Name That Motion

The Name That Motion Concept Builder is comprised of 11 animations that must be matched to a corresponding verbal description. The 11 animations include six relatively simple motions in which the car moves in the same manner during the entire motion. In addition to these simple, single-stage motions, there are five animations that include more complicated, multi-stag motions. The multi-stage motions might include an object moving rightward, then at rest for a while, and then moving leftward; or they may include a slowing down motion, an at-rest motion, followed by a speeding up motion. Whatever the case, the multi-stage motions represent a car moving in different ways during the entire length of the animation.

There are three levels of difficulty by which the student can progress through the Concept Builder. Those three difficulty levels are differentiated as follows:
 

• Apprentice Level: Animations 1-6 (the most simplest, single-stage motions)
• Masters Level: Situations 7-11 (the more complicated, multi-stage motions)
• Wizard Level: Situations 1-11 (all 11 animations from the previous two difficulty levels)

Situations certainly beome more complicated as the level increases. There is nothing to prevent a class or a student from doing all three levels. In fact, it might make sense to do the simplest animations, followed by the more complicated animations, and then all animations mixed together. Or a more introductory Physics class or Physical Science class may choose to only do the Apprentice Level while an Honors Physics class may choose to do the Wizard Level only.

The 11 different verbal descriptions are shown below. Each description is matched to only one animation.

 

A. The car moves with a rightward velocity and a rightward acceleration.
 
B. The car moves with a constant, leftward velocity.  Then, the car remains at rest for several seconds.  Finally, the car moves with rightward acceleration.
 
C. The car moves with a constant, leftward velocity.
 
D. The car moves with a rightward acceleration.  Then, the car remains at rest for several seconds.  Finally, the car moves with a low constant speed.
 
E. The car moves with constant speed in the rightward direction.
 
F. The car slowly accelerates from rest.  Then, the car remains at rest for several seconds.  Finally, the car moves with a constant leftward velocity.
 
G. The car moves at constant speed.  Then, the car remains at rest for several seconds.  Finally, the car moves with a constant leftward velocity.
 
H. The car moves in the rightward direction with a leftward acceleration.
 
I. The car moves in the leftward direction with a leftward acceleration.
 
J. The car moves with a constant, rightward velocity.  Then the car remains at rest for several seconds.  Finally, the car rapidly accelerates with a rightward acceleration.

K. The car moves with a leftward velocity and a rightward acceleration.