Motion Graphs Matching EX-9975 Page 1 of 5

Written by Cecilia A. Hernndez 2010

Lab Report: Graph Matching of Position and Velocity versus Time Plots
Name: Sample Data

DATA PROCEDURE A: Matching Position vs. Time Graphs
Sketch your best match on this graph.


Match Score:_________86.7___________

Analysis:
1. Describe (narrate) what you did to match the motion. (Example: I moved forward for 3 s,
then stood still for 4 s, etc)
I stood still for one second, moved backward for 3 s all the way to the end of the
marked track, then stood still for 2 s, then moved forward for 2 s to the middle of
the track, and stood still there.

2. What is the difference between the parts of the plot with positive slope and the parts with
negative slope?
In the sections with positive slope I am moving away from the sensor, so my
distance from the sensor is increasing.
In the sections with negative slope I am moving towards the sensor, so my
distance from the sensor is decreasing.
Motion Graphs Matching EX-9975
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3. What happens during the times when the plot is a flat line?
The plot is a flat line when I am standing still. My distance from the sensor (my
position) is not changing during these times.

4. What parts of the plot were easier to match? What parts of the plot were the hardest to
match? Why?
The easiest to match is the flat lines, where all I had to do is stand still. The
moving away and moving closer to the sensor got easier with practice, it takes a
few tries to get a sense of how fast I need to move. The hardest thing to match is
the corners, where I change from moving to standing still. It seems that you
would have to make this change instantaneously to get a sharp corner, and that is
not really possible.


Motion Graphs Matching EX-9975 Page 3 of 5

Written by Cecilia A. Hernndez 2010
DATA PROCEDURE B: Matching Velocity vs. Time Graphs
Sketch your best match on this graph.

Match Score:_______77.865____________

Analysis:
1. Describe (narrate) what you did to match the motion. (Example: I moved forward for 3 s,
then stood still for 2 s, etc)
I stood still for 0.5 s then moved toward the sensor quickly but tried to keep a
constant motion at the end to get that flat peak. Then I stopped and the graph
went back to zero. Then I moved away from the sensor very quickly and without
stopping slowed down, still moving away from the sensor. Then I stopped for
about 0.5 s and started again moving toward the sensor quickly but tried to keep
a constant motion at the end to get the flat peak. Then I stopped and the graph
went back to zero. Then I moved away from the sensor very quickly and kept the
speed at the end for the last flat peak, then stopped and the graph went back to
zero.

Motion Graphs Matching EX-9975
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Stand still.
Move toward the
sensor speeding up.
Hold that speed for a
moment, still moving
toward the sensor.
Stand still at
this time.
The graph goes
back to zero.
Stand still.
Move away from
the sensor speeding
up.
Move away from
the sensor but slow-
ing back to a stop.
Stand still.
Move toward the
sensor speeding up.
The graph goes
back to zero.
Stand still at
this time.
Hold that speed for a
moment, still moving
toward the sensor.
Stand still.
Move away from
the sensor speeding
up.
Hold that speed for a
moment, still moving
toward the sensor.
Stand still at
this time.
The graph goes
back to zero.


2. What is the difference between the parts of the velocity plot with positive slope and the
parts with negative slope? How is this different from the sloped sections in the Position vs.
Time plot?
In the velocity plots, I could produce positive slopes by moving away from the
sensor and increasing my speed. The plots also have positive slopes whenever I
stopped a forward motion and the graph returned on its own to zero.

3. What happens during the times when the velocity plot is a flat line? How is this different
from the flat sections in the Position vs. Time plot?
The velocity plot is flat when the speed is constant. It happens when I am
standing still, the velocity stays at zero, and it happens also at the flat peaks
where the speed was the same for a moment.
In the position plots the only way to get a flat line is not to move at all. In the
velocity plots you can do it while moving, as long as the speed does not change.



Motion Graphs Matching EX-9975 Page 5 of 5

Written by Cecilia A. Hernndez 2010
4. What parts of the velocity plot were easier to match? What parts of the velocity plot were
the hardest to match? Why?
In the velocity plots the easier parts to match are the parts where the velocity is
zero and all I had to do was stand still. The things that are harder to match are the
changes, for example going from moving forward speeding up to maintaining a
constant speed for a moment; or going from speeding up to slowing down, or
changing direction. It is very hard to get a correct sense of the necessary speed
and the changes need to be almost instantaneous which is almost impossible to
achieve.


5. Overall, what was easier: matching position plots or matching velocity plots? Discuss.
The position plots are a lot easier to match. We are better at sensing distance
than we are at sensing speed. Changes in position come naturally because it is
what we do while walking. Changing the speed is not as easy with the small time
intervals between changes in the plot. Maybe doing more gradual changes could
be easier to achieve.