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Analyzing Position-Time Graphs from Motion Diagrams

Study Guide - Smart Notes

Tailored notes based on your materials, expanded with key definitions, examples, and context.

Q11. An RC car is in motion, and the photographer uses the burst mode photo feature to capture the moving subject. He took one frame per second. The given figure shows the motion diagram of the RC car. Draw its position-versus-time graph.

Background

Topic: Position-Time Graphs in Kinematics

This question tests your ability to interpret a motion diagram and translate it into a position-versus-time graph. Understanding how the spacing of the car's positions over time relates to the shape of the graph is key in kinematics.

Motion diagram of RC car with positions marked at each second

Key Terms and Concepts:

  • Position-Time Graph: A graph that shows how an object's position changes over time.

  • Uniform Motion: If the object moves equal distances in equal time intervals, the graph will be a straight line.

  • Non-uniform Motion: If the distances between positions change, the graph will be curved or have varying slopes.

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Examine the motion diagram and note the position of the RC car at each second. The positions are marked at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 meters for times 0 to 7 seconds.

  2. For each second, plot the corresponding position on a position-time graph. For example, at t = 0 s, x = 0 m; at t = 1 s, x = 2 m; and so on.

  3. Observe the spacing between the positions. If the car moves the same distance each second, the graph should be a straight line with a constant slope.

  4. Compare the plotted points to the provided graph options. Look for the graph where the position increases by the same amount each second.

  5. Check that the graph starts at the origin (0,0) and that the increments in position match the increments in time as shown in the motion diagram.

Position vs Time graph option a Position vs Time graph option b Position vs Time graph option c Position vs Time graph option d

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Final Answer: Option a (image_3)

The correct position-time graph is option a, which shows a straight line with equal increments in position for each second. This matches the uniform motion depicted in the motion diagram, where the RC car moves 2 meters every second.

Correct position vs time graph

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