Velocity-time graphs

Velocity-time graphs: acceleration

The acceleration of an object at a given time is given by the gradient of its velocity-time graph

20 15

Velocity (m/s)
15
10
Velocity (m/s)

10
A 5

5
0
0 0 5 10
0 2 4 6 8 10 Time (seconds)
Time (seconds)

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Velocity-time graphs: acceleration

Example 1
A car travels at a constant velocity of 30 m/s for 40 seconds, 30
then decelerates uniformly to rest in 20 seconds.
Velocity (m/s)

20

a) On the axes provided, draw a velocity-time graph to

10
represent the motion of the car over the course of this
minute. 0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Time (seconds)

b) Calculate the deceleration of the car in the last

20 seconds of its journey.

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Velocity-time graphs

Velocity-time graphs: acceleration

Example 2 12

10
The velocity-time graph to the right describes the
8

Velocity (m/s)
motion of an Olympic sprinter. Calculate her
6
acceleration for the following sections of her journey: 4

a) the first 2 seconds; 0

0 2 4 6 8 10
Time (seconds)

b) 2 to 6 seconds;

c) the last 4 seconds.

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Velocity-time graphs: distance

The distance travelled by an object can be calculated from the area under its velocity-time graph

Example 3 10

Calculate the distance travelled by the sprinter from 8

Velocity (m/s)

0 to 10 seconds. 6

0
0 2 4 6 8 10
Time (seconds)

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Velocity-time graphs

Velocity-time graphs: distance

Example 4
A motorbike accelerates from rest to a top speed of 40 m/s in 40

approximately 6 seconds, as shown by the velocity-time graph

30

Velocity (m/s)
to the right.
20

a) Describe the motion of the motorbike from 0 to 8 seconds.

10

0
0 2 4 6 8

Time (s)

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Velocity-time graphs: distance

Example 4
b) Calculate the total distance travelled by the motorbike 40

from 0 to 8 seconds.
30
Velocity (m/s)

The COUNTING SQUARES method 20

10

0
0 2 4 6 8

Time (s)

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