Name _____________________, Official Class _______ Teacher _________________Date _____________________ Forest Hills High School

Graphing Motion Murder Mystery CER

Task: Local police are trying to solve a murder and is developing a case to arrest their lead suspect. However, they have run into trouble analyzing some of the evidence. They have come to you as a “Motion Graph Expert” to help develop their case. Take a look at the provided data and evidence to assist them in their case and determine whether the suspect is lying or not.

The Facts:The Vehicle’s Movements: Police were able to get a velocity-time graph of suspect’s car during the night in question from the car’s computer. The graph is shown below:

The Suspect’s Statement: Police interviewed the suspect as to his whereabouts on the night in question. Part of their interview is seen below:

OFFICER SMITH: Where were you on the night of 6/19?

SUSPECT: I was at home and then I went out for ice cream at the local shop on North Road. I left my house and made a left onto West Drive and then made a right on North Road to get to the ice cream shop.

OFFICER SMITH: A likely story. We think instead that you murdered Jane Doe at your house and drove down to the river on Central Avenue to dump the body.

The Local Map: A map showing the location of the suspect’s home, the ice cream shop and the location of the river where the body was found. The path the suspect claims he took and path the police believe the suspect took are outlined on the graph. [Diagram not to scale]

Legend

= path suspect claims he took = path police believe the suspect took

Case Paperwork 1A: Fill out FORM 1A below to document your findings.Claim: Was the suspect telling the truth or are they lying about their whereabouts?

Evidence #1: Evidence #2: Evidence #3:

Reasoning: How does the evidence tell you if the suspect whether the suspect was lying or not?

Case Paperwork – Formal Statement: Write a formal paragraph to submit to the police addressing whether the suspect was telling the truth or not. Include an introductory and concluding sentence & explain your evidence and reasoning.

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