Motion Graphs

1. Speed .
.
) (
) (
) (
Time
Distance
Speed m or cm/second
m or cm
seconds S
D
T
Examples using the Speed Formula (Showing full working):
1. The sprinter ran 100 metres in 10 seconds. What was his speed ?
Time
Distance
Speed
s
m
10
100

s m/ 10
2. The porsche travelled at 40 m/s for 2 minutes. How far did it go ?
Time Speed Distance
s s m 120 / 40 m 4800
Nb VELOCITY (v)is simply speed in a given direction

2. Acceleration

The acceleration of something tells us how quickly its speed is changing.
We can say that acceleration is the amount ..changes per .... speed second
) (
) (
) (
Time
Speed in Change
on Accelerati metres/second
2

metres/second
seconds
A
S
T
Time
Speed in Change
on Accelerati
t
u v

1. The ferrari was travelling at 20 m/s behind a lorry. It pulled out to

overtake and accelerated at 4 m/s
2
for 2 seconds. What was its new
speed ?
Time on Accelerati speed in Change
s s m 2 / 4
2

s m/ 8
New Speed = Old Speed + Change in Speed
= 20 m/s + 8 m/s = 28 m/s
or
Where v = final velocity
u = initial velocity
4. Motion Represented on Graphs.
There are two types of motion graphs, and three
types of motion. Best represented in a table.
Velocity/Time Distance/Time
Stopped
Const
Velocity
Const
Acceln
D
t
D
t
D
t
V
t
V
t
V
t
Gradient = Velocity Gradient = Acceln
Area = Distance
travelled
Question
Velocity Time Graph for parachutist.
150
15
15
50 100
V (m/s)
T (s)
A. What was his acceleration from 0 to 15 sec ?
T
V
A

s
s m
15
/ 150

2
/ 10 s m
B. What was happening at 50 seconds?
He had just opened his parachute and was
decelerating.
C. Approximately how far did he fall altogether?
Area under graph 50 150 + 50 15 = 8250m
Distance time graphs ;Summary
The gradient of a distance time
graph gives the velocity
increasing gradient means object
is accelerating
decreasing gradient means object
is decelerating
zero gradient means object is
stationary
Velocity time graphs; Summary
The gradient of a velocity time graph gives the
acceleration of an object
the area under a velocity time graph gives the total
distance traveled
Increasing or decreasing gradient gives the rate at
which the acceleration is increasing or decreasing
Zero gradient means the object is travelling at
constant speed
Problems

1. Calculate the speed over OA AB and BC

2. Calculate (a)the acceleration over OA, AB and BC
(b) the total distance traveled in the 12 s
5, 0, 3.75m
5m/s
2
, 0, 3.75m/s
2
, 127.5m