Speed vs. Velocity, Distance vs. Displacement

Abstract

The activity is intended for use in a high school physics class as an introduction to the academic vocabulary of displacement and velocity. There is some expectation that students have a experiential understanding of speed and distance, and that speed is distance covered per unit of time.  As a result of this activity, students should recognize the use of negative values to indicate direction for position, displacement, and velocity as well as identify the equation for velocity: vavg = Δx/t = (xf – xi)/t. Students will also develop their ability to interpret diagrammatic and graphical models and make inferences based on those models, as well as work as a team to perform calculations, discuss critical thinking questions, process new information through reading short paragraphs.

Level: High School
Setting: Classroom
Activity Type: Learning Cycle

Discipline: Physics
Course: Physics (algebra-based)
Keywords: speed, velocity, position, displacement, distance, kinematics, position vs. time graph