Velocity-Time Graphs

A velocity-time graph is constructed by having the velocity as the vertical axis and the time as the horizontal axis. By recording the velocity over different intervals of time and plotting these values a velocity-time graph can be plotted. From this plot information about the moving object can easily be extracted.

The animation below shows a velocity-time graph:

 

 

Points to remember

In a velocity-time graph:

• The acceleration can be determined from the slope/gradient of the graph. The steeper the gradient the higher the average speed.
• A horizontal line indicates the object is moving at constant velocity.
• The area under the graph gives the total distance travelled.

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