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    Interpreting Speed-Time Graphs: Extended

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    jadibe4138
    The document discusses interpreting speed-time graphs and calculating acceleration from the graphs. It explains that a change in speed indicates acceleration and describes what constant, increasing, and decreasing acceleration would look like on a graph. It also provides an example of using a speed-time graph to find the largest acceleration and to calculate acceleration between two points using the graph's gradient.

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    Interpreting Speed-Time Graphs: Extended

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    5 views7 pages
    The document discusses interpreting speed-time graphs and calculating acceleration from the graphs. It explains that a change in speed indicates acceleration and describes what constant, increasing, and decreasing acceleration would look like on a graph. It also provides an example of using a speed-time graph to find the largest acceleration and to calculate acceleration between two points using the graph's gradient.

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    The document discusses interpreting speed-time graphs and calculating acceleration from the graphs. It explains that a change in speed indicates acceleration and describes what constant, increasing, and decreasing acceleration would look like on a graph. It also provides an example of using a speed-time graph to find the largest acceleration and to calculate acceleration between two points using the graph's gradient.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    5 views7 pages

    Interpreting Speed-Time Graphs: Extended

    Uploaded by

    jadibe4138
    The document discusses interpreting speed-time graphs and calculating acceleration from the graphs. It explains that a change in speed indicates acceleration and describes what constant, increasing, and decreasing acceleration would look like on a graph. It also provides an example of using a speed-time graph to find the largest acceleration and to calculate acceleration between two points using the graph's gradient.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    of 7

    Interpreting Speed-Time graphs

    EXTENDED

     If there is a change in an object's speed, then it is accelerating

     An object may accelerate at a steady rate, this is called constant acceleration


    o On a speed-time graph this will be a non-horizontal straight line

     An object may accelerate at an increasing rate


    o On a speed-time graph this would be an upward curve with an increasing
    gradient
     An object may accelerate at a decreasing rate
    o On a speed-time graph this would be an upward curve with a decreasing
    gradient
     An object is said to decelerate if its speed is decreasing over time, i.e. its acceleration is
    negative
    o On a speed-time graph this would be a downward line
     If the line is a non-horizontal straight line, deceleration is constant
     If the line is a curve with an increasing gradient, deceleration is
    increasing
     If the line is a curve with a decreasing gradient, deceleration is
    decreasing

    Calculating Acceleration
     The acceleration of an object can be calculated from the gradient of a speed-time graph
    How to find the gradient of a speed-time graph

    Worked example

    Tora is training for a cycling tournament.

    The speed-time graph below shows her motion as she cycles along a flat, straight road.
    (a) In which section (A, B, C, D, or E) of the speed-time graph is Tora’s acceleration the largest?

    (b) Calculate Tora’s acceleration between 5 and 10 seconds.

    Part (a)

    Step 1: Recall that the slope of a speed-time graph represents the magnitude of acceleration


    o The slope of a speed-time graph indicates the magnitude of acceleration

    Therefore, the only sections of the graph where Tora is accelerating is section B
    and section D

    o Sections A, C, and E are flat – in other words, Tora is moving at a constant speed
    (i.e. not accelerating)

    Step 2: Identify the section with the steepest slope


    o Section D of the graph has the steepest slope
    Hence, the largest acceleration is shown in section D

    Part (b)

    Step 1: Recall that the gradient of a speed-time graph gives the acceleration


    o Calculating the gradient of a slope on a speed-time graph gives the acceleration
    for that time period

    Step 2: Draw a large gradient triangle at the appropriate section of the graph


    o A gradient triangle is drawn for the time period between 5 and 10 seconds below:

    Step 3: Calculate the size of the gradient and state this as the acceleration


    o The acceleration is given by the gradient, which can be calculated using:

    acceleration = gradient = 5 ÷ 5 = 1 m/s2



    o Therefore, Tora accelerated at 1 m/s2 between 5 and 10 seconds

    Exam Tip

    Use the entire slope, where possible, to calculate the gradient. Examiners tend to award credit if
    they see a large gradient triangle used - so remember to draw 'rise' and 'run' lines directly on
    the graph itself!

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