Physics Graphing Lab

Instructions

One moving cart. Three connected graphs. Make a prediction, run the experiment, and explain what changes.

  1. Set the cart conditions and predict its position, velocity, and acceleration graphs.
  2. Run the experiment and compare all three linked graphs.
  3. Pause or reset to compare trials and explain how the graphs describe the same motion.

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Constant acceleration from 0 to 10 seconds

2. Watch it move

The motion track

← negative | positive →

Cart on a position axis
Time
Position
Velocity
Acceleration

3. Connect the graphs

Three views of the same motion

All graphs share the same time axis. Vertical scales adjust to the experiment. A negative velocity means motion to the left, not necessarily slowing down.

4. Make sense of it

What does the graph tell you?

How does the slope of the position graph relate to velocity? When does the cart speed up or slow down?

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