Distance-Time Graphs

This lesson covers:

  1. How to read distance / time graphs

On a distance / time graph, the distance is on the -axis and the time is on the -axis.

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The gradient of a distance / time graph tells us:

The distance travelled by the object

The speed of the object

The object's acceleration

The amount of time elapsed

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Graph showing a flat line on a distance time graph indicating no movement of an object.

What does a flat line on a distance / time graph tell us about the movement of an object?

The object is moving

The object is stationary

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Distance time graph showing an object increasing speed over time.

The above distance / time graph shows an object that is __________.

decelerating

moving at a constant speed

accelerating

stationary

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Graph showing distance versus time with point A marked for velocity calculation.

To find the velocity at point A on the graph, we need to:

Find the time at that point and divide by the distance

Find the area under the graph

Draw a tangent at that point, and use it to find the gradient of the line

Find the distance at that point and divide by the time

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Distance-time graph showing a highlighted region indicating the movement of an object over time.

On the graph above, what does the highlighted region tell us about the movement of the object?

The object is moving at a constant speed

The object is decelerating

The object is accelerating

The object is stationary

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Distance-time graph showing a highlighted region indicating constant speed.

On the graph above, what does the highlighted region tell us about the movement of the object?

The object is accelerating

The object is decelerating 

The object is stationary

The object is moving at a constant speed

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Distance-time graph showing a highlighted region indicating a change in movement of the object.

On the graph above, what does the highlighted region tell us about the movement of the object?

The object is accelerating, then decelerating

The object is decelerating, then accelerating

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