VELOCITY VS TIME GRAPH

Constant Velocity

Consider a car moving with a constant, rightward (+) velocity - say of +10 m/s. A car moving with a
constant velocity is a car with zero acceleration.
Changing Velocity

Now consider a car moving with a rightward (+), changing velocity - that is, a car that is moving rightward but speeding
up or accelerating. Since the car is moving in the positive direction and speeding up, the car is said to have a
positiveacceleration.
Constant Velocity VS Changing Velocity
The velocity vs. time graphs for the two types of motion - constant velocity and changing velocity (acceleration) - can be
summarized as follows.
Positive Velocity versus Negative Velocity
● Since the graph is a velocity-time graph, the velocity would be positive whenever the line lies in the positive
region (above the x-axis) of the graph.
● Similarly, the velocity would be negative whenever the line lies in the negative region (below the x-axis) of
the graph.
● A positive velocity means the object is moving in the positive direction; and a negative velocity means the
object is moving in the negative direction.
● An object is moving in the positive direction if the line is located in the positive region of the graph (whether
it is sloping up or sloping down)
● An object is moving in the negative direction if the line is located in the negative region of the graph
(whether it is sloping up or sloping down).
● Finally, if a line crosses over the x-axis from the positive region to the negative region of the graph (or vice
versa), then the object has changed directions.
Speeding Up versus Slowing Down
● Speeding up means that the magnitude (or numerical value) of the velocity is getting large. For
instance, an object with a velocity changing from +3 m/s to + 9 m/s is speeding up.
● Similarly, an object with a velocity changing from -3 m/s to -9 m/s is also speeding up. In each case,
the magnitude of the velocity (the number itself, not the sign or direction) is increasing; the speed is
getting bigger.
● Given this fact, one would believe that an object is speeding up if the line on a velocity-time graph is
changing from near the 0-velocity point to a location further away from the 0-velocity point.
● That is, if the line is getting further away from the x-axis (the 0-velocity point), then the object is
speeding up. And conversely, if the line is approaching the x-axis, then the object is slowing down.
Analyzing a Constant Velocity Motion
Consider a car moving with a constant velocity of +10 m/s.
A car moving with a constant velocity has an acceleration of 0 m/s/s.

Note that the line on the graph is horizontal and the slope of the line is 0 m/s/s.

In this case, it is obvious that the slope of the line (0 m/s/s) is the same as the acceleration (0 m/s/s) of the car.
Analyzing a Changing Velocity Motion
Now consider a car moving with a changing velocity. A car with a changing velocity will have an acceleration.

The velocity-time data for this motion show that the car has an acceleration value of 10 m/s/s.
Note that the line on the graph is diagonal - that is, it has a slope.
The slope of the line can be calculated as 10 m/s/s.
It is obvious once again that the slope of the line (10 m/s/s) is the same as the acceleration (10 m/s/s) of
the car.
Analyzing a Two-Stage Motion

The motion of a car that first travels with a constant

velocity (a=0 m/s/s) of 2 m/s for four seconds and
then accelerates at a rate of +2 m/s/s for four
seconds.
In the first four seconds, the car is not changing its
velocity (the velocity remains at 2 m/s) and then the
car increases its velocity by 2 m/s per second over
the next four seconds.

Important Principle: The slope of the line on a

velocity-time graph is equal to the acceleration of the
object. This principle can be used for all velocity-time in
order to determine the numerical value of the
acceleration.
 Check Your Understanding
The velocity-time graph for a two-stage rocket is shown below. Use the graph and your
understanding of slope calculations to determine the acceleration of the rocket during the listed
time intervals.
 ANSWERS:

1. The acceleration is +40 m/s/s. The acceleration is found from a slope calculation. The line
rises +40 m/s for every 1 second of run.

2. The acceleration is +20 m/s/s. The acceleration is found from a slope calculation. The line
rises +60 m/s for 3 seconds of run. The rise/run ratio is +20 m/s/s.

3. The acceleration is -20 m/s/s. The acceleration is found from a slope calculation. The line
rises -160 m/s for 8 seconds of run. The rise/run ratio is -20 m/s/s.
Relating the Shape to the Motion
● The shape of a velocity vs. time graph reveals pertinent information about an object's
acceleration.

Examples:

● If the acceleration is zero, then the velocity-time graph is a horizontal line - having a
slope of zero.
● If the acceleration is positive, then the line is an upward sloping line - having a
positive slope.
● If the acceleration is negative, then the velocity-time graph is a downward sloping
line - having a negative slope.
● If the acceleration is great, then the line slopes up steeply - having a large slope.
● The shape of the line on the graph (horizontal, sloped, steeply sloped, mildly sloped,
etc.) is descriptive of the object's motion. 1
Relating the Shape to the Motion
Analyze and explain the graph
Relating the Shape to the Motion
Analyze and explain the graph
Relating the Shape to the Motion
Analyze and explain the graph
Relating the Shape to the Motion
Analyze and explain the graph
Relating the Shape to the Motion
Analyze and explain the graph
Relating the Shape to the Motion
Analyze and explain the graph
 BREAKOUT ROOMS

Check Your Understanding

Describe the motion depicted by the following velocity-time graphs. In your
descriptions, make reference to the direction of motion (+ or - direction), the
velocity and acceleration and any changes in speed (speeding up or slowing
down) during the various time intervals (e.g., intervals A, B, and C).
1 2

3
ANSWERS
1. The object moves in the + direction at a constant speed - zero acceleration (interval A). The object then continues
in the + direction while slowing down with a negative acceleration (interval B). Finally, the object moves at a
constant speed in the + direction, slower than before (interval C).

2. The object moves in the + direction while slowing down; this involves a negative acceleration (interval A). It then
remains at rest (interval B). The object then moves in the - direction while speeding up; this also involves a
negative acceleration (interval C).

3. The object moves in the + direction with a constant velocity and zero acceleration (interval A). The object then
slows down while moving in the + direction (i.e., it has a negative acceleration) until it finally reaches a 0 velocity
(stops) (interval B). Then the object moves in the - direction while speeding up; this corresponds to a -
acceleration (interval C).
Using the Slope Equation
The slope equation says that the slope of a line is found by determining the amount of rise of the
line between any two points divided by the amount of run of the line between the same two points.
A method for carrying out the calculation is
1. Pick two points on the line and determine their coordinates.
2. Determine the difference in y-coordinates for these two points (rise).
3. Determine the difference in x-coordinates for these two points (run).
4. Divide the difference in y-coordinates by the difference in x-coordinates (rise/run or slope).
For points (5 s, 50 m/s) and (0 s, 0 m/s):
Slope = (50 m/s - 0 m/s) / (5 s - 0 s) = 10 m/s/s

For points (5 s, 50 m/s) and (2 s, 20 m/s):

Slope = (50 m/s - 20 m/s) / (5 s - 2 s) = 10 m/s/s

For points (4 s, 40 m/s) and (3 s, 30 m/s):

Slope = (40 m/s - 30 m/s) / (4 s - 3 s) = 10 m/s/s
 Check Your Understanding
Consider the velocity-time graph below. Determine the acceleration (i.e.,
slope) of the object as portrayed by the graph.
The acceleration (i.e., slope) is 4 m/s/s. If you think the slope is 5 m/s/s,
then you're making a common mistake. You are picking one point
(probably 5 s, 25 m/s) and dividing y/x. Instead you must pick two points
(as in the discussed in this part of the lesson) and divide the change in y
by the change in x.
2.0m/s