motion Maps
  3. Sketch of Position v. Time Graph
  4. Sketch of Velocity v. Time Graph

Translating Motion Maps into Position Time Graphs

Motion Maps

Supporting Document: Motion Maps and Velocity vs. Time Graphs

Bag o_Cars Reflection.pdf

Practice Questions

Q1: The graph to the right shows the position of a car over time.

Identify the starting position of the car.
Describe the motion of the car in words.
What is the car's velocity?
Draw the corresponding velocity-time graph for this motion.

Q2: Car A starts at a position of 10 meters and moves with a constant velocity of +2.5 m/s. Car B starts at a position of 0 meters and moves with a constant velocity of +5 m/s.

Draw the position-time graphs for both cars on the same set of axes.
At what time and position do the cars meet? Explain how you found your answer using your graphs.

Q3: Car A starts at a position of 40 meters and travels with a constant velocity of -8 m/s. Car B starts at the origin (0 meters) and travels with a constant velocity of +4 m/s.

Draw the position-time graphs for both cars on the same set of axes.
At what time and position do the two cars meet?

Q4: Car A starts at a position of 10 meters and travels with a constant velocity of +1 m/s. Car B starts at the origin (0 meters) and travels with a constant velocity of +4 m/s. You will need to add numbers to the axis.

Draw the position-time graphs for both cars on the same set of axes.
At what time and position does Car B catch up to Car A?

Q5: Car A starts at the origin (0 meters) and travels with a constant velocity of +1.5 m/s. Car B starts at a position of 15 meters and travels with a constant velocity of -1 m/s. However, Car B's engine stalls after 5 seconds, and it remains at rest for the rest of the time.

Draw the position-time graphs for both cars on the same set of axes for the first 10 seconds of motion.
At what time and position do the cars pass each other?

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