Position vs. Time

Be sure to wait until the applet has finished loading before you begin.

Procedure:

Click on one of the graph choices above. You will see an animation of a red car moving to the right, hitting a wall and then moving backwards to the left. Also shown is one of four possible graphs.  (Positions are in metres and time in seconds.)

Question:

Which graph correctly describes the car's position as a function of time? Give reasons for your answer. (You may use the control buttons to pause or step the motion of the car. Click and hold the cursor to determine the position of the front of the car.)