I can calculate acceleration and connect it to the shapes and slopes of motion graphs.
POE Unit 4 • Lesson 4.9
Acceleration and Motion Graphs
Focus question: How do velocity and position graphs reveal whether an aerospace system is accelerating?
Mission Briefing
Today’s Plan
A focused sequence that advances the mission-performance investigation.
Opening promptConcept modelGuided practiceInteractive applicationEvidence checkExit ticket
Lesson Targets
What You Will Be Able to Do
Motion graph analysis
Acceleration uses change in velocity over time, and graph interpretations match the direction and sign of motion.
Activity Flow
How the Lesson Moves
Each step builds the data, motion, or testing reasoning required for today’s deliverable.
1. Calculate acceleration
Use initial velocity, final velocity, and elapsed time.
2. Read the velocity graph
Interpret slope as acceleration.
3. Connect to position
Explain how changing velocity changes the slope of position-time.
Lesson Interactive
Connect Acceleration to Graph Shape
Apply the lesson concept to a mission-performance scenario. Use the feedback to correct your reasoning before completing the main deliverable.
Velocity Change
2 m/sInitial velocity
10 m/sFinal velocity
4 sElapsed time
Acceleration is the slope of velocity-time; velocity is the slope of position-time.
Today’s Work
Main Deliverable
Motion graph analysis
Create one focused engineering artifact that demonstrates today’s learning.
- Calculate acceleration with units and show the velocity change.
- Sketch or interpret matching velocity-time and position-time graphs.
Exit Ticket
Mission Debrief
State the most important data-analysis or motion concept from today in your own words.
Name the measurement, calculation, graph feature, or test decision that supports your conclusion.
Identify one uncertainty, limitation, or next test that would strengthen the evidence.
Resources
Lesson Resources
Lesson 4.9 PowerPoint
Use the presentation to review the lesson concepts, examples, and activity directions.
Principles of Engineering
Return to the POE course hub for units, resources, certifications, and course information.
Mission Data Investigation
Use the integrated investigation context when connecting trial design, statistics, kinematics, graphs, and recommendations.