Lesson 1: Picturing Motion

Core Focus Question:
- How do you know that something is moving?
Tools for Analyzing Motion:
- Scientific processes are used to systematically study and analyze motion.
- Motion is analyzed using five fundamental tools:
- Words
- Sketches
- Diagrams
- Graphs
- Equations
Definition and Indicators of Motion:
- When an object is in motion, its position changes.
- Examples of motion in nature and daily life:
- A spinning ride at an amusement park
- A baseball soaring over a fence for a home run
- Fast trains and speedy skiers
- Slow breezes and lazy clouds
Visual Manifestation of Position Change:
- A moving object changes its position over time, which can be visually captured through photography.

A fast-moving train appearing blurry in a landscape photograph because its position changed during the time the camera shutter was open

A fast-moving train appears blurry in a photograph when its position changes during the duration that the camera shutter remains open.

Varieties of Motion Paths:
- Objects can travel along many different geometric paths, including:
- Straight-Line Path: The motion of a bowling ball in a bowling lane's gutter.
- Curved Path: The motion of a car rounding a turn.
- Spiral Path: The trajectory of a falling kite.
- Swirling Path: Water circling down a drain.
Methodology for Studying Motion:
- Some types of motion are significantly more complicated than others.
- In physics, the standard approach when beginning a new area of study is:
1. Start with the least complicated situation.
2. Learn as much as possible about that simple baseline situation.
3. Gradually add complexity to the simple model.
- Kinematic study begins with the simplest case: movement along a straight line.

Characteristics of Straight-Line Motion:
- Straight-line motion follows a path directly between two points without turning left or right.
- Examples of straight-line motion directions include:
- Forward and backward
- Up and down
- North and south
Inferring Motion from Observations:
- Motion can be inferred by comparing an object's position across different points in time.
- Pet Hamster Scenario:
- A hamster is observed sitting in a corner of its cage.
- Sometime later, a second observation reveals the hamster sitting next to the food dish in the opposite corner of the cage.
- It is inferred that the hamster moved from one place to another in the time elapsed between the two observations.

Space and Time Integration:
- The complete description of motion is inherently a description of place and time.
- To fully describe the motion of an object along a straight line, two precise questions must be answered:
- Where: Where the object is located (position/place).
- When: When the object is at that specific position (time).

3D Thinking Framework:
- DCI: Disciplinary Core Ideas
- CCC: Crosscutting Concepts
- SEP: Science & Engineering Practices
Investigative Tasks:
- Collect Evidence: Record evidence in a Science Journal while completing lesson readings and activities.
- PhysicsLAB - Motion Diagrams: Use a model to identify patterns in motion.
- Review the News: Obtain information from a current news story about motion capture technology, evaluate the credibility of the source, and communicate the findings to the class.

Figure 1 Checkpoint:
- Prompt: Describe how the picture in Figure 1 would be different if the train were sitting still.
- Explanation: If the train were stationary, its position would not change while the camera shutter was open. As a result, the train would appear sharp and in clear focus rather than blurry.
Factors of Motion Checkpoint:
- Prompt: Identify two factors you must know to describe the motion of an object along a straight line.
- Explanation: The two required factors are the location of the object (where it is) and the time (when it is at that position).