{{short description, Diagram used in physics to represent the motion of an object A motion diagram represents the

motion In physics, motion is the phenomenon in which an object changes its position with respect to time. Motion is mathematically described in terms of displacement, distance, velocity, acceleration, speed and frame of reference to an observer and mea ...

of an object by displaying its location at various equally spaced times on the same

diagram A diagram is a symbolic representation of information using visualization techniques. Diagrams have been used since prehistoric times on walls of caves, but became more prevalent during the Enlightenment. Sometimes, the technique uses a three- ...

. Motion diagrams are a pictorial description of an object's motion. They show an object's position and

velocity Velocity is the directional speed of an object in motion as an indication of its rate of change in position as observed from a particular frame of reference and as measured by a particular standard of time (e.g. northbound). Velocity is a ...

initially, and present several spots in the center of the diagram. These spots reveal whether or not the object has accelerated or decelerated. For simplicity, the object is represented by a simple shape, such as a filled

circle A circle is a shape consisting of all points in a plane that are at a given distance from a given point, the centre. Equivalently, it is the curve traced out by a point that moves in a plane so that its distance from a given point is const ...

. It contains information about object positions at particular time instances. Therefore, a motion diagram is more informative than a path.

Viewing Motion Diagrams

One of the major usages of motion diagrams is to present

film A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...

through a series of frames taken by a

camera A camera is an Optics, optical instrument that can capture an image. Most cameras can capture 2D images, with some more advanced models being able to capture 3D images. At a basic level, most cameras consist of sealed boxes (the camera body), ...

. Viewing an object on a motion diagram allows one to determine if an object is at a constant

rest Rest or REST may refer to: Relief from activity * Sleep ** Bed rest * Kneeling * Lying (position) * Sitting * Squatting position Structural support * Structural support ** Rest (cue sports) ** Armrest ** Headrest ** Footrest Arts and entert ...

, speeding up, or slowing down. As the frames are taken, it can be assumed that an object is at a constant rest if it occupies the same position over time. It can be assumed that an object is speeding up if there is a visible increase in the space between objects as time passes. An object can be assumed to be slowing down if there is a visible decrease in the space between objects as time passes.Knight, R. (2008). Physics for scientists and engineers: a strategic approach. San Francisco, CA: Pearson Education Inc. The objects on the frame come very close together.

References

Bonham, Scott. (unknown year). Motion diagrams. Manuscript submitted for publication, Department of Physics, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY. Retrieved from http://webphysics.davidson.edu/physlet_resources/western_kentucky/MotionDiagrams.html Diagrams