Lab Explore • tweak parameters • watch graphs respond

Simulation Lab: Constant Acceleration (1D)

This is not a step-by-step lesson. It’s a playground: change \(u\), \(a\), and time, then see how motion and graphs behave instantly.

Mode: Parameter sweep

Graphs: x(t), v(t)

Goal: build intuition

Control panel

Live update

Pick a starting velocity \(u\), acceleration \(a\), and total time. Then press Play to animate the motion. Pause anytime and read values at the current time.

Initial velocity \(u\) 10.0

Try negative \(u\) (moving “left” first).

Acceleration \(a\) 2.0

Try \(a=-9.8\) for gravity (up is +).

Total time \(T\) 5.0

Longer time reveals curvature in \(x(t)\).

Initial position \(x_0\) 0.0

Offsets move \(x(t)\) up/down.

Current time

0.0

seconds

Velocity v(t)

10.0

m/s

Position x(t)

0.0

Live graphs • \(v(t)=u+at\) • \(x(t)=x_0+ut+\tfrac{1}{2}at^2\)

Tip: you’re “doing physics” when you predict the graph shape first, then verify it here.

What to try

Exploration

Use these mini-experiments like a lab notebook. Don’t rush—change one parameter at a time.

Zero acceleration: set \(a=0\). What happens to \(v(t)\)? What does \(x(t)\) look like?
Reverse direction: set \(u>0\) and \(a<0\). Does the object stop? When does \(v=0\)?
Gravity feel: set \(a=-9.8\). If \(u>0\), what’s the “top of motion” time?
Curvature test: increase \(T\). How does the bend of \(x(t)\) change with bigger \(|a|\)?
Same final velocity: try different pairs \((u,a)\) that give the same \(v\) at the same \(t\). What changes?

Lab mindset: This page is meant to feel like tinkering, not “reading”. If you want guided prompts, jump back to the nano-lesson Step 6 exploration prompts.

← Back to nano-lesson More kinematics topics

Units here are generic (m, s). You can interpret them for any 1D motion context.