PHYSICS

Motion Graphs

Position Vs. Time Graph

Velocity vs. Time Graph
Acceleration vs. Time Graph
 Objectives

Construct velocity vs. time and acceleration vs.

time graphs, respectively, corresponding to a
given position vs. time-graph and velocity vs. time
graph and vice versa.
What is a Motion Graph?
What is a Motion Graph?

Motion graphs are important tool used to show the

relationships between position, speed, and time.

It is an easy way to see how speed or position

changes over time.
 Position

Position is a place where someone or something is

located or has been put. In physics, position is usually
a number on an axis. You can have an x-axis that looks
like the one in the section above or a y-axis, also in the
section above.
 Velocity

Velocity is the displacement an object travels

divided by the time it takes to travel that
displacement. it is a vector
 Acceleration

Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity.

Usually, acceleration means the speed is changing,
but not always. When an object moves in a circular
path at a constant speed, it is still accelerating,
because the direction of its velocity is changing.
Position-Time Graph

Used to show the object

position at a given time.
Position-Time Graph
Position-Time Graph

The object is not moving.

Position-Time Graph

The object is moving.

Uniform velocity.
Position-Time Graph
Position POSITION
Time
(m) 5

0s 0 4

1s 1 3

2s 2
2

3s 3
1

4s 4
0 TIME
1 2 3 4 5
5s 5
Position-Time Graph
POSITION
Time Position
5 .
.
0s 0

.
1s 1

3
2s 2

2 .
3s 3

1 .
4s 4

0 . TIME
5s 5 1 2 3 4 5
Position-Time Graph
POSITION(m)
Time
Position
(m) 5 .
0s 0 4 .
1s 1 3 .
2s 2
2 .
3s 3
1 .
4s 4
0 TIME
1 2 3 4 5
5s 5
Position-Time Graph
Time Position POSITION
5
0s 3

4
1s 3

3
2s -1

2
3s 0

1
4s 0

0 TIME
5s 2 1 2 3 4 5
-1
Position-Time Graph
Time Position POSITION
5
0s 3

. .
1s 3

3
2s -1

3s 0
2 .
1
4s 0

0 . . TIME
1
.
2 3 4 5
5s 2

-1
Position-Time Graph
Time Position POSITION
5
0s 3

. .
1s 3

3
2s -1

3s 0
2 .
1
4s 0

0 . . TIME
1
.
2 3 4 5
5s 2

-1
Velocity-Time Graph

The velocity-time graph is used to solve the

problems of kinematics. The velocity-time graph is
drawn taking velocity at the vertical axis and the
time at the horizontal axis.
Velocity-Time Graph
Graphs which look at the change of velocity over
time.
Velocity-Time Graph
Leo and his friends raced their 20
remote-controlled car, Speedy. 18

VELOCITY (m/s)
With a quick press of the button, 16

Speedy zipped from 0 to 18 m/s in 14

12
just 10 seconds, thrilling the kids
10
as it raced around their chalk-
8
drawn track. It held that speed for 6
30 seconds before smoothly 4

decelerating over 20 seconds to a 2

0
complete stop. 0 10 20 30 40 50
TIME(s)
Velocity-Time Graph
Leo and his friends raced their 20
remote-controlled car, Speedy. 18 . .

VELOCITY (m/s)
With a quick press of the button, 16

Speedy zipped from 0 to 18 m/s in 14

12
just 10 seconds, thrilling the kids
10
as it raced around their chalk-
8
drawn track. It held that speed for 6
30 seconds before smoothly 4

decelerating over 20 seconds to a 2

complete stop. 0 .
0 10 20 30 40
.
60
TIME(s)
Velocity-Time Graph
Leo and his friends raced their 20
remote-controlled car, Speedy. 18 . .

VELOCITY (m/s)
With a quick press of the button, 16

Speedy zipped from 0 to 18 m/s in 14

12
just 10 seconds, thrilling the kids
10
as it raced around their chalk-
8
drawn track. It held that speed for 6
30 seconds before smoothly 4

.
decelerating over 20 seconds to a 2

complete stop. 0 .
0 10 20 30 40 60
TIME(s)
Velocity-Time Graph
10
Alice is standing still. She begins to
9
run, increasing her velocity from 0

VELOCITY (m/s)
8
to 5 m/s in 10 seconds. She then 7
runs at a constant velocity for 20 6

seconds, and then decelerates for 5

20 seconds until she comes to a 4

stop. 3

1
0
0 10 20 30 40 50
TIME(s)
Velocity-Time Graph
10
Alice is standing still. She begins to
9
run, increasing her velocity from 0

VELOCITY (m/s)
8
to 5 m/s in 10 seconds. She then 7
runs at a constant velocity for 20 6

seconds, and then decelerates for 5 . .

20 seconds until she comes to a 4

stop. 3

1
0 .0 10 20 30 40
.
50
TIME(s)
Velocity-Time Graph
10
Alice is standing still. She begins to
9
run, increasing her velocity from 0

VELOCITY (m/s)
8
to 5 m/s in 10 seconds. She then 7
runs at a constant velocity for 20 6

seconds, and then decelerates for 5 . .

20 seconds until she comes to a 4

stop. 3

1
0 .0 10 20 30 40
.
50
TIME(s)
Conversion

Position-Time Graph

Velocity-Time Graph
.
Conversion
10
POSITION(m)
5 . 9

VELOCITY (m/s)
.
8
4 7

3 . 6

5
2 . 4

1 . 3

0 TIME 1
1 2 3 4 5 0
0 1 2 3 4 5

TIME(s)
Conversion
POSITION(m)
5 .
4 .
3 .
2 .
1 .
0 TIME
1 2 3 4 5
Conversion
POSITION(m)
5 .
4 .
3 .
2 .
1 .
0 TIME
1 2 3 4 5
Conversion
POSITION(m)
5 .
4 .
3 .
5m
2 .
5s
1 .
0 TIME
1 2 3 4 5
Conversion
POSITION(m)
5 .
4 .
3 .
5m
2 .
5s
1 .
0 TIME
1 2 3 4 5 1m/s
Conversion
10
POSITION(m)
5 . 9

VELOCITY (m/s)
.
8
4 7

3 . 6

5
2 . 4

1 . 3

0 TIME 1
1 2 3 4 5 0
0 1 2 3 4 5

TIME(s)
Conversion
POSITION
25
25

VELOCITY (m/s)
20 20

15 . . 15

10
10

5 .
.
5
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 0
TIME(s) 0 2 4 6 8 10 12

TIME(s)
Conversion
POSITION
25

20

15 . .
10

5 .
0 .
0 2 4 6 8 10 12

TIME(s)
Conversion
POSITION
25

20

15 . .
15m
10
4s
5 .
0 .
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 3.75m/s
TIME(s)
Conversion
POSITION
25

20
NO MOVEMENT
15 . .
10 0m/s
5 .
0 .
0 2 4 6 8 10 12

TIME(s)
Conversion
POSITION
25

20

15 . .
10

5 .
0 .
0 2 4 6 8 10 12

TIME(s)
Conversion
POSITION
25

20

15 . .
-10m
10
4s
5 .
0 .
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 -2.5m/s
TIME(s)
Conversion
3.75

VELOCITY (m/s)

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12

TIME(s)
2.5
Conversion

Displacement-Time Graph

Velocity-Time Graph
.
Conversion
POSITION
25
6
VELOCITY (m/s)

5
A 20
4

3 15
B
2

1 . C
10

0
5
-1

-2 0
-3 0 2 4 6 8 10 12
1 2 3 5 6 7 8 10
4 9
TIME(s)
TIME(s)
Conversion
6
A- from 0-4 seconds, constant velocity,
VELOCITY (m/s)

5
A 4m/s [North]
4

3 B- from 4-7 seconds, constant

B
2 deacceleration, slowing down moving
1 . C
0 C- from 7-10 seconds, stopped
-1

-2
-3
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
TIME(s)
Conversion
6
VELOCITY (m/s)

5
A
4

2
B
Displacement=Area between x axis and line
1 . C
0

-1

-2
-3
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
TIME(s)
Conversion
SECTION A (Rectangle)
6
VELOCITY (m/s)

4
A Displacement = length x width
3
B
2

1 . C
0

-1

-2
-3
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
TIME(s)
Conversion
SECTION A
6
VELOCITY (m/s)

4
A Displacement = length x width
3
B = 4m/s x 4s
2

1 . C
Displacement = 16m
0

-1

-2
-3
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
TIME(s)
Conversion
22

20

16

POSITION(m)
14

12

10

6
4
2

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
TIME(s)
Conversion
SECTION B (Triangle)
6
VELOCITY (m/s)

4
A Displacement =1/2bh
3
B
2

1 . C
0

-1

-2
-3
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
TIME(s)
Conversion
SECTION B
6
VELOCITY (m/s)

4
A Displacement =1/2bh
3

2
B = X 3s X 4m/s
1 . C
0 Displacement =6m
-1

-2
-3
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
TIME(s)
Conversion
22

20

16

POSITION(m)
14

12

10

6
4
2

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
TIME(s)
Conversion
SECTION C
6
VELOCITY (m/s)

4
A Velocity = 0m/s
3
B
2

1 . C
0

-1

-2
-3
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
TIME(s)
Conversion
22

20

16

POSITION(m)
14

12

10

6
4
2

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
TIME(s)
Acceleration-Time Graph
An acceleration vs. time graph represents the
acceleration of an object as a function of time.
Acceleration-Time Graph

Rate of change in velocity with

respect to time.
Acceleration-Time Graph
25

Acceleration (m/s )
2 20

15

10

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
TIME(s)
Acceleration-Time Graph
10

Acceleration (m/s )
A drone starts hovering from

2
rest and accelerates upwards 8

at a uniform rate of 4 meters

per second squared for 5 6

seconds. 4

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
TIME(s)
Acceleration-Time Graph
10

Acceleration (m/s )
A drone starts hovering from

2
rest and accelerates upwards 8

at a uniform rate of 4 meters

per second squared for 5 6

seconds. 4

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
TIME(s)
Acceleration-Time Graph
A runner accelerates in three phases: 10

Acceleration (m/s )
2
first at 3 meters per second squared
8
for 5 seconds, then at 2 meters per
second squared for 4 seconds, and
6
finally at 1 meter per second squared
for 3 seconds. 4

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
TIME(s)
Acceleration-Time Graph
A runner accelerates in three phases: 10

Acceleration (m/s )
2
first at 3 meters per second squared
8
for 5 seconds, then at 2 meters per
second squared for 4 seconds, and
6
finally at 1 meter per second squared
for 3 seconds. 4

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
TIME(s)
Conversion

Acceleration-Time Graph

Velocity-Time Graph
Conversion
VELOCITY (m/s)

TIME(s)
 2
Acceleration (m/s )
Conversion

TIME(s)
Conversion

v y y2 - y1
a= t = x = x2 - x1
Conversion
VELOCITY (m/s)

TIME(s)

y2 - y1 (-4)- 0 (-4)
a= x2 - x1 = 1-0 = 1 = (-4)
 2
Acceleration (m/s )
Conversion

TIME(s)
Conversion
VELOCITY (m/s)

TIME(s)

a= 0
 2
Acceleration (m/s )
Conversion

TIME(s)
Conversion
VELOCITY (m/s)

TIME(s)

y2 - y1 4- (-4) 8
a= x2 - x1 = 4-2 = 2 = 4
 2
Acceleration (m/s )
Conversion

TIME(s)
Conversion
VELOCITY (m/s)

TIME(s)

a= 0
 2
Acceleration (m/s )
Conversion

TIME(s)
Conversion
VELOCITY (m/s)

TIME(s)

y2 - y1 (-2)-4 -6
a= x2 - x1 = 10-6 = 4 = -1.5
 2
Acceleration (m/s )
Conversion

TIME(s)
Conversion
VELOCITY (m/s)

TIME(s)

y2 - y1 0-(-2) 2
a= x2 - x1 = =
12-10 2 = 1
 2
Acceleration (m/s )
Conversion

TIME(s)
Conversion
VELOCITY (m/s)

TIME(s)

a= 0
 2
Acceleration (m/s )
Conversion

TIME(s)
 QUIZ TIME!!

Graph the given word problem into a Position-

Time Graph. Then, convert it to a Velocity-Time
Graph, and after that, convert it to an
Acceleration-Time Graph.
 QUIZ TIME!!
A bicycle rider starts from rest and accelerates for 3
seconds, covering 18 meters. In the next 4 seconds,
the rider travels an additional 32 meters. Finally, in 5
seconds, the rider covers 50 meters.