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Distance-Time Graphs

The document discusses distance-time graphs and how to interpret them. It explains that a straight, sloping line on a distance-time graph represents constant speed, with a steeper line indicating faster speed. A horizontal line means the object is stationary. The gradient of a distance-time graph equals the speed.

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19 views

Distance-Time Graphs

The document discusses distance-time graphs and how to interpret them. It explains that a straight, sloping line on a distance-time graph represents constant speed, with a steeper line indicating faster speed. A horizontal line means the object is stationary. The gradient of a distance-time graph equals the speed.

Uploaded by

chxrryyskies
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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%  ' ZS
Overview
1. Motion, forces and energy / 1.2 Motion

 Distance-time graphs
Table of
contents

!

Notebook

+ A key skill in this subtopic is knowing how to interpret graphs that show how something is
Glossary
moving. Two commonly used graphs are:

Reading
assistance distance–time graphs
speed–time graphs.

First, let us look at graphs of distance ( y -axis) against time ( x -axis). The interactive image
below shows the journey of a bus travelling to school.

 


Figure 1. A distance-time graph of a bus.

Therefore, on a distance–time graph:

a straight, sloping line = constant speed


a straight, sloping line of higher gradient = faster constant speed
a flat/horizontal line = stationary (not moving).

 Activity

With a partner, take a piece of paper or a mini-whiteboard. Both of you should sketch
a distance-time graph on the paper. Then, swap graphs and try to 'act out' the graph
you have been given, remembering the rules above. Give your partner a score out of
ten for how well they acted out your graph.

Then, you could:

draw more difficult graphs

add numbers to the axes and try to get the measurements right too

try to complete the graphs walking backwards (in a safe area).

When drawing your graph, make sure the line is always moving from left to right. If
the line is going back on itself, that's going back in time!

Distance–time graph gradients


From your maths lessons, you should know that:

increase in y-axis
gradient =
increase in x-axis

When we plot distance against time, then:

change in distance
gradient =
change in time

This is the same equation as the one for speed!

gradient of a distance–time graph = speed

 Exercise
Click a question to answer

? 1. On a distance-time graph, the speed of the object is given by the of the


line.

 Check answers

Worked example 1
Study Figure 1 Calculate the speed of the bus in section (c).

» Show solution

Complete section with 3 questions

Start questions

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