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Vertical Motion

Vertical Motion Demo

The motorcycle is driving along the blue calculus highway (a straight road with mile markers that are both positive & negative). Velocity is positive when the motorcycle goes forward (right).

Pressing the X in the lower right will clear all the graphs. You may want to clear the graph each time at first. It can be confusing to look at the position & velocity together.

Click the "reset time" button after each journey. Time ("t") should be increasing otherwise you are watching a movie in reverse.

Drag the "t" point to trace the graph.

Questions

1. Start the motorcycle & graph position. When does the motorcycle change directions? What is unique about the corresponding points on the position graph?

2. Reset time & clear the graph. Then start the car & graph velocity. What is unique about the points on the velocity graph corresponding to direction changes?

3. How far to the left did the motorcycle get (after starting)? What is unique about the corresponding points on the position & velocity graph?

4. Slowly drag the "t" while looking at the velocity values. During what time period was the velocity relatively stable? What is it about the shape of the position & velocity functions during this time period that shows stable velocity?

5. What is the maximum velocity? Minimum (most negative)? What is uniqe about the velocity curve at these times? What is unique about the position curve at these times?