Students plot position and velocity graphs as the path of the particle.

A ball and track set-up is shown below. The ball is given a nudge in the direction shown. Students are asked to sketch a velocity (and/or position) vs. time graph for the movement of the ball (along the track).

 Correct Answer

Students suffering this difficulty will provide a plot that looks very similar to the shape of the picture above.  

 

Related misconceptions/student difficulties that may arise in the question:

Students have difficulty relating real world motions to a graph and vice-versa.

Velocity must be positive.

A positive (negative) slope means that an object is speeding up (slowing down).