Topic 1.3 Alternate Lab: Walk the Graph — Student Handout

Name: _______________________________ Date: _______________ Period: ______

Quick Recap

Yesterday you learned that the slope of a position-time graph tells you velocity — steeper is faster, flat is at rest, negative means moving back toward the start.

The Question We're Testing

Can you walk in a way that physically matches a given position-time graph?

Prediction (write this BEFORE you start)

Look at your first target graph. In words, describe how you think you'll need to move to match it:

---

---

Materials

• Motion detector (or stopwatch + marked distances)
• Target position-time graphs (provided by your teacher)

What To Do

1. Look at your assigned target graph. As a group, discuss what walking pattern would produce that shape.
2. Have one student walk in front of the motion detector (or along the marked path) to try to match the graph.
3. Compare your result to the target. Adjust and try again if needed.
4. Repeat for each target graph, rotating who walks.

Data Table

Target Graph #	Description of motion needed	Matched on attempt #
1
2
3
4

Analysis Questions

1. Which target graph was hardest to match, and why? _________________________________________________
2. For the constant-velocity graphs, how did your walking speed relate to how steep the line was? _________________________________________________
3. What made your walked graph not perfectly match the target (reaction time, uneven pace, etc.)? _________________________________________________

Conclusion

In 2-3 sentences, explain what you learned about the connection between how you move and what the graph looks like.

---

---

---