Mississippi Science PHY.1.8
The Standard
- PHY.1
- Students will investigate and understand how to analyze and interpret data.
Given a 1D motion graph students should replicate the motion predicted by the graph.
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 read the axes and time marks on a motion graph. They move along a straight line to match its direction, speed, stops, and turns.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student can walk away, pause, and return at the times shown on a position-time graph. Given a velocity-time graph, they can change speed or direction when the graph calls for it.
Common Misconceptions
- Some students try to walk the shape of the graph instead of moving along a straight path. Others think a flat velocity line means stop, or that negative velocity means a position left of zero.
How to Assess It
- Tape a 0-to-2-meter line on the floor. Show a position-time graph that rises from 0 to 2 meters in 2 seconds, stays flat for 2 seconds, then returns to 0 in 2 seconds, and watch each student walk it.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Lay a 3-meter tape line on the floor, display a position-time graph, and have partners take turns walking it and calling out seconds.
Show flat sections on position-time and velocity-time graphs, and ask students to describe how they would move for each one.
Have pairs draw rising, flat, falling, and steeply rising position-time graph cards, then trade cards and act out each graph.
Give students a bus schedule with times and mile markers, then have them draw a position-time graph and mark each stop.
Free download
Printable PHY.1.8 Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to PHY.1.8, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.
PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.
Download the worksheetKeep exploring
Related Standards
- PHY.1.4
Use graphical analysis to derive kinematic equations.
- PHY.1.1
Investigate and analyze evidence gained through observation or experimental design regarding the one-dimensional (1-D) motion of objects. Design and conduct exp...
- PHY.1.2
Interpret and predict 1-D motion based on displacement vs. time, velocity vs. time, or acceleration vs. time graphs (e.g., free-falling objects).
- PHY.1.7
Design different scenarios, and predict graph shapes for distance/time, velocity/time, and acceleration/time graphs.
Turn this exact standard into a lesson
Grade, subject, topic, and the complete standard are prefilled. Create one free, no account needed.
Also for this standard:Make a WorksheetMake a QuizMake a Sub Lesson