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Physics · Grades 9–12

Describing motion from position data

Study guide for Grades 9 to 12: 2 worked examples and 2 practice questions. Find how far the object moves in each second. Equal steps mean constant speed; growing steps mean speeding up; shrinking steps mean slowing down.

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Rule and key idea

Find how far the object moves in each second. Equal steps mean constant speed; growing steps mean speeding up; shrinking steps mean slowing down.

equal distances in equal times → constant speed · average speed = total distance ÷ total time

Worked examples

A cart moves along a straight track. Its position is recorded every second: t = 0 s: 7 m; t = 1 s: 22 m; t = 2 s: 34 m; t = 3 s: 43 m; t = 4 s: 49 m. How is the cart moving?

Distance in each second: 15, 12, 9, 6 m.

It is slowing down.

A cart moves along a straight track. Its position is recorded every second: t = 0 s: 9 m; t = 1 s: 10 m; t = 2 s: 11 m; t = 3 s: 12 m; t = 4 s: 13 m. How is the cart moving?

Distance in each second: 1, 1, 1, 1 m.

It moves at a constant speed.

Try two questions

  1. A cart moves along a straight track. Its position is recorded every second: t = 0 s: 1 m; t = 1 s: 16 m; t = 2 s: 28 m; t = 3 s: 37 m; t = 4 s: 43 m. What is its average speed over the 4 seconds?

  2. A cart moves along a straight track. Its position is recorded every second: t = 0 s: 1 m; t = 1 s: 6 m; t = 2 s: 11 m; t = 3 s: 16 m; t = 4 s: 21 m. What is its average speed over the 4 seconds?

Answers and reasoning

Answers and marking notes
  1. 10.5 m/s

    (43 − 1) ÷ 4 = 10.5

  2. 5 m/s

    (21 − 1) ÷ 4 = 5

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