4.7 Velocity-Time Graphs

Question 1

how do you find acceleration from a velocity-time graph?

Answer 1

acceleration is the gradient of a velocity-time graph

Question 2

what does uniform acceleration look like in a velocity-time graph?

Answer 2

a straight line
a steeper gradient means a greater acceleration

Question 3

how do velocity time graphs show something travelling in the opposite direction?

Answer 3

velocity time graphs can have negative regions to show something travelling in the opposite direction

Question 4

how do you find the displacement from a velocity-time graph?

Answer 4

the area under the graph represents the displacement/the distance travelled

Question 5

what is the equation for distance travelled?

Answer 5

average speed x time

Question 6

what does non-uniform acceleration look like on a velocity-time graph?

Answer 6

• increasing acceleration is shown by an increasing gradient
• decreasing acceleration is shown by a decreasing gradient

Question 7

what are the advantages of data-loggers over traditional methods?

Answer 7

• the data is more accurate as you don’t have to allow for human reaction times
• automatic systems have a much higher sampling rate than humans
• you can see the data displayed in real-time