Analyzing Graphs

and Newton’s First

Law
 Essential Question:

How can we use a graph to represent

motion?
 What is Motion?

• Motion- any change in position of an

object
 Newton’s First Law
• Objects in motion stay in motion and
objects at rest stay at rest unless
acted on by an unbalanced force.
• Law of inertia
• Inertia- an object’s ability to resist
any change in motion
Think-Pair-Share: How is inertia
being represented?

• https://www.toddstrong.com/miscjug
gling/tablecloth_pull_alternate.php
 Distance-Time Graph
• Tells us how far an object has moved
with time, but can be in any direction.
• Can be used to calculate speed
(distance/time)
A downward
sloping line would
mean the object
is returning to
the starting
position.
 Position Time Graphs
• Describes the distance in a certain
direction.
• The slope determines the velocity and
direction.
• Slope:
• Downward (\)=move backwards
• Upwards (/)=moving forwards
• Horizontal= stopped
Position Time Graphs
Examples:
Describe the motion of the object
below:
 Speed vs. Velocity

Speed is simply how fast you are travelling…

This car is travelling at a

speed of 20m/s

Velocity is “speed in a given direction”…

This car is travelling at a

velocity of 20m/s east
 Velocity Time Graph Video

• https://www.khanacademy.org/math/
ap-calculus-ab/ab-diff-contextual-
applications-new/ab-4-
2/v/interpreting-direction-from-
velocity-time
 Velocity Time Graphs
• Shows us how the speed AND direction
of a moving object changes with time.
• Slope determines if it is speeding up or
slowing down
• The y-axis determines if the object is
traveling forwards or backwards
• +=forwards
• -= backwards
 Velocity Time Graph

80

60
Velocity
m/s 40

20

0 T/s
10 20 30 40 50
1. During what time period(s) was the object speeding up?
2. Do you think the object was at rest or traveling at a
 LENSES
• Label/List-Identify the title, x-
axis, y-axis, high and low points
• Equation-Are there any
relationships between distance
Position and time? Is an equation used
with these measurements?
Time Graph
• Notice – What do you notice is
happening in the graph?
• Speculate-Form a hypothesis,
about the object’s continued
motion.
• Explain/Evaluate- Explain your
hypothesis.
• Summarize-What have you
learned?
 LENSES EXAMPLE 2
• Label/List-Identify the
title, x-axis, y-axis, high
and low points
Velocity Time • Equation-Are there any
Graph relationships between
distance and time? Is an
equation used with these
measurements?
• Notice – What do you
notice is happening in the
graph?
• Speculate-Form a
hypothesis, about the
object’s continued motion.
• Explain/Evaluate- Explain
your hypothesis.
• Summarize-What have you
learned?
 Summary
• We can use a graph to represent
motion by looking at
_________________________.
• From the lesson today, I also learned
that
__________________________.
• As a result of today, I now better
understand
___________________________.