Motion Time Graphs

Worksheet

12 Practice Questions
55 Sub-problems

Organic Chemistry Tutor

1. The motion of a particle along the x-axis is 2. Consider the data table below which shows the
represented by the graph shown below. position of an object with respect to time.

(a) Find the velocity at t = 1, t = 3, t = 5, and t = 11. (a) What is the average velocity of the object
(b) What is the value of a(1)? during the 1st ten seconds?
(c) When is the particle moving to the right?
(d) When is the particle moving to the left? (b) Estimate the instantaneous velocity of the
(e) When is the particle at rest? object at t = 6s.
(f) When is it changing direction?
(g) When is the particle accelerating?
(h) When is the particle’s velocity decreasing? Time (s) Position (m)
(i) When is it moving at a constant speed? 0 34
(j) When is it speeding up? 2 41
(k) When is it slowing down? 4 47
(l) What is the average velocity and average speed 6 54
of the particle for the first 12 seconds?
8 63
10 74
12 90
3. The graph below represents the position vs time 4. Sketch a position vs time graph given the
for 4 different runners. (a) Which runner has the following situation: A particle is initially at +10 m
greatest speed? (b) Which runner received the from the origin along the +x-axis. It moves at a
greatest head-start? (c) When does John catch up constant velocity of -2 m/s for 2 seconds and then
to Karen? (d) In what direction is each runner remains at rest for 3 seconds. Next, it travels to
traveling? (e) Which two runners are moving at the right at a constant speed of 3 m/s for 3 seconds
the same speed? (f) Will Lisa ever catch up to and then rests again for another 2 seconds.
Mark?
5. The velocity of a particle along the x-axis is 6. Consider the velocity time graph shown below.
represented by the graph shown below.
(a) Which vehicle has a greater acceleration – the
(a) What is the velocity at t = 0, t = 3, and t = 11? car or the bus?
(b) Calculate the acceleration at t = 1, t = 3, t = 5,
and t = 9. (b) What does it mean when the two lines for the
(c) When is the particle moving to the right? car and the bus intersect?
(d) When is the particle moving to the left?
(e) When is the particle at rest? (c) What does the y-intercept for the graph below?
(f) When is it changing direction?
(g) When is it accelerating along the +x-axis? (d) Which two vehicles have the same
(h) When is the particle decelerating? acceleration? Is it positive or negative?
(i) When is it moving at constant speed?
(j) When is it moving with constant acceleration? (e) Which vehicle(s) is slowing down?
(k) When is the acceleration increasing? (f) Which vehicle(s) is speeding up?
(l) When is the acceleration decreasing?
(m) When is it speeding up?
(n) When is it slowing down?
(o) What is the average acceleration for the first 12
seconds?
7. A car has an initial velocity of +6 m/s. It begins 8. The initial position of a particle is -50 m from the
to accelerate at +3 m/s2 for 4 seconds and then origin. The graph below shows the particle’s
moves at a constant speed for 2 seconds. Next, it velocity with respect to time. (a) Calculate the final
accelerates at -5 m/s2 for 3 seconds and then position of the particle at t = 3, t = 5, t = 7, t = 9, t =
moves at a constant speed for another 3 seconds. 10, t = 12, and t = 14s. (b) Calculate the particle’s
(a) sketch the velocity-time graph. (b) Determine displacement for the entire 14 seconds.
the final velocity after 12 seconds.
9. The graph below describes the velocity of a 10. The particle’s velocity as a function of time is
particle as a function of time. shown below. Which of the following statements
regarding the speed of the particle is true?
(a) Calculate the total displacement of the particle.

(b) What is the total distance traveled by the

particle?

(c) If the particle’s initial position was +30 m, what

is the final position?

(d) During what time interval is the particle’s

acceleration the greatest?

(e) When is the particle’s acceleration equal to

zero?

(A) The speed of the particle remains constant.

(B) The speed of the particle is always increasing.

(c) The speed of the particle is always decreasing.

(D) The speed of the particle decreases and then

increases.

(E) The speed of the particle increases and then

decreases.
11. The graph below shows the velocities of two 12. The graph below shows the particle’s
vehicles with respect to time. Both vehicles have acceleration as a function of time. The velocity of
the same position at t = 0. Which of the following the particle at t = 0 is +30 m/s.
statements is true regarding the distances traveled
by the two vehicles at time B? (a) Calculate the velocity of the particle at t = 3, t =
5, t = 7, t = 8, and t = 10.

(b) Determine the overall change in the velocity of

the particle at the end of 10 seconds.

(A) The car will have traveled further than the bus.

(B) The bus will have traveled further than the car.

(C) The distance traveled is the same for both

vehicles.

(D) The position of the bus remains the same.

(E) The bus has a greater acceleration than the car.

Answers:

1a. v(1) = 3 m/s, v(3) = 0, v(5) = 0, v(11) = -2 m/s

1b. a(1) = 0
1c. (0, 2) U (5, 7)
1d. (4, 5) U (7, 8) U (10, ꝏ)
1e. (2, 4) U (8, 10), t = 5s, and t = 7s
1f. t = 5s and t = 7s
1g. (4, 6)
1h. (6, 8)
1i. (0, 2) U (2, 4) U (8, 10) U (10, 12)
1j. (5, 6) U (7, 8)
1k. (4, 5) U (6, 7)
1l. V = 0.167 m/s and S = 1.5 m/s

2a. 4 m/s
2b. 4 m/s

3a. John
3b. Karen has a head-start over John. Mark has a head-start over Lisa.
3c. 6.5 seconds
3d. John and Karen are moving to the right. Lisa and Mark are moving to the left.
3e. Lisa and Mark
3f. Lisa will never catch up to Mark.

4.

5a. v(0) = 4 m/s, v(3) = -4 m/s, and v(11) = 8 m/s

5b. a(1) = -4 m/s2, a(3) = 0, a(5) = 5 m/s2, a(9) = 0
5c. [0, 1) U (4.5, 12]
5d. (1, 4.5)
5e. t = 1s and t = 4.5s
5f. t = 1s and t = 4.5s
5g. (4, 6) U (9, 11)
5h. (0, 2) U (8, 9) U (11, 12)
5i. (2, 4) U (6, 8)
5j. (0, 2) U (2, 4) U (4, 6) U (6, 8)
5k. (8, 10)
5l. (10, 12)
5m. (1, 2) U (4.5, 6) U (9, 11)
5n. (0, 1) U (4, 4.5) U (8, 9) U (11, 12)
5o. 0.167 m/s2

6a. The car has a greater acceleration because it has a greater slope.
6b. It means they have the same velocity at that instant.
6c. It represents initial velocity.
6d. The truck and the motorcycle. They have the same slope which is negative.
6e. The truck is slowing down since v = + and a = - (opposite signs)
6f. The car, bus, and motorcycle are speeding up. (v and a have the same signs)

7a.

7b. 3 m/s

8a. x(3) = -38 m, x(5) = -34 m, x(7) = -40 m, x(9) = -52 m, x(10) = -55 m, x(12) = -47 m, and x(14) = -39 m.
8b. displacement = +11m

9a. displacement = -0.5 m

9b. total distance = 41.5 m
9c. XF = d + Xo = -0.5 m + 30 m = 29.5 m
9d. (6, 7) – This interval has a slope of +6 and therefore, the greatest acceleration
9e. (0, 2) U (3, 6)

10. D
11. B
12a. v(3) = 48 m/s, v(5) = 64 m/s, v(7) = 72 m/s, v(8) = 69 m/s, and v(10) = 57 m/s.
12b. Δv = + 27 m/s