Distance-Time And Velocity-Time Graphs

Question 1

When can you show a journey on a distance-time graph?

Answer 1

If an object moves in a straight line

Question 2

What do flat sections on a distance-time graph indicate?

Answer 2

that the object is stationary or stopped.

Question 3

What do straight uphill sections on a distance-time graph indicate?

Answer 3

that the object is traveling at a steady speed

Question 4

What do curves on a distance-time graph represent?

Answer 4

Acceleration or deceleration

Question 5

What does a steepening curve on a distance-time graph indicate?

Answer 5

that the object is speeding up, as the gradient increases.

Question 6

What does a steepening curve on a distance-time graph indicate?

Answer 6

that the object is speeding up, as the gradient increases.

Question 7

What does a leveling off curve on a distance-time graph indicate?

Answer 7

that the object is slowing down, as the gradient decreases.

Question 8

How can you find the speed of an object at a point on a distance-time graph if it is changing speed?

Answer 8

you can find the gradient of the tangent to the curve at that point.

Question 9

When can a velocity-time graph be used?

Answer 9

To show how an object’s velocity changes as it travels

Question 10

What do flat sections on a velocity-time graph represent?

Answer 10

a steady speed.

Question 11

What do uphill sections (/) on a velocity-time graph represent?

Answer 11

-acceleration
-the steeper the graph the greater this is

Question 12

What do downhill sections () on a velocity time graph represent?

Answer 12

-deceleration
-the steeper the graph the greater this is

Question 13

What does a curve on a velocity-time graph indicate?

Answer 13

changing acceleration

Question 14

How can you find acceleration at a point on a velocity-time graph if it is curved?

Answer 14

use a tangent to the curve at that point.

Question 15

How is the area under a section of a velocity-time graph related to the distance traveled?

Answer 15

-The area under a section of a velocity-time graph (or the entire graph) is equal to the distance traveled in that time interval
-If the section under the graph is irregular, you can find the area by counting the squares under the line and multiplying the number by the value of one square

Question 16

The Velocity time graph of a car’s journey is plotted
a)calculate the acceleration of the car over the first 10 seconds
b) how far does the car travel in the first 15 seconds of the journey

Answer 16

a) this is just the gradient of the line
b) Split the area into a triangle and a rectangle then add together their areas.
Or find the value of one square, count the total number of squares under the line, and then multiply these two values together.