Representations of motion
Variant i Interactive tutorial lecture Other Variants Dynamics first
This tutorial gives students practice in interpreting and relating motion graphs and in translating between such graphs, written descriptions, and real-world motions.
Vector representations are introduced in a subsequent tutorial, Acceleration in one dimension.
Topics Mechanics / Kinematics: graphs, rates of change, representations, verbal interpretations, acceleration vs. deceleration, acceleration vs. time graphs, position vs. time graphs, slopes of graphs, and velocity vs. time graphs
Materials
Materials by the UW team
- Clicker Questions Only
- Instructor Guide
- Pretest
- Pretest for LMS
- Exam Questions
- Equipment List
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Tutorial details
This tutorial consists of several different scenarios involving the movement of a person in front of a motion detector. In each scenario, students are given one of four representations (a written description of the motion, an $x$ versus $t$ graph, a $v$ versus $t$ graph, or an $a$ versus $t$ graph) and must provide the remaining representations.
There is also a discussion of the difference between deceleration and negative acceleration.
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Prerequisites
Prerequisite tutorials
The Acceleration in one-dimension tutorial is a prerequisite to Representations of motion.
Other prerequisites
Students need to have studied position, velocity, and acceleration.
Research
- D. Grayson and L. McDermott, Use of the computer for research on student thinking in physics, Am. J. Phys. 64 (5), 557 (1996).
- L. McDermott, Research and Computer-Based Instruction: Opportunity for Interaction, Am. J. Phys. 58 (5), 452 (1990).
- L. McDermott, M. Rosenquist, and E. Van Zee, Student difficulties in connecting graphs and physics: Examples from kinematics, Am. J. Phys. 55 (6), 503 (1987).
- M. Rosenquist and L. McDermott, A conceptual approach to teaching kinematics, Am. J. Phys. 55 (5), 407 (1987).
- D. Trowbridge and L. McDermott, Investigation of student understanding of the concept of velocity in one dimension, Am. J. Phys. 48 (12), 1020 (1980).
- D. Trowbridge and L. McDermott, Investigation of student understanding of the concept of acceleration in one dimension, Am. J. Phys. 49 (3), 242 (1981).
Coming Soon! We hope to release the discussion section on each tutorial soon.
