Motion
Position
- Position: the location of an object
- Something is in motion when its position is changing with respect to a reference starting point
Direction
- The line or path along which something is moving, pointing, or aiming
- Measured using a reference point with terms like: East, West, North, South. Up, Down, Left, Right
Displacement
The distance between your start and end point including the direction.
Ex. If you run one lap around a track and stop where you started, your displacement would be zero (0) because you started and stopped at the same point. But your distance would be 400 m.
Ex. If you run one lap around a track and stop where you started, your displacement would be zero (0) because you started and stopped at the same point. But your distance would be 400 m.
DRAW:
Start out with a single dot, this is your starting point. From the starting point draw segment X, then from the end of segment X, draw segment Y. Continue through segment Z.
Segment X: 10 cm West
Segment Y: 5 cm North
Segment Z: 10 cm East
What is your displacement from your starting point?
Segment X: 10 cm West
Segment Y: 5 cm North
Segment Z: 10 cm East
What is your displacement from your starting point?
Practice:
The following drawing shows a motion graph with an object moving away, towards, and staying stationary. Each color describes the motion of the object. Think about what a motion graph for your typical school day would look like.