Physics Distance and Displacement Quiz

Multiple Choice and True/False

• Distance vs. Displacement: Distance is the total path traveled, while displacement is the change in position from the starting point, and is a vector quantity.

• Dog's Travel Time: To find the time it takes the dog to travel 210.0 m east at 5.9 m/s, divide the distance by the speed: 210.0 m / 5.9 m/s = 35.6 s.

• Position-Time Graph Slope: The slope of a position-time graph represents velocity.

• Vector Quantity: Velocity is a vector quantity (has both magnitude and direction).

• Trip Starting Point : If the final distance is +19.8 m and the change in distance is +7.3m, then the starting point is 19.8 - 7.3=12.5 m.

• Falling Ball Velocity: Using the formula vf = vi + at, where vf is final velocity, vi is initial velocity(0), a is acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s^2), and t is time, the ball's velocity after 2.2 s is 22 m/s.

• Position-Time Graph Information: A position-time graph can provide information on both displacement and distance.

• Velocity Change and Acceleration: If initial velocity is positive and acceleration is negative, the object's velocity will decrease.

• Acceleration and Rate of Change of Velocity: Acceleration indicates the rate of change in velocity.

• Speed vs. Velocity: Speed is a scalar quantity (only magnitude), while velocity is a vector (magnitude and direction). Velocity describes the rate of change of displacement over time; speed describes the rate of change of distance over time.

True/False Statements

• Velocity-Time Graph Slopes: Positive slopes on velocity-time graphs do not necessarily mean the object is moving. Positive or negative slopes mean either speeding up or slowing down

• Distance is Positive Scalar: Distance is a positive scalar quantity.

• Circular Track Velocity: If an athlete runs once around a circular track, her average velocity is zero. The total displacement is zero, despite the distance being greater than zero.

• Relative Speed: A car traveling at 55 km/h is moving at the same speed as a car traveling at –55 km/h (the speeds are equal, albeit in different directions), but the velocities are in different directions.

• Horizontal Line on Position-Time Graph: A horizontal line on a position-time graph signifies that the object is at rest because its position is not changing over time.

• Zero Slope on Velocity-Time Graph: A zero slope on a velocity-time graph indicates no change in velocity (i.e. constant velocity), thus no acceleration.

• Distance vs Displacement: You use distance to calculate speed and displacement to calculate velocity.

• Calculating Distance: You divide distance by time to calculate the velocity.

Definitions & Matching

• Position: A location relative to a reference point.

• Final Velocity: Velocity at the end of a time interval.

• Initial Velocity: Velocity at the beginning of a time interval.

• Vector Quantity: A quantity possessing both magnitude and direction.

• Average Velocity: Displacement over a given time interval.

• Slope of Displacement-Time Graph: Equals velocity.

• Instantaneous Velocity: Velocity at a specific point in time.

Diagrams (Position-Time Graph Analysis):

• Position at 5.0 s: Provide the graph's value.

• Average Velocity (first 11.0 s): Calculate total displacement over the time.

– Forward Motion Intervals: Identify time intervals where the position is increasing.

• Backward Motion Intervals: Identify time intervals where the position is decreasing.

• Rest Intervals: Identify time intervals where the position is not changing.

• Displacement (6.0 s to 14.0s): Calculate the difference in position.

• Average Velocity (2.0 s to 6.0 s): Calculate total displacement divided by total time.

Problem Solving

• Average Velocity (Driving): Divide the total distance traveled by the total time taken.

• Cheetah's Distance: Multiply the speed by the time.

• Distance Traveled (Block Walk): Add the lengths of all segments of the path.

• Displacement (City Block Walk): Determine the net change in position from start to end.

• Speed (Block Walk): Distance divided by time (100s).

• Velocity (Block Walk): Net displacement divided by time.

• Runner's Time: Divide the distance by the constant speed.