Fernando Air Base Integrated National High School

General Physics 1
LESSON 07:
INTERPRETING TIME GRAPHS (POSITION VS TIME,
VELOCITY VS TIME, ACCELERATION VS TIME)
 MATHEMATICS PRAYER
We thank you LORD a hundredfold for the love and
care that you have given us. May we return to you,
your good works by multiplying it with love and
respect, adding more faith, subtracting worldly
behavior and evil works, and dividing your given
talents to others, so we can sum them all and be
united in your family. In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.
After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. interpret displacement and velocity, respectively, as areas under

velocity vs. time and acceleration vs. time curves;
2. understand displacement, velocity and acceleration;
3. understand motion graphs (v vs. t and a vs. t); and
4. be able to interpret motion graphs and to make prediction
 Motion Graphs
➢ Distance-Time Graph

➢ Velocity-Time Graph

➢ Acceleration-Time Graph
 Motion Graphs
Describing the motion of an object is occasionally hard
to do with words. Sometimes graphs help make motion
easier to picture, and therefore understand.

Remember:
• Motion is a change in position measured by distance and
time.
• Speed tells us the rate at which an object moves.
• Velocity tells the speed and direction of a moving object.
• Acceleration tells us the rate speed or direction changes.
➢ This graph shows a change in distance over time (s = d/t).
➢ The slope of the line on the graph will equal the
speed. SLOPE = SPEED (higher slope = faster speed)

𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑒 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒 = = = 𝑆𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑/𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦
𝑟𝑢𝑛 𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒
D

t
 Interpreting Velocity on a Distance-Time Graph
You can use the slope
Dis tan ce [m]
of a line to find Velocity
Velocity =
Time [ s ]
15 m

More Distance
Distance

In Less Time
(Faster)
10 m

5m

Less Distance
In More Time
(Slower)

5s 10 s 15 s

Time
Which one of these balls will fall faster?

The graph with more steepness is the faster velocity. The less steep, the slower.
 Find the speed/slope for A
rise distance y2− y1
Slope = = = = Speed/Velocity
run time X2 − X1
Y2 = 2400m

𝑅𝑖𝑠𝑒 y2− y1
A A) = =
𝑅𝑢𝑛 X2 − X1
2400m - 0m
=
30min - 0min

2400m
B = 80m/min
30min

C
D Y1 = 0m

X1 = 0min X2 = 30min
Find the speed/slope for B
rise distance y2− y1
Slope = = = =
run time X2 − X1
Speed
𝑅𝑖𝑠𝑒 y2− y1
A B) = =
𝑅𝑢𝑛 X2 − X1
1200m - 400m
=
Y2 = 1200m 30min - 20min

800m
B = 80m/min
10min

C Y1 = 400m
X1 = 20min X2 = 30min

D
 Find the speed/slope for D
rise distance y2− y1
Slope = = = =
run time X2 − X1
Speed
𝑅𝑖𝑠𝑒 y2− y1
A D) = =
𝑅𝑢𝑛 X2 − X1
400m - 0m
=
10min - 0min

400m
B = 40m/min
10min

Y2 = 400m C
D Y1 = 0m
X1 = 0min X2 = 10min
 All the speeds
rise distance y2− y1
Slope = = = =
run time X2 − X1
Speed/Velocity
y2− y1 2400m − 0m
A A)
X2 − X1
=
30min −0𝑚𝑖𝑛
=
2400m
= 80m/min
30𝑚𝑖𝑛
y2− y1 1200m −400m
B) = =
X2 − X1 30min −20𝑚𝑖𝑛
B 800m
= 80m/min
10𝑚𝑖𝑛
y2− y1 400m − 0m
C D)
X2 − X1
=
10min−0𝑚𝑖𝑛
=
400m
D 10𝑚𝑖𝑛
= 40m/min
Distance-Time Graph
Distance-Time Graph
Distance-Time Graph
Distance-Time Graph
Distance-Time Graph
Try drawing a speed graph that shows an object
that slows down. What do we call this motion?
Deceleration

t
Try drawing a speed graph that shows an object
that is going backwards at a constant speed.

t
Try drawing a speed graph that shows an object
that is going backwards slowing down.

t
Try drawing a speed graph that shows an object
that is going backwards speeding up.

t
Try drawing a speed graph that shows an object
that is stopped.

t
Distance-Time Graph
Velocity-Time Graph
Velocity-Time Graph
Velocity-Time Graph
Velocity-Time Graph
Velocity-Time Graph
Velocity-Time Graph
Velocity-Time Graph
 Seatwork

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/physics/forces/speedvelocityaccelerationfhrev2.shtml
 Seatwork

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/physics/forces/speedvelocityaccelerationfhrev2.shtml
 Seatwork

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/physics/forces/speedvelocityaccelerationfhrev2.shtml
 Velocity-Time Graph
➢ Displacement is the area
under the curve.
➢ Slope is the acceleration.
➢ Instantaneous Velocity is
any point on the line.
 12

Velocity-Time Graph
Constant speed of 6 m/s for 6 seconds, then
decelerating
10
𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑒 Displacement = area
acceleration=
𝑟𝑢𝑛 =(½ x 3 x 6) + 6 x 6
0−6 −6
8 = = = 2 m/s2 = 45 m
9−6 3
Velocity (m/s)

3
6

4
6
2

0
-2 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18

Time (s)
-2
 Velocity-Time Graph
Calculate the acceleration for each of the 4
sections of the graph.
80

60
Velocity
m/s 40

20

0 Time/s
10 20 30 40 50
 Velocity-Time Graph
Calculate the acceleration for each of the 4
sections of the graph.
80
v v2 − v1
acceleration = aav = =
t t2 − t1
60
Velocity
m/s 40

20

0 Time/s
10 20 30 40 50
 Velocity-Time Graph
Calculate the acceleration for each of the 4
sections of the graph.
80
v v2 − v1
acceleration = aav = =
t t2 − t1
60
Velocity
m/s 40

20 Acceleration = 40 - 0 = 4m/s2
10 - 0

0 Time/s
10 20 30 40 50
 Velocity-Time Graph
Calculate the acceleration for each of the 4
sections of the graph.
80
v v2 − v1
acceleration = aav = =
t t2 − t1
60
Velocity
m/s 40

20 Acceleration = 0 (no change in

velocity)

0 Time/s
10 20 30 40 50
 Velocity-Time Graph
Calculate the acceleration for each of the 4
sections of the graph.
80
v v2 − v1
acceleration = aav = =
t t2 − t1
60
Velocity
m/s 40

20 Acceleration = 60 - 40 = 2m/s2
30 - 20

0 Time/s
10 20 30 40 50
 Velocity-Time Graph
Calculate the acceleration for each of the 4
sections of the graph.
80
v v2 − v1
acceleration = aav = =
t t2 − t1
60
Velocity
m/s 40

20 Acceleration = 0 - 60 = -3m/s2
50 - 30

0 Time/s
10 20 30 40 50
 Velocity-Time Graph
On a velocity – time (or speed – time) graph, the area under the line is
numerically equal to the distance travelled or displacement.
80

60
Velocity
m/s 40

20

0 Time/s
10 20 30 40 50
 Velocity-Time Graph
On a velocity – time (or speed – time) graph, the area under the line is
numerically equal to the distance travelled or displacement.
80
Remember that the area of a
triangle is ½ x base x height.
60
Velocity
m/s 40

20

0 Time/s
10 20 30 40 50
 Velocity-Time Graph
On a velocity – time (or speed – time) graph, the area under the line is
numerically equal to the distance travelled or displacement.
80
Remember that the area of a
triangle is ½ x base x height.
60
Area =
Velocity 200m2

m/s 40

20

0 Time/s
10 20 30 40 50
 Velocity-Time Graph
On a velocity – time (or speed – time) graph, the area under the line is numerically equal to the distance
On a velocity – time (or speed – time) graph, the area under the line is
travelled.
numerically equal to the distance travelled or displacement.
80
Remember
Remember thatthat theofarea
the area a of a
Area =
triangle
triangleis ½isx½base x height.
x base x height.
60 400m2
Area =
Velocity 200m2

m/s 40

20

0 Time/s
10 20 30 40 50
 Velocity-Time Graph
On a velocity – time (or speed – time) graph, the area under the line is
numerically equal to the distance travelled or displacement.
80
Remember that the area of a
Area =
triangle is ½ x base x height.
60 400m2
Area =
Velocity 200m2

m/s 40

20 Area =
400m2

0 Time/s
10 20 30 40 50
 Velocity-Time Graph
On a velocity – time (or speed – time) graph, the area under the line is
numerically equal to the distance travelled or displacement.
80
Area =
100m2 Remember that the area of a
Area =
triangle is ½ x base x height.
60 400m2
Area =
Velocity 200m2

m/s 40

20 Area =
400m2

0 Time/s
10 20 30 40 50
 Velocity-Time Graph
On a velocity – time (or speed – time) graph, the area under the line is
numerically equal to the distance travelled or displacement.
80
Area =
100m2 Remember that the area of a
Area =
triangle is ½ x base x height.
60 400m2
Area =
Velocity 200m2

m/s 40

Area =
20 Area =
400m2 600m2

0 Time/s
10 20 30 40 50
 Velocity-Time Graph
On a velocity – time (or speed – time) graph, the area under the line is
numerically equal to the distance travelled or displacement.
80
Area =
100m2 Remember that the area of a
Area =
triangle is ½ x base x height.
60 400m2
Area =
Velocity 200m2

m/s 40

Area =
20 Area =
400m2 600m2

0 Time/s
10 20 30 40 50

The total distance travelled = 200 + 400 + 400 + 100 + 600 = 1700m
Additional Exercises
Answer Key
Additional Exercises
Additional Exercises
 Answer Key
Medium answers
acceleration = 0.5
m/s2 acceleration = 0.5
distance = 25m m/s2
acceleration = 0.9 distance = 16m
m/s2
distance = 22.5m

acceleration = -0.6 m/s2

acceleration = -1 m/s2 distance = 30m acceleration = -0.25 m/s2
distance = 8m distance = 8m
 Answer Key
Hard answers
distance = 50m
distance = 40m

distance = 32m

distance = 50m distance = 23m distance = 38m

Additional Exercises

a) acceleration = 2.5 m/s2

b) distance = 20m
c) 10m
d) 65m
 Acceleration-Time Graph
➢ The area under an acceleration graph represents
the change in velocity. In other words, the area
under the acceleration graph for a certain time
interval is equal to the change in velocity during
that time interval.
➢ area = V
Acceleration-Time Graph
Acceleration-Time Graph
Acceleration-Time Graph
Acceleration-Time Graph
Acceleration-Time Graph