Distance and Displacement Lab

Name: ____________________________________________ Date: _________________ Period: ________ Length, Time, Distance and Displacement Investigation Measuring Length Estimate Estimate in Meters Actual Diameter of a Pencil Eraser Height of a Lab Table Length of a Paper Clip Length of the Classroom from Front to Back Distance From Where You Live to School Measuring Time Stopwatch Photogate Timer Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Average 1. Which method is more accurate when measuring time? How do you know? Distance & Displacement Go to phet.colorado.edu. Click on physics and then find “The Moving Man” simulation. Draw a simple diagram of what you see on the screen. Include the following items on your diagram: ● The ruler (with markings) ● The two walls, tree, house, and the man (make sure each are drawn at the same point you see on the screen) 1. Making Observations about Distance: a. What number and unit are written directly under the moving man? __________________ b. The position under the walking man which is labeled “0 meters” is called the “Origin”. It is the point from which all motion will be referenced. You can use any point as an origin but in this case we have chosen this point. Label this point on your diagram. c. The amount of a certain unit between the reference point and an object is called the DISTANCE. Distance does not tell you anything about the direction from the reference point. It only has an amount and a unit. d. Complete the table below. The House Distance from the Origin The Wall The Tree 2. Making Observations about Displacement a. You may have noticed that the position of the tree has been given a negative value while the position of the house has been given a positive value. Why do has this been done? b. When we add a “-” or a “+” to the number we are indicating a direction. A “-” sign means “backward or behind” and a “+” sign means “forward or in front”. They indicate the direction of an object from the chosen reference point. Adding the “+” or “-” sign indicates DISPLACEMENT (not distance). Displacement, like distance has an amount (magnitude) and a unit, but displacement also has a direction. Distance does NOT have a direction. When we want to indicate direction in more than two directions (e.g. forward and backward), we use words like north, south, east, west, northwest etc. c. Complete the table below with proper units and signs. The House The Wall The Tree Displacement from the Origin 3. What is the difference between an object’s DISTANCE and its DISPLACEMENT? 4. Distance of the Moving Man a. Move the man from the origin (0 meters) to the tree. What distance did the man travel? ___________ b. Move the man from the tree to the house. What distance did the man travel this time? ____________ c. Move the man from the house to the left wall. What distance did the man travel this time? _________ d. Add up the numbers in the last three steps to find the man’s total distance. What was the total distance the man traveled? ____________ 5. Displacement of the Moving Man (remember to use a positive (+) number if the man moves forward (to the right) and a negative (-) number if the man moves backward (to the left). a. Move the man from the origin (0 meters) to the tree. What is the man’s displacement? ____________ b. Move the man from the tree to the house. What is the man’s displacement this time? ______________ c. Move the man from the house to the left wall. What is the man’s displacement this time? __________ d. Add up the numbers in the last three steps to find the man’s total displacement. What was the man’s total displacement? ___________ e. Compare the man’s total displacement to his position. What’s the relationship? 6. Click on the “Charts” tab. Minimize the “Velocity” and “Acceleration” graphs by clicking on the red “-“ sign on the top right corner of the graph. Move the man and see the results on the graph. What relationship do you notice between the graph and the man’s movement?