Moving Man: Position and Velocity Graphs
Background – Graphs are a means of communication.
Learning goals - Students will be able to describe how the person moved by looking at motion graphs and
sketch the motion graphs when the person’s motion is described
Procedure – Go here: [Link] . Then, click PLAY, or
download then, keep and double click to activate “The Moving Man.”
1. START. After “Moving Man” is open, choose Charts. Leave
the position – time graph, and the velocity – time graph open,
but close the acceleration-time graph. Your screen should look
like this. Please, turn the sound off.
2. EXPLORE. Press PLAY, then click and drag the man to move
him forward and backward. Observe what shows up on the
graphs.
3. Play with the Moving Man by having the man move using the sliders. Use the playback features to look at
the graphs. Notice what is happening to the position and velocity graphs as he moves.
4. Without using Moving Man, sketch (draw) what you think the motion graphs should look like if the man
starts at the tree and moves toward the house with constant velocity. Explain why you think it should look
that way.
GRAPH
Explanation
(starting at the tree, moving toward the house
(reasoning for its shape)
with a constant velocity)
Position - Time Why do you think it should look like this?
Velocity - Time Why do you think it should look like this?
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5. Now, using the Moving man simulation, have the man start at the tree and move toward the house with
constant velocity. Were your graphs both correct? ____ If not, go back, and sketch the correct curve in a
different color pencil or pen.
6. Without using Moving Man, sketch what you think the motion graphs should look like if the man is against
the wall by his house, without moving. Explain why you think it should look that way.
GRAPH Explanation
(against the wall by his house, without moving)
Position - Time Why do you think it should look like this?
Velocity - Time Why do you think it should look like this?
7. Now, using the Moving man simulation, have the man against the wall by his house, without moving. Were
your graphs both correct? ____ If not, go back, and sketch the correct curve in a different color pencil or pen.
8. Without using Moving Man, sketch what you think the motion graphs should look like if he moved as
described:
The man stands still while he talks on his cell phone at the middle of the sidewalk,
then walks toward the house at a constant rate trying to get better cell reception. He
comes to a sudden stop when the coverage is good (about a meter before the house)
and stands still to finish his conversation.
GRAPH Explanation
(against the wall by his house, without moving)
Position - Time Why do you think it should look like this?
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Velocity - Time Why do you think it should look like this?
9. Now, using the Moving man simulation, have the man move in the way described. Were your graphs both
correct? ____ If not, go back, and sketch the correct curve in a different color pencil or pen.
10. Look at your graphs, explanations and the corrections from questions 4 -9. Talk about why some of your
predictions were wrong and how your ideas about motion have changed.
11. Without using Moving Man, sketch the position, and velocity graphs for the following story:
A man is napping under the tree. He wakes up and walks toward the house at a
constant velocity of 4 m/s. He stops after 3 s because he is worried that he dropped
his keys. He stands for still for 3 s as he searches his pockets for his keys. When he
discovers he can’t find them, he runs towards the tree at a constant velocity of 8 m/s.
He hits the tree and gets knocked out, so he can’t move.
Position - Time Velocity - Time
12. Now use Moving Man. Were your graphs both correct? ____ If not, go back, and draw the correct curve in
a different color pencil or pen.
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