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motion graphs notes and worksheet

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9 views

motion graphs notes and worksheet

Uploaded by

nordiea miller-younge
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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You are on page 1/ 21

DISTANCE TIME GRAPHS

Distance-Time Graphs
Distance-time graphs are a way of visually expressing a journey. With distance on the
y-axis and time on the x-axis, a distance-time graph tells us how far someone/something
has travelled and how long it took them/it to do so.
Using Distance Time Graphs
The graph below describes a journey that has several parts to it, each represented by a different straight
line.

Part A: 09:00−11:00, the person travelled 30 km away from their starting point and that took
them 22 hours.

Part B: 11:00−12:00, we can see that the line is flat, so the distance from their starting point did not
change – they were stationary.

Part C: 12:00−12:30, they moved a further 30 km away from their starting point.

Part D: 12:30−14:00, they travelled the full 60 km back to where they began.
Bike Ride
Valentina is going for a bike ride. Below is a distance-time graph that describes her full journey.

a) How long was she stationary for?

b) What was the total distance travelled during her journey?

c) What was her average speed in kilometres per hour between 17:15 and 17:45?

[3 marks]
Question 2: From the description of Neil’s journey below, construct a distance-time graph.

Neil left home at 12:00 and after an hour and a half of moving at a constant speed, he had
travelled 44 miles, at which point he stopped. After 33 hours of being stopped, he drove towards home
at a constant speed, and it took him 22 hours in total to get home.

[4 marks]
Question 3: Below is a distance-time graph describing a 1500 m race ran by Chris. Work out the
maximum speed he reached during this run to 3 significant figures.

[3 marks]
Velocity-Time Graphs
A velocity-time graph (or speed-time graph) is a way of visually expressing a journey.

We are going to be using velocity-time graphs to find two things, primarily: total
distance, and acceleration.

Key things to remember:


With speed on the y-axis and time on the x-axis, a speed-time graph tells us how someone/something’s
speed has changed over a period of time.

1) The gradient of the line = Acceleration


2) Negative
gradient =
Deceleration
3) Flat section
means
constant velocity
(NOT STOPPED)
4) Area under the
graph = Distance
travelled
Skill 1: Describing a graph
One Skill you will need learn is describing a velocity time graph.

Example: The speed-time graph shows a 5050-second car journey. Describe the 5050 second
journey.
Step 1: Split the graph up into distinct sections, these can be seen in the image as A,B,C and D.
Step 2: In detail describe each part of the journey, ensuring to use numerical values throughout.

Section A – The car accelerated from 0 to 15 m/s over the first 10 seconds (because the line is
straight, the acceleration is constant).

Section B – The line is flat, meaning the car’s speed did not change for 10 seconds – meaning it was
moving at a constant speed.
Section C – The car accelerated up to 25 m/s over the next 10 seconds,

Section D – Finally it spent the last 20 seconds decelerating back down to 0m/s.

Skill 2: Calculating Acceleration


Acceleration is calculated as the change in speed over time.

Example: The speed-time graph shows a 50-second car journey, find which section of the graph has the greatest acceleration.
We know,

The gradient of the line = Acceleration

We must find the gradient of the each section.

Skill 3: Calculating total distance travelled


Calculating the total distance travelled is one of the most common exam questions you may see.
Example: The speed-time graph shows a 50-second car journey, Calculate the total distance travelled
over the 50 seconds.

we know,

Area under the graph = Distance travelled

To work out the area under this graph, we will break it into 4 shapes: A, B, C, and D.
This gives two triangles, a rectangle, and a trapezium, which are all shapes that we can work out the
area of.
Skill 4: Average of curved graphs

Finding the average gradient, is the


gradient over a length of time.

Example: A speed-time graph of the


first 4 seconds of someone running a race
is shown.

Calculate the average acceleration over


the 4 seconds.

We know:

The gradient of the line = Acceleration

To work out the average acceleration over


the 4 seconds, we will draw a line from
where the graph is at 0 s to where the
graph is at 4 s and find the gradient of it.

So, we get the average acceleration to be,


Skill 5: Instantaneous gradient of a curve

Finding the instantaneous gradient, is the gradient of the tangent at a point.

Example: A speed-time graph of the first 4 seconds of someone running a race is shown.

Calculate the instantaneous acceleration 2 seconds in.

To do this we will draw a tangent to the line after 2seconds and work out the gradient of that. This is
shown above.
Question 1: A ball is placed at rest at the top of a hill. It travels with constant acceleration for the
first 12second and reaches a speed of 4 m/s. It then decelerates at a constant rate
of 0.1 m/s2for 20 seconds. It then travels at a constant speed for a further 18 seconds.

[4 marks]

Draw a speed-time graph for the ball over the course of this 50 seconds.
Question 2: Below is a speed-time graph of a track cyclist during a race. Work out the total distance
travelled by the cyclist over the course of the race.

[3 marks]

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