Kinematics game: position-time and velocity-time graphs
A physics game for learning to read motion graphs, one of the hardest parts of secondary kinematics. Every round brings a new three-stretch graph, position-time (x-t) or velocity-time (v-t), drawn with its grid and scales. On easy you say what the object does in a stretch: at rest, moving forward, coming back, speeding up or slowing down. On medium you work out the velocity or acceleration from the slope and find the fastest stretch. On hard, the distance travelled as the area under the v-t graph and the difference between distance travelled and displacement.
Physics · Secondary, Sixth Form
A horizontal line means being at rest on an x-t graph and moving at constant velocity on a v-t graph. It is the most common kinematics mistake, and the game mixes both graphs on purpose so you always have to check what the vertical axis shows.
When you answer, the slope triangle appears with its Δx (or Δv) and Δt, or the shaded area under the graph. You can see where each number comes from, and v = Δx ÷ Δt or area as distance stop being something to memorise.
The stretch that reaches highest is not the fastest: the steepest one is. If the object comes back, the distance travelled adds up all the stretches and the displacement does not. The wrong options are exactly those mistakes, plus forgetting the ½ of the triangle or dividing the wrong way round.
"A velocity-time graph appears. In stretch C the velocity drops from 7 m/s to 1 m/s in 3 seconds. How far does it go? It is the area of the trapezium under the line: (7 + 1) ÷ 2 × 3 = 12 m. Many multiply the final velocity by the time (3 m) or the initial one (21 m); the area is the stretch’s average velocity times its duration."
Prefer to learn without screens? Try this analogue version:
Measure a corridor and mark every metre on the floor with tape.
One student walks, stops and comes back while another notes every 2 seconds which mark they are at.
Draw the position-time graph from those data.
Mark on the graph when they were at rest, when they were fastest and when they were coming back.
If you like Read the Motion, these activities work similar skills:
Multiple choice on path, distance and displacement, uniform and accelerated motion, free fall and circular motion, with an explanation for each answer.
Another physics game: add up the forces on a body and decide which way it accelerates.
For practising reading bar, line and pie charts in maths.
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