KINEMATICS - GRAPHS

DISTANCE-TIME GRAPHS
At rest

If an object is not moving, a horizontal line is shown on a distance-time graph.

Time is increasing to the right, but its distance does not change. It is not moving. We say it is At Rest.

Constant speed

If an object is moving at a constant speed, it means it has the same increase in distance in a given time:

Acceleration

The line on this graph is curving upwards. This shows an increase in

speed, since the line is getting steeper: In other words, in a given
time, the distance the object moves is change (getting larger). It is
accelerating

Key point

In a distance time graph gradient of the graph gives the speed

SPEED-TIME GRAPHS

Constant speed
A straight horizontal line on a speed-time graph means that speed is
constant. It is not changing over time.

Acceleration

This graph shows increasing speed. The moving object is accelerating.

Deceleration

This graph shows decreasing speed. The moving object is decelerating

Key points

 In a velocity time graph, gradient of the graph gives the acceleration

Also,
𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 = 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑝ℎ
1. An athlete runs along a straight road. She starts from rest and moves with constant acceleration for 5
seconds, reaching a speed of 8 𝑚𝑠 −1 . This speed is then maintained for 𝑇 seconds. She then
decelerates at a constant rate until she stops. She has run a total of 500 m in 75 s.

(a) Sketch a speed-time graph to illustrate the motion of the athlete.

(b) Calculate the value of 𝑇.

[50]

2. Find from the velocity-time graph shown

a) the acceleration during the first 4 𝑠,
b) the retardation during the last 2 𝑠,
c) the total distance travelled.

3. A cyclist rides along a straight road from A to B. He starts from rest at A and accelerates uniformly to
reach a speed of 10 𝑚𝑠 −1 in 8 s. He maintains this speed for 30 𝑠 and then uniformly decelerates to rest
at 𝐵. If the total time is 48 𝑠, draw a velocity-time curve and from it find
a) the acceleration,
b) the deceleration,
c) the total distance travelled.

4. A train starts from rest and attains a speed of 50 𝑘𝑚ℎ−1 in 4 minutes with uniform acceleration. It runs
at that speed for 5 minutes and then slows down uniformly to rest in 2 minutes. Draw the velocity-time
graph and find the total distance travelled.

5. A car is moving along a straight horizontal road. The speed of the car as it passes the point A is 25 𝑚𝑠 −1
and the car maintains this speed for 30 s. The car then decelerates uniformly to a speed of 10 𝑚𝑠 −1 .
The speed of 10 𝑚𝑠 −1 is then maintained until the car passes the point B. The time taken to travel
from A to B is 90 s and AB = 1410 m.

(a) Sketch, in the space below, a speed-time graph to show the motion of the car from A to B.

(b) Calculate the deceleration of the car as it decelerates from 25 𝑚𝑠 −1 to 10 𝑚𝑠 −1.

[1.875]
6. A car is moving along a straight horizontal road. At time t = 0, the car passes a point A with speed
25 𝑚𝑠 −1 . The car moves with constant speed 25 𝑚𝑠 −1 until 𝑡 = 10 𝑠. The car then decelerates
uniformly for 8 s. At time 𝑡 = 18 𝑠, the speed of the car is 𝑉 𝑚𝑠 −1 and this speed is maintained until
the car reaches the point B at time t = 30s.

(a) Sketch a speed–time graph to show the motion of the car from A to B.

Given that AB = 526 m, find

(b) the value of 𝑉,

(c) the deceleration of the car between t = 10 s and t = 18s

[11.175]

7. The figure above shows the speed-time graph of a cyclist moving on a straight road over a 7 s period.
The sections of the graph from t = 0 to t = 3, and from t = 3 to t = 7, are straight lines. The section from

t = 3 to t = 7 is parallel to the t-axis. State what can be deduced about the motion of the cyclist from
the fact that

(a) the graph from t = 0 to t = 3 is a straight line,

(b) the graph from t = 3 to t = 7 is parallel to the t-axis.

(c) Find the distance travelled by the cyclist during this 7 s

period.

[30.5]

8. A train is travelling at 10 𝑚𝑠 −1 on a straight horizontal track. The driver sees a red signal 135 m ahead
and immediately applies the brakes. The train immediately decelerates with constant deceleration for
12 s, reducing its speed to 3 𝑚𝑠 −1 . The driver then releases the brakes and allows the train to travel
at a constant speed of 3 𝑚𝑠 −1 for a further 15 s. He then applies the brakes again and the train slows
down with constant deceleration, coming to rest as it reaches the signal.

(a) Sketch a speed-time graph to show the motion of the train.

(b) Find the distance travelled by the train from the moment when the brakes are first applied to the
moment when its speed first reaches 3 𝑚𝑠 −1

(c) Find the total time from the moment when the brakes are first applied to the moment when the
train comes to rest.

[78,35]
9. A sprinter runs a race of 200 m. Her total time for running the race is 25 s. The diagram above is a
sketch of the speed-time graph for the motion of the sprinter. She starts from rest and accelerates
uniformly to a speed of 9 𝑚𝑠 −1 in 4 s. The speed of 9 𝑚𝑠 −1 is maintained for 16 s and she then
decelerates uniformly to a speed of 𝑢 𝑚𝑠 −1at the end of the race. Calculate

(a) the distance covered by the sprinter in the first 20 s of the race,

(b) the value of 𝑢,

(c) the deceleration of the sprinter in the last 5 s of the race.

[162,6.2,0.56]

10. A man is driving a car on a straight horizontal road. He sees a junction S ahead, at which he must stop.
When the car is at the point P, 300 m from S, its speed is 30 𝑚𝑠 −1 . The car continues at this constant
speed for 2 s after passing P. The man then applies the brakes so that the car has constant deceleration
and comes to rest at S.

(a) Sketch, in the space below, a speed-time graph to illustrate the motion of the car in moving from
P to S.

(b) Find the time taken by the car to travel from P to S.

[18]

11. Two cars P and Q are moving in the same direction along the same straight horizontal road. Car P is
moving with constant speed 25 𝑚𝑠 −1 . At time t = 0, P overtakes Q which is moving with constant
speed 20 𝑚𝑠 −1 . From 𝑡 = 𝑇 seconds, P decelerates uniformly, coming to rest at a point X which is 800
m from the point where P overtook Q. From t = 25 s, Q decelerates uniformly, coming to rest at the
same point X at the same instant as P.

(a) Sketch, on the same axes, the speed-time graphs of the two cars for the period from t = 0 to the
time when they both come to rest at the point X.

(b) Find the value of 𝑇.

[9]
12. A train starts from rest at a station A and moves along a straight horizontal track. For the first 10 s, the
train moves with constant acceleration 1.2 𝑚𝑠 −2. For the next 24 s it moves with constant
acceleration 0.75 𝑚𝑠 −2 . It then moves with constant speed for T seconds.

Finally it slows down with constant deceleration 3 𝑚𝑠 −2 until it comes to rest at a station B.

(a) Show that, 34 s after leaving A, the speed of the train is 30 𝑚𝑠 −1 .

(b) Sketch a speed-time graph to illustrate the motion of the train as it moves from A to B.

(c) Find the distance moved by the train during the first 34 s of its journey from A.

(d)The distance from A to B is 3 km. Find the value of 𝑇.

[564, 76.2]

13. A car starts from rest at a point S on a straight racetrack. The car moves with constant acceleration for
20 s, reaching a speed of 25 𝑚𝑠 −1 . The car then travels at a constant speed of 25 𝑚𝑠 −1 for 120 s.
Finally it moves with constant deceleration, coming to rest at a point F.
(a) In the space below, sketch a speed-time graph to illustrate the motion of the car.

The distance between S and F is 4 km.

(b) Calculate the total time the car takes to travel from S to F.

A motorcycle starts at S, 10 s after the car has left S. The motorcycle moves with constant acceleration
from rest and passes the car at a point P which is 1.5 km from S. When the motorcycle passes the car,
the motorcycle is still accelerating and the car is moving at a constant speed. Calculate

(c) the time the motorcycle takes to travel from S to P,

(d) the speed of the motorcycle at P.

[200,60,50]

14. A train moves along a straight horizontal track between two stations R and S. Initially the train is at
rest at R. The train accelerates uniformly at 0.5𝑚𝑠 −2 from rest at R until it is moving with speed
15𝑚𝑠 −1. For the next 200 seconds the train maintains a constant speed of 15 𝑚𝑠 −1 . The train then
decelerates uniformly at 0.25𝑚𝑠 −2 until it comes to rest at S. Find

(a) the time taken by the train to travel from R to S,

(b) the distance from R to S,

(c) the average speed of the train during the journey from R to S
15. A small stone is projected vertically upwards from the point O and moves freely under gravity. The
point A is 3.6 m vertically above O. When the stone first reaches A, the stone is moving upwards with
speed 11.2 𝑚𝑠 −1. The stone is modelled as a particle.

(a) Find the maximum height above O reached by the stone.

(b) Find the total time between the instant when the stone was projected from O and the instant when
it returns to O.

(c) Sketch a velocity-time graph to represent the motion of the stone from the instant when it passes
through A moving upwards to the instant when it returns to O. Show, on the axes, the coordinates of
the points where your graph meets the axes.

16. Two trains, A and B, start together from rest, at time 𝑡 = 0, at a station and move along parallel
straight horizontal tracks. Both trains come to rest at the next station after 180 s. Train A moves with
2
constant acceleration 3 𝑚𝑠 −2 for 30 s, then moves at constant speed for 120 s and then moves with
constant deceleration for the final 30 s. Train B moves with constant acceleration for 90 s and then
moves with constant deceleration for the final 90 s.

(a) Sketch, on the same axes, the speed–time graphs for the motion of the two trains between the
two stations.

(b) Find the acceleration of train B for the first half of its journey.

(c) Find the times when the two trains are moving at the same speed.

(d) Find the distance between the trains 96 s after they start.

17. Two trains, P and Q, move on horizontal parallel straight tracks. Initially both are at rest in a station
and level with each other. At time 𝑡 = 0, P starts off and moves with constant acceleration for 10 s up
to a speed of 25 𝑚𝑠 −1, and then moves at a constant speed of 25 𝑚𝑠 −1 . At time 𝑡 = 20, where 𝑡 is
measured in seconds, train Q starts to move in the same direction as P. Train Q accelerates with the
same initial constant acceleration as P, up to a speed of 40 𝑚𝑠 −1and then moves at a constant speed
of 40 𝑚𝑠 −1 . Train Q overtakes P at time 𝑡 = 𝑇, after both trains have reached their constant speeds.

(a) Sketch, on the same axes, the speed-time graphs of both trains for 0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 𝑇.

(b) Find the value of 𝑡 at the instant when both trains are moving at the same speed.

(c) Find the value of 𝑇.

18. Two trains M and N are moving in the same direction along parallel straight horizontal tracks. At time
𝑡 = 0, M overtakes N whilst they are travelling with speeds 40 𝑚𝑠 −1 and 30 𝑚𝑠 −1 respectively. Train
M overtakes train N as they pass a point X at the side of the tracks. After overtaking N, train M
maintains its speed of 40 𝑚𝑠 −1 for 𝑇 seconds and then decelerates uniformly, coming to rest next to
a point Y at the side of the tracks. After being overtaken, train N maintains its speed of 30 𝑚𝑠 −1 for
25 s and then decelerates uniformly, also coming to rest next to the point Y. The times taken by the
trains to travel between X and Y are the same.
(a) Sketch, on the same diagram, the speed-time graphs for the motions of the two trains between
X and Y.
(b) Given that XY = 975 m, find the value of 𝑇

19. Two cars, A and B, move on parallel straight horizontal tracks. Initially A and B are both at rest with A
at the point P and B at the point Q, as shown in Figure. At time 𝑡 = 0 seconds, A starts to move with
constant acceleration 𝑎 𝑚𝑠 −2 for 3.5 s, reaching a speed of 14 𝑚𝑠 −1. Car A then moves with constant
speed 14 𝑚𝑠 −1 .

(a) Find the value of 𝑎.

Car B also starts to move at time 𝑡 = 0 seconds, in the same direction as car A. Car B moves with a
constant acceleration of 3 𝑚𝑠 −2 . At time 𝑡 = 𝑇 seconds, B overtakes A. At this instant A is moving
with constant speed.

(b) On a diagram, sketch, on the same axes, a speed-time graph for the motion of A for the interval
0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 𝑇 and a speed-time graph for the motion of B for the interval 0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 𝑇.

(c) Find the value of 𝑇.

(d) Find the distance of car B from the point Q when B overtakes A.

(e) On a new diagram, sketch, on the same axes, an acceleration-time graph for the motion of A for
the interval 0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 𝑇 and an acceleration-time graph for the motion of B for the interval 0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 𝑇.
20. The velocity-time graph shown in Figure represents the straight line motion of a toy car. All the lines
on the graph are straight.

The car starts at the point A at 𝑡 = 0 and in the next 8 seconds moves to a point B.

(i) Find the distance from A to B.

𝑇 seconds after leaving A, the car is at a point C which is a distance of 10 m from B.

(ii) Find the value of 𝑇.

(iii) Find the displacement from A to C.

21. A car passes a point A travelling at 10 𝑚𝑠 −1. Its motion over the next 45 seconds is modelled as
follows.

 The car’s speed increases uniformly from 10 𝑚𝑠 −1 to 30 𝑚𝑠 −1 over the first 10 s.

 Its speed then increases uniformly to 40 𝑚𝑠 −1 over the next 15 s.

 The car then maintains this speed for a further 20 s at which time it reaches the point B.

(i) Sketch a speed-time graph to represent this motion.

(ii) Calculate the distance from A to B.

(iii) When it reaches the point B, the car is brought uniformly to rest in T seconds. The total
distance from A is now 1700 m. Calculate the value of T.
22. An elevator is pulled vertically upwards by a cable. The velocity-time graph for the motion is shown
above. Find

(i) the distance travelled by the elevator,

(ii) the acceleration during the first stage and the deceleration during the third stage.

23. A lift moves upwards from rest and accelerates at 0.9 𝑚𝑠 −2 for 3 s. The lift then travels for 6 s at
constant speed and finally slows down, with a constant deceleration, stopping in a further 4 s.

(i) Sketch a velocity-time graph for the motion.

(ii) Find the total distance travelled by the lift

24. A sprinter runs a race of 400 m. His total time for running the race is 52 s. The diagram shows the
velocity-time graph for the motion of the sprinter. He starts from rest and accelerates uniformly to a
speed of 8.2 𝑚𝑠 −1 in 6 s. The sprinter maintains a speed of 8.2 𝑚𝑠 −1 for 36 s, and he then decelerates
uniformly to a speed of 𝑉 𝑚𝑠 −1at the end of the race.

(i) Calculate the distance covered by the sprinter in the first 42 s of the race.

(ii) Show that 𝑉 = 7.84.

(iii) Calculate the deceleration of the sprinter in the last 10 s of the race.
25. Alan starts walking from a point O, at a constant speed of 4 𝑠 −1 , along a horizontal path. Ben walks
along the same path, also starting from O. Ben starts from rest 5 s after Alan and accelerates at 1.2
𝑚𝑠 −2 for 5 s. Ben then continues to walk at a constant speed until he is at the same point, P, as Alan.

(i) Find how far Ben has travelled when he has been walking for 5 s and find his speed at this instant.
(ii) Find the distance OP.

26. The diagram shows a velocity-time graph which models the motion of a cyclist. The graph consists of
five straight line segments. The cyclist accelerates from rest to a speed of 5 𝑚𝑠 −1 over a period of 10
s, and then travels at this speed for a further 20 s. The cyclist then descends a hill, accelerating to
speed 𝑉 𝑚𝑠 −1over a period of 10 s. This speed is maintained for a further 30 s. The cyclist then
decelerates to rest over a period of 20 s.

(i) Find the acceleration of the cyclist during the first 10 seconds.

(ii) Show that the total distance travelled by the cyclist in the 90 seconds of motion may be
expressed as (45𝑉 + 150)𝑚. Hence find 𝑉, given that the total distance travelled by the
cyclist is 465 m.

27. A car starts from rest and moves in a straight line from point A with constant acceleration 3 𝑚𝑠 −2 for
10 s. The car then travels at constant speed for 30 s before decelerating uniformly, coming to rest at
point B. The distance AB is 1.5 𝑘𝑚.

(i) Find the total distance travelled in the first 40 s of motion.

(ii) When the car has been moving for 20 s, a motorcycle starts from rest and accelerates
uniformly in a straight line from point A to a speed 𝑉 𝑚𝑠 −1. It then maintains this speed for
30 s before decelerating uniformly to rest at point B. The motorcycle comes to rest at the
same time as the car.

(iii) Given that the magnitude of the acceleration am 𝑎 𝑚𝑠 −2 of the motorcycle is three times the
magnitude of its deceleration, find the value of 𝑎.

(iv) Sketch the displacement-time graph for the motion of the car.
28. A train travels between two stations, A and B. The train starts from rest at A and accelerates at a
constant rate for 𝑇 𝑠 until it reaches a speed of 25 𝑚𝑠 −1. It then travels at this constant speed before
decelerating at a constant rate, coming to rest at B. The magnitude of the train’s deceleration is twice
the magnitude of its acceleration. The total time taken for the journey is 180 s.

(i) Sketch the velocity-time graph for the train’s journey from A to B.

(ii) Find an expression, in terms of 𝑇, for the length of time for which the train is travelling with
constant speed.

(iii) The distance from A to B is 3300 m. Find how far the train travels while it is decelerating.

29. The diagram shows the velocity-time graph of a particle which moves in a straight line. The graph
consists of 5 straight line segments. The particle starts from rest at a point A at time 𝑡 = 0, and initially
travels towards point B on the line.

(i) Show that the acceleration of the particle between t = 3.5 and t = 6 is −10 𝑚𝑠 −2

(ii) The acceleration of the particle between t = 6 and t = 10 is 7.5 𝑚𝑠 −2 . When t = 10 the
velocity of the particle is 𝑉 𝑚𝑠 −1. Find the value of 𝑉.

(iii) The particle comes to rest at B at time 𝑇 s. Given that the total distance travelled by the
particle between 𝑡 = 0 and 𝑡 = 𝑇 is 100 m, find the value of 𝑇.