Mississippi Science PHY.1.3
The Standard
- PHY.1
- Students will investigate and understand how to analyze and interpret data.
Use mathematical and computational analysis to solve problems using kinematic equations.
2026 Mississippi College- and Career-Readiness Standards for Science · One-Dimensional Motion
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students use starting position, velocity, acceleration, and time to predict where an object will be or how fast it will move. They use equations and a spreadsheet or calculator to solve straight-line motion problems with constant acceleration.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Given starting speed, acceleration, and time, a student chooses an equation and calculates final speed or displacement with units. They set a positive direction, handle negative acceleration, and check a result with a spreadsheet.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may think negative acceleration means an object is moving backward, even when it is still moving forward. They may use distance = speed × time when speed is changing, or forget to square time in the displacement equation.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: A cart starts at 2 m/s and accelerates at 3 m/s² for 4 s. Find its displacement, show units, and check your answer with a spreadsheet formula.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Mark a ramp every 20 cm, film a rolling cart, and use video timestamps to compare measured positions with calculated positions.
Have students write two sentences explaining why a braking car has negative acceleration when forward is positive.
Give pairs three motion cards and have them check hand calculations for final speed or displacement with spreadsheet formulas.
A car travels at 12 m/s and accelerates at -3 m/s²; calculate whether it stops before a crosswalk 20 meters ahead.
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Printable PHY.1.3 Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to PHY.1.3, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.
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Related Standards
- PHY.1.4
Use graphical analysis to derive kinematic equations.
- PHY.2.5
Use mathematical and computational analysis to derive simple equations of motion for various systems using Newton’s second law (e.g., net force equations).
- PHY.2.6
Use mathematical and computational analysis to explore forces (e.g., friction, force applied, normal, and tension).
- PHS.5.4
Use mathematical and computational analyses to show the relationships among force, mass, and acceleration (i.e., Newton’s second law).
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