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Uniform vs Accelerated Motion

Run the Uniform vs Accelerated Motion MicroSim Fullscreen

Description

This MicroSim provides a side-by-side comparison of uniform motion (constant velocity) and uniformly accelerated motion (constant acceleration) through synchronized graphs showing position, velocity, and acceleration over time.

Key Observations

Uniform Motion (Left Column)

  • Position-Time: Linear (straight line) - position increases at constant rate
  • Velocity-Time: Horizontal line - velocity stays constant
  • Acceleration-Time: Zero - no change in velocity

Uniformly Accelerated Motion (Right Column)

  • Position-Time: Parabolic curve - position increases at increasing rate
  • Velocity-Time: Straight sloped line - velocity increases linearly
  • Acceleration-Time: Horizontal non-zero line - acceleration stays constant

Learning Objectives

After using this MicroSim, students should be able to:

  1. Identify the characteristic graph shapes for uniform and accelerated motion
  2. Explain why the position-time graph is curved for accelerated motion
  3. Understand that the slope of position-time gives velocity
  4. Recognize that the slope of velocity-time gives acceleration
  5. Connect the area under the velocity-time curve to displacement