Velocity-

Time
GRAPHS

1
Describing graphs
 The motion of any object can be represented by
a line drawn on a speed-time or velocity-time
graph. This give a visual indication of how
objects are moving.
Speeding up constant velocity Slowing down
Increasing velocity Uniform velocity /speed Negative constant
Constant Acceleration Steady speed/velocity / acceleration, constant
Zero acceleration
velocity (m/s) deceleration
velocity (m/s)

Time (s) Time (s) velocity (m/s) Time (s)

3
Describe the motion represented by the line on each speed-time graph:

0 - 8 seconds: ___________ ____ from ____

Increasing velocity 0 metres per second
to ____
40 metres per second. (Constant/uniform _____________
acceleration ).
8 - 11 seconds: __________ _________ of ____
Constant velocity 40 metres per second.
11 - 18 seconds: ___________
Decreasing _______ from ____
velocity 40 4 metres per
second to ____
0 metres per second. (Constant/uniform ____________
Negative ).
acceleration
5
6
7
8
 Maximum velocity 9 ms-1, total time 18 s
A cyclist travels at a steady velocity of 9 ms-1 for 6s, before slowing down
(negative constant acceleration) to a velocity of 2 ms-1 in 7s. She then
travels at this constant velocity for a further 5s.

Velocity time graph

10

6
Velocity / ms-1

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
9
time /s
 Draw a velocity time graph for the following motion.

A car brakes at traffic lights, its velocity changes from 9 m/s to rest in 6s.
It remains at rest for 14s. It then accelerates to 12 m/s in 8s.
Velocity time graph
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
Velocity / ms-1

6
5
4
3
2
1
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28
time /s 10
 Velocity / ms-1

11
 Velocity-time graph challenge
1. Draw a set of axes for a velocity-time graph
in your jotter.
2. In your neighbour’s jotter, neatly and using
a ruler, draw in a simple journey involving
at least two changes in acceleration.
3. In your own jotter write a short story which
could be described by the graph your
neighbour drew in your jotter.
4. LATER WE WILL calculate the accelerations
and the total distance travelled on the
journey, so leave space.

12
Now you try drawing a graph

13
 Finding the
acceleration from
velocity-time graphs
The gradient of a velocity time graph (steepness) tells us the
acceleration of the object. The the graph (bigger the
gradient) the the acceleration.
Velocity (m/s)

Time (s)

15
 Finding the gradient of a
velocity-time graph

v Gradient= rise/run
Or
𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙
Velocity (m/s)

𝑚=
ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑧𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙
𝑦2 − 𝑦1
𝑚=
𝑋2 − 𝑋1

u In our case that is

vertical= (v-u)
Horizontal=t

Gradient=(v-u)/t
Gradient = acceleration
Time (s)
16
Drawing velocity-time Graphs
Draw a velocity-time graph for the following
journey

 A train leaves the station and take 30s to

accelerate to 15m/s.
 It remains at this speed for a further 15
seconds.
 As it approaches the next station it slows to
5m/s. It takes 20 seconds to decelerate to this
speed
 As it finally pulls into the next station it slows
to a stop in 15 seconds.
17
 What It Should Look Like
17.5
15
Speed (m/s)

12.5
10
7.5
5
2.5
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80

Time (s)

18
 What It Should Look Like
17.5 a=0ms-2
15
a=-0.5ms-2
Speed (m/s)

12.5 a=0.5ms-2
10
7.5
5 a=-0.3ms-2
2.5
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80

Time (s)

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 Describe the motion represented by the line on each
speed-time graph:

0 - 10 seconds: ___________ ____ from ____ metres per second

to ____ metres per second. (Constant/uniform _______________ ).
10 - 15 seconds: __________ _________ of ____ metres per second.
15 - 20 seconds: ___________ _______ from ____ 20metres per second
to ____ metres per second. (Constant/uniform _________________ ).
Finding the Acceleration from velocity-time graph:

Gradient = rise/run Gradient = rise/run Gradient = rise/run

a=(v-u)/t a=(v-u)/t a=(v-u)/t
a=(10-0)/10 a=(10-10)/5 a=(0-10)/5
a=1m/s2 a=0m/s2 a=-2m/s
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2
 Problems
2. Calculate (a)the acceleration over OA, AB and BC

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5m/s2, 0, 3.75m/s2, 127.5m
 Finding the
distance and
displacement from
velocity-time
graphs

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 The AREA under a
speed-time graph tells
us HOW FAR we have
Distance and travelled (DISTANCE)
Displacement
from a graph The area under a
velocity-time graph tells
us the DISPLACEMENT of
the object.

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Copy out the shapes and
find the area of each
shape.
Include your working

25
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 The AREA under a speed time graph tells us HOW FAR we have travelled
(DISTANCE)

d
v(m/s) v=
t
d = vt
100
The AREA under a speed time graph tells us HOW FAR we have travelled (DISTANCE)

0
t(s) 300

2/22/202
JAH 202/10/2 28
011
My object is travelling very fast. It is
travelling at constant speed, its instantaneous
speed is constant. It’s acceleration is zero.
To find the distance travelled, d, we’d use the
formula;

s
v=
t
s = vt
d= 100x 300=30 000m 2/22/202
JAH 202/10/2 29
011
Find the average speed for this journey.

v(m/s)
_
u+v
v= 10
2
_
0 + 10
v= = 5m / s 5
2

30
t(s)
The area of the triangle is exactly
the same as the area of the _
rectangle with a speed exactly s = v t
half way between the two values,
u&v s = 5  30 = 150m
30
 v(m/s)
This yellow area
10 is the same as
the pink area

s = area under a speed time graph

Average
velocity
s = 12 bh
s = 12  30  10
s = 150m

30 t(s)

the area of the pink shape is the same as the area of the yellow
triangle. Both give you the distance travelled

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 Speed/ velocity – Time Graphs
Speed time graphs, when drawn accurately can be used to find the total
distance travelled during a journey. No matter what the shape of the
graph….

Total distance covered = Area under a speed time graph

Often, to find the area, the graph will need to be split into standard
geometrical shapes like triangles and rectangles
Speed (m/s)

Make a sketch of this

graph and divide it up
into appropriate
shapes 32

Time (s)
How far did it go? Distance!
17.5
15
12.5
Speed (m/s)

10
7.5 C
5
A B
2.5
0 D E
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80
Time (s)
02/10/
JAH 33
2011
How far did it go?
17.5

15

12.5
Speed (m/s)

10

7.5
B C
5 A
2.5 D E
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80
Tim e (s)

Displacement = area under v-t graph

= Triangle A + Rectangle B + Triangle C + Rectangle D + Triangle E
= (½x30x15) + (15x15) + (½x10x20) + (20x5) + (½x15x5)
= 225 + 225 + 100 + 100 + 37.5
= 687.5 m

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 Problem

2. Calculate the total distance traveled in the 12 s 127.5m

35
 Problems
1. Calculate the average velocity over OA AB and BC

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Velocity time graphs; Summary

 The gradient of a velocity time graph gives the acceleration of an object

 the area under a velocity time graph gives the total distance travelled
 Increasing or decreasing gradient gives the rate at which the acceleration is
increasing or decreasing
 Zero gradient means the object is travelling at constant speed

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 Distance-Time
GRAPHS
02/10/
JAH
2011 38

Back to mind map

 Distance-time graphs
2) Horizontal line = 4) Diagonal line
40 downwards =

30
Distance
(metres) 20

10 Time/s

0
20 40 60 80 100
1) Diagonal line = 3) Steeper
02/10/
diagonal line =
JAH
2011 39
Distance time graphs ; Summary
 The gradient of a distance time graph gives the velocity
 increasing gradient means object is accelerating
 decreasing gradient means object is decelerating
 zero gradient means object is stationary

40
 Problems

1. Describe the motion of the vehicle during the 12s journey

2. Calculate the average speed over OA AB and BC

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Speed Worksheet: Label the
graph

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