Instructions.
Follow the steps below to explore how displacement changes with time.
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Drag the time slider in the top panel from \(0\) seconds to \(6\) seconds. Observe how the point moves along the displacement–time graph.
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Watch the arrow and moving dot on the vertical scale. They show the value of the displacement at the selected time.
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Move the slider slowly and notice the shape of the curve. Observe how the displacement first increases and later decreases.
Use the interactive to investigate the following questions:
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As time increases from \(0\) seconds, what happens to the displacement? Is the object moving away from or toward its starting position?
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Find the point where the displacement reaches its maximum value. At approximately what time does this occur?
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After the maximum point, what happens to the displacement as time continues? What does this suggest about the direction of motion?
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Compare the steepness of the curve at different times. When is the graph steepest? What might this indicate about how fast the object is moving?
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Move the slider back and forth several times. How does the displacement change throughout the entire motion?