What are the little lines behind arrows to show movement called?

• A. Motion dots
• B. Arrow trails
• C. Movement marks
• D. Speed lines

Answer: (A)

Movement in visuals is shown with markers that imply the object’s path. Those small markers behind a moving arrow are called motion dots since they act as tiny snapshots of position over time, creating a trail that communicates motion without drawing a long continuous line. This discrete-dot approach makes it clear that the motion is composed of steps or intervals, which is especially useful in simple illustrations or teaching materials. Other labels like arrow trails or speed lines suggest a continuous or stylized streak, which isn’t the same as a series of individual dots, and movement marks is too vague to convey the idea of separate positional cues. So motion dots best capture the intended meaning.