CHECKPOINT 1

Here are three pairs of initial and final position, respectively along an X axis. Which pairs a negative
displacement : (a).-3m, -5m (b). -3m, -7m (c). 7m,-3m

ANSWER : Initial : x1 ; Final : x2

x  x2 - x1
x  x2 - x1
a) x1 = -3m x  5m – (-3m)
x2 =5m x  8m
b) x1 = -3m x  x2 – x1
x2 = -7 x  -7m – (-3)
x  -4m

c) x1 = 7m x  x2 – x1
x2 = -3m x  -3m – 7m
x  -10m

The negative direction of the axis is the direction of decreasing number or coordinates. The negative result
indicates that the motion is in negative direction. So the pairs that included in to negative direction are
option b and c.

CHECKPOINT 2
The folloing equations give the position x(t) of a particle in four situations (in each equation, x is in meters, t
is in second and t > 0 : (1). x = 3t – 2; (2). x = -4t2 – 2; (3). X = 2/t2; and (4). x = -2.
(a) In which situation is the velocity v of the particle constant?;
(b) In which is v in the negative x direction?

ANSWER :
x in meter ∆𝑥 𝑑𝑥
v = lim =
t in second ∆𝑡→0 ∆𝑡 𝑑𝑡

t>0

1) x = 3t – 2 2) x = -4t2 -2
𝑑𝑥 𝑑(3𝑡−2) 𝑑𝑥 𝑑(−4𝑡 2 −2)
v = 𝑑𝑡 = 𝑑𝑡 = 3 𝑚/𝑠 v= = = -8t m/s
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡

3) x = 2/t2 = 2t-2 4) x = -2
𝑑𝑥 𝑑(2𝑡 −2 ) 𝑑𝑥 𝑑(−2)
v= = -3 3
= -4t = -4/t m/s v = 𝑑𝑡 = = 0 𝑚/𝑠
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡

(a) Situation when the velocity v of the particle constant is option 1, because the is no “t” variable that
can changes the final value of the velocity itself.
(b) The negative direction is a decreasing number (coordinate). So, the v in the negative x direction is
option b.
CHECKPOINT 3
A wombat moves aling an x-axis. What is hte sign of its acceleration if it is moving (a) in the positive
direction with increasing speed (b) in the positive direction with decreasing speed (c) in the negative
direction with increasing speed, and (d) in the negative direction with decreasing speed?

ANSWER:
 The direction of the acceleration is opposite from the velocity
 If the signs of the velocity and the acceleration of particle are the same , the speed of the particle
increases. If the signs are opposite, the speed decreases
a) Positive direction + increasing speed, the direction of acceleration is positive (+)
b) Positive direction + decreasing speed the direction of acceleration is negative (-)
c) Negative direction + increasing speed, the direction of acceleration is negative (-)
d) Negative direction + decreasing speed, the direction of acceleration is positive (+)

CHECKPOINT 5
(a) If you toss a ball straight up, what is the sign of the ball’s displacement from the ascent, from the
release point to the highest point?
(b) What is it, for the descent, from the highest point back to the release point?
(c) What is the ball’s acce;eration at the highest point?

ANSWER:
(a) The ball’s displacement from the ascent from the realse point to the highest point is positive (+)
(b) The ball’s displacement from the descent from the highest point back to the release point is negative
(-)
(c) The ball has no acceleration at its highest point