Solving Motion Word Problems

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Solving Motion Word Problems
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You NEED to know how to use these equations
(they will be given on assessments)

• Speed d t
• Distance s x t
• Time d s
• Velocity d t
• Displacement v x t
• Time d v
• Acceleration ?v t
• Velocity a x t
• Time ?v a

?
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Steps when solving word problems

• Write down what you are given in the question and
  what you are asked to find.
• Write down the equation you will use.
• Plug in what numbers you know.
• Solve, and include the proper units.
• Check your work

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Interpreting Word Problems

• Time
• Units seconds, minutes, hours
• Examples the trip took 3 minutes he traveled
  for 5 hours it took 45 seconds
• Distance
• Units metres, kilometers
• Examples she went/traveled/ran/drove/flew/biked
  30 metres
• Speed
• Units m/s, km/h
• Words the car was going 100km/h the balloon
  rose at a speed of 10m/s
• Acceleration
• Units m/s2
• Words the car accelerated 2m/s2 the bike slowed
  down at a rate of -6m/s2

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Example 1

• High speed elevators can go 7.11m/s. How much
  time would they need to go up 37.5m?
• Speed 7.11 m/s
• Distance 37.5 m
• Time ?
• Time distance speed
• Time 37.5 m 7.11 m/s
• Time 5.27 seconds

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Example 2

• Megan was biking at a velocity of 5m/s. Then,
  she slowed down to a velocity of 2m/s in 25
  seconds. What was her acceleration?
• Vinitial 5m/s Vfinal 2m/s
• SO ?V 2m/s - 5m/s ?V -3m/s
• Time 25 seconds
• Acceleration ?v t
• A -3m/s 25s
• A -0.12 m/s2