5.1.4

Distance- & Speed-Time Graphs

Test yourself

Distance-Time Graphs - Speed

An object’s speed is shown by the gradient (slope) of the distance-time graph.

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Increasing speed

  • If an object’s speed increases, the object will travel a longer distance in the same amount of time.
  • The slope (gradient) of the distance-time graph will become steeper.
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Decreasing speed

  • If an object’s speed decreases, then the object will travel a shorter distance in the same amount of time.
  • The slope (gradient) of the distance-time graph will become less steep.

Speed-Time Graphs

The gradient of a speed-time graph shows an object’s acceleration.

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Straight lines

  • A straight line on a speed-time graph shows that an object’s acceleration is constant.
    • A horizontal line shows that an object is not accelerating.
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Curved lines

  • A curved line shows that an object is accelerating or decelerating at a rate that is not constant.

Area Under a Velocity-Time Graph

The area under a velocity-time graph is equal to the distance travelled by an object. To find the area under the graph, break it down into small shapes and add the areas of the shapes.

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Area of a triangle

  • The area of a triangle = 0.5 x base x height.
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Area of a rectangle

  • The area of a rectangle = base x height.

Jump to other topics

1Energy

2Electricity

3Particle Model of Matter

4Atoms & Radiation

5Forces

6Waves

7Magnetism

8Astrophysics

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