Graphical Representation of Motion

Name of the graph Slope Area

s-t velocity No physical quantity
v-t Acceleration Displacement
a-t Jerk Velocity

1. Uniform motion

Equations

(a)𝒂 = 𝟎 (b )v=constant (c) s=vt or s=s0+vt

Important Points

(a)s-t equation is linear. Therefore, the graph of s-t is a st. line.

(b) In s=vt, the reference and starting point are the same point as s=0 when t=0. But in
s=s0+vt, the reference and starting point are different as s≠0 when t=0.

(c) The slope of the s-t graph is constant

(d) The slope of the v-t graph is zero.

The corresponding Graphs

(a)s-t graph

s=s0+vt

s=vt s0

O t O t
(b)v-t graph

O v=constant t

(c) a-t graph

O a=0

2. Uniformly accelerated Motion

Equations

(a)𝒂 =constant and Positive

(b)v=u+𝒂𝒕 or v=𝒂𝒕 if u=0

𝟏 𝟏
(c) 𝒔 = 𝒖𝒕 + 𝟐 𝒂𝒕𝟐 or s=𝟐 𝒂𝒕𝟐 if u=0
𝟏 𝟏
(d) s=s0+ut+ 𝒂𝒕𝟐 or s=s0+ 𝒂𝒕𝟐 if u=0
𝟐 𝟐
 Important Points

(a)v-t equation is linear. Therefore, the v-t graph is a straight line.

(b)All s-t equations are quadratic. Therefore, all s-t graphs should be parabolic.

(c) The initial slope of the s-t graph gives the initial velocity u.

(d) In the case of uniform accelerated motion, the slope of the s-t graph i.e. velocity keeps
on increasing and positive.

(e)Since in the case of uniform accelerated motion, acceleration is positive and constant.
Thus, the Slope of the v-t graph is positive and constant.

The corresponding Graphs

(a)a-t graph

O a=constant t

(b)v-t graph v

v=u+at

v=at

t O t

O slope=a=constant and positive

 (c)s-t graph

s
𝟏
s=ut+𝟐 𝒂𝒕𝟐

θ
O t
𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝜽=u =initial velocity

θ2
1
Q s=s0+ut+2 𝑎𝑡 2

θ1

s0

O 𝜃2 > 𝜃1 t

From P to Q, the slope is increasing ( positive at both points). Thus, velocity is positive and
increasing.
3.Uniformly Retarded motion (till velocity becomes zero)

We are considering the case when initial velocity is positive and a constant acceleraton
acts in negative direction (till the velocity becomes zero).

Equations

1.𝒂 =constant and negative

2.𝒗 = 𝒖 − 𝒂𝒕
𝟏
3.s=𝒖𝒕 − 𝟐 𝒂𝒕𝟐

Important Points

(i)In this case, u cannot be zero. Therefore, v-t graph cannot pass through origin.

(ii) Initial slope of s-t graph can not be zero.

(iii)Velocity is positive but keeps on decreasing from u to 0.

(iv) Slope of v-t graph at any instant must be negative and constant

(v)Initial slope of s-t graph will give initial velocity and final slope gives final velocity which
is given by 0. In between these two times, velocity is positive and decreasing. Thus, slope
of s-t graph should be positive but decreasing.

The corresponding Graphs

(a)a-t graph

O t

-ve
(b)v-t graph

v=0

O t

(c)s-t graph

θ
O t

4.Uniformly Retarded and then Accelerated mtion in opposite direction

If a particle is projected vertically upwards then following points hold as follows:-

1.It is an example of both uniformly retarded and accelerated motion.

2.During retarded motion, we have

(a) velocity is positive but decreasing if upward direction is taken positive and downward
direction as negative.

(b) Its acceleration is constant and negative i.e acceleration=−𝒈

(c) At height point, its velocity becomes zero.

(d) Its displacement increases parabolically in positive direction.

3.During accelerated motion, we have

(a) its velocity acts in downward direction so it is negative but increasing

(b)Upward journey time= downward journey time

(c)Finally, the particle returns to the ground. Therefore, its final displacement is zero.

(d) Its displacement decreases but displacement from the starting point (From ground) is
still positive.

4.If air resistance is neglected then velocity at point of projection= velocity at the time of
striking into the ground.

The corresponding Graphs

(a)a-t graph

O A B t

−𝟗 ⋅ 𝟖

(b)v-t graph

+u

O A B t

-u
(c)s-t graph

O A B t
Interconversion between v-t graph into s-t graph for zero or constant acceleration

v-t graph is given below

velocity

A R

A-1 R-1 time

U-1

Corresponding s-t graph is given below

A-1

U U-1

A R-1

t
where

Motion Type About the motion Velocity or slope of s-t

graph
A Accelerated in positive Positive and increasing
direction
U Uniform in positive Positive and constant
direction
R Retarded in positive Positive and decreasing
direction
A-1 Accelerated in negative Negative and increasing
direction
U-1 Uniform in negative Negative and Constant
direction
R-1 Retarded in negative Negative and decreaing
direction

How to convert v-t graph in s-t graph

1.Mark the motions A, U, R, A-1 , U-1 and R-1 in the given v-t graph for different time interval

2.Calculate the area under v-t graph for different time interval

3.Plot s-t graph according to the shape of A, U, R, A-1, U-1, R-1 motions

4.Keep on adding area for further displacement.

Note

Area under v-t graph above the time axis will be considered as positive and that of below
the time axis is taken as negative.

General method of conversion of graph

1.In some cases, one graph can be converted into other graph just by finding slope of the
given graph. But this method is helpful when different segments of the given graph are
straight line. For examples,

(a)Given s-t graph can be converted into v-t graphp from the slope of s-t graph for different
time interval.

(b)Given v-t graph can be converted into a-t graph from the slope of v-t graph for different
time interval.

2.To convert v-s graph(straight-line graph) into a-s graph, first write v-s equation (linear)
from the given graph and then make corresponding a-s equation by using the v-s equation
ⅆ𝒗
and 𝒂 = 𝒗 ⅆ𝒔 .Then construct the a-s graph according to the a-s equation.
Effect of Air resistance in the motion of a vertically projected object

Suppose an object is projected vertically upward with initial velocity u and acceleration
due to air resistance is 𝒂 (acting in the opposite direction of motion of the object) ,
g =acceleration due to gravity( acting in downward direction) then

For Upward Motion

1.𝒂 acts in downward direction

2.Net acceleration =(𝒈 + 𝒂 ) in downward direction

𝒖
3.Time of ascent = 𝑻𝒂 = 𝒈+𝒂

𝒖𝟐
4.Maximum height= h=
𝟐(𝒈+𝒂)

For Downward Motion

1.𝒂 acts in upward direction

2.Net acceleration = (𝒈 − 𝒂 ) in downward direction

𝒖
3.Time of descent = 𝑻ⅆ =
√𝒈𝟐 −𝒂𝟐

𝒖(𝒈−𝒂)
4.u’=velocity at which the object strikes into the ground=
√𝒈𝟐 −𝒂𝟐

Final Deductions

1.𝑻𝒂 < 𝑻ⅆ 2.𝒖′ < 𝒖