Lesson 3

Position-Time Graphs
 Focus Question

What can you learn from position-time

graphs?
 New Vocabulary

position-time graph
instantaneous position
 Review Vocabulary

intersection: where two or more things come

together or cross
 Finding Positions

• In a position-time graph, the time data is plotted on a

horizontal axis and the position data is plotted on a
vertical axis.
 Finding Positions

• Graphs of an object’s position and time contain useful

information about an object’s position at various
times.
• The symbol x represents the instantaneous position
of the object, which is the object’s position at a
particular instant.
 Finding Positions

• Four ways to represent motion are:

• Words
• Motion diagrams
• Data tables
• Position-time graphs
 Finding Positions

Use with Example Problem 1.

Problem
Where was Juanita at time t = 0.5 h?
At what time was the magnitude of
Heather’s position equal to 2.0 km?
Response
• At 0.5 h, Juanita is at a position with a
magnitude of 2.5 km.
• Heather is at 2.0 km at a time of
t = 0.8 h.
 Multiple Objects on a Position-Time Graph

• The motion of more

than one object can be
graphed on a single
position-time graph.
• When two lines
intersect, the objects are
in the same place at the
same time.
 Multiple Objects on a Position-Time Graph

Use with Example Problem 2.

Problem
When and where does Tai pass Luis?

Response
The point at which the two graphed
lines intersect is at 20.0 s and 40.0 m.
 Quiz
1. What quantity is plotted on the x-axis on a
position-time graph?

A time CORRECT C distance

B position D displacement
 Quiz
2. If each line on the grid
represents 1 unit, at what time
was object D at a position 2 m
from the origin?

A 2s

B 3 s CORRECT

C 4s

D 5s
 Quiz
3. If each line on the grid
represents 1 unit, and the
positive y-direction is east of the
origin, which object started
farthest east of the origin?
A A CORRECT
B B
C C
D D
 Quiz
4. If each line on the grid
represents 1 unit, and the
positive y-direction is east of the
origin, which object traveled
2 m west during the first 2 s?
A A
B B
C C CORRECT
D D
 Quiz
5. What can you conclude about
objects B and D from the graph?
A They begin at the same
position and the same
time.
B They have the same
velocity.
C They never have the
same position at the
same time. CORRECT
D They travel for the same
length of time.