MOTION GRAPHS

MOTION GRAPHS

You can describe the motion of an object as a line graph. This allows you to quickly interpret the
entire motion, much as pictures can describe a scene. Features that will become important to
understand include the slope (or gradient) and the area under the graph. Time is always placed on
the horizontal axis.

DISTANCE-TIME GRAPHS

A distance-time graph shows how far an object travels as time progresses. A flat line on this graph
indicates that the motion has stopped. A line with a steep slope indicates that the object covers a
greater distance and is moving faster than a line of gentle slope does. The slope is also known as
the gradient. The slope or gradient of a distance-time graph is equivalent to the object’s average
speed over a time interval. The diagram below shows the distance-time graph of a cyclist. The
cyclist gradually increases speed as they start to pedal. After 2 seconds, the cyclist is travelling at
a constant speed of 12.5 m s – 1.

POINTS TO REMEMBER FOR A DISTANCE-TIME GRAPH

 The graph can never be sloping downwards because distance travelled cannot decrease.
 The slope (gradient) at a point is the instantaneous speed of the object.
 MOTION GRAPHS

DISPLACEMENT-TIME GRAPHS

An object’s displacement can be shown on the vertical axis of a graph instead of distance. In this
case however, the graph shows how the position of the object changes compared to where it
started. The graph below illustrates a displacement-time graph for Mitsu walking to and returning
from a friend’s house. Her total displacement is zero. Displacement can be negative (opposite to
the initial direction of motion.

WORKED EXAMPLE DISPLACEMENT-TIME GRAPH

For this graph the slope is constant between zero and two seconds, so the velocity is constant
s 4
having a value of 2 m s – 1. (Remember: vav = = = 2 m s – 1)
t 2

The object is stationary between two and six seconds.

s −8
The velocity of the object is – 4 m s – 1 between six to eight seconds. (vav = = = – 4 m s – 1)
t 2

The total displacement is – 4 m or 4 metres in the opposite direction to where the person started.
However, the total distance travelled is 12 m (4 + 0 + 4 + 4).
 MOTION GRAPHS

SPEED-TIME GRAPHS

A speed-time graph shows how an object’s speed changes over time. An objects speed may:

 Be constant, as shown by a flat line.

 Increase, as shown by the graph rising upwards.
 Decrease, as shown by the graph falling downwards.

The area below a speed-time graph is the distance the object has travelled up to a given point.
This can be calculated as shown below.
 MOTION GRAPHS

Three radio-controlled cars, A, B and C, were being raced against each other. They all crossed the
starting line together. The motion of the three cars was recorded using a motion detector and data-
logger. The graphs show the position of each car, measured from the starting line, for the first 10
seconds of the race. Use the graphs above to answer these questions:

1. Which variable is measured on the horizontal axis?

time

2. What is measured on the vertical axis?

distance

3. Which car moved at a constant speed throughout the 10 seconds? How do you know?

Car a, the slope of the graph is constant

4. Which car stopped during the race? How do you know?

Car b, the flat line indicates that the car has stopped

5. How far did each car travel in 10 seconds?

40 m, car c travelled 50 m

6. Which car was winning the race after 10 seconds? Explain your answer.

Car c, it travelled further than the rest of the cars

 MOTION GRAPHS

7. Which car was traveling the fastest at: 4 seconds? 10 seconds? Give reasons for your answers.

Car b travelled fastest at 4 seconds, and car c was travelling faster at 10 seconds

8. At what speed did car A travel during the first 10 seconds?

4 ms-1

9. Jake, Charlie and Nasir compete in a 100 metre race. The distance-time graph of the race is
shown below. Analyse this graph to answer the questions that follow.

(a) State who won the race:

Charlie

(b) Calculate the average speed of the three runners in m s – 1.

distance
Charlie’s Average Speed = = 9.5ms-1
t

distance
Jake’s Average Speed = = 5.5ms-1
t

distance
Nasir’s Average Speed = = 7.7ms-1
t

(c) Compare Nasir’s motion to that of Charlie and Jake.

Nasir has a stop from 6 seconds to 8 seconds before continuing his motion.
 MOTION GRAPHS

10. This distance-time graph applies to Lucy as she rides her bike along a bike path near a beach.
Analyse Lucy’s motion and answer the questions that follow.

(a) Calculate Lucy’s average speed as she travels from A to B.

5 ms-1

(b) Calculate Lucy’s average speed as she travels from C to D.

3.3 ms-1

(c) Identify the interval(s) in which Lucy:

STOPS: B-C, D-E

TRAVELS WITH CONSTANT SPEED:A-B, C-D

TRAVELS WITH INCREASING SPEED: E-F

(d) Calculate Lucy’s average speed for the entire journey.

3.2ms-1

(e) This average speed does not fully describe Lucy’s motion over the entire journey. Explain why.

Throughout the journey, Lucy did not maintain this speed constantly, in between he some stops
and some increase speeds.

(f) Assuming the bike path followed a northerly direction; state Lucy’s displacement for the journey.

350 m N
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11. During a physics experiment to determine the average speed of a dynamics trolley, Sally
obtained the following data:

Time (s) 0 1 2 3 4 5
Distance (m) 0 0.8 1.6 2.4 3.2 4.0

Draw a distance-time graph using this data.

Series 1
4.5

3.5

2.5

1.5

0.5

0
Category 1 Category 2 Category 3 Category 4

Series 1

(a) Determine the average speed of the dynamics trolley.

0.8ms-1

(b) Use the graph to determine the distance travelled after 1.5 seconds.

1.2m

(c) What was Sally’s speed at 3.5 seconds?

0.8ms-1

12. The graph below shows the displacement of six objects over a time period. Identify which
graph/s represent:

(a) a stationary object

d
(b) an object moving backwards
E and f
(c) the fastest forward-moving object
 MOTION GRAPHS

a
(d) the fastest backward-moving object.
f

13. The graph below shows the motion of car A and car B. Analyse these graphs to determine
which car travels further in 20 seconds.
Car a travelled 80 m in 20 seconds, car b travelled 100m

14. The table below contains data about the speed of the racehorse called Newton’s Wings in a
race.

Time 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180

(s)
Speed 0 3 5 7 9 9 9 9 9 9
(m s –1)
 MOTION GRAPHS

(a) Construct a speed-time graph of this data.

Series 1
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180

Series 1

(b) Calculate Newton’s Wings’ top speed in km h – 1.

9ms-1 * 3.6 = 32.4 km/h

(c) Use your graph to calculate the distance run by the horse in the race.
Slope formula (triangle)(1/2 * 9 * 80)+(rectangle(9 * 100)) 360 + 900 = 1260 m
 MOTION GRAPHS

15. Look at the displacement-time graph of Mitsu walking from home to Lachlan’s house, as shown
on the second page of this worksheet.

(a) Calculate Mitsu’s average speed in km h – 1 travelling to Lachlan’s house over the first 2 hours.

0.2 km/h -1

(b) Calculate Mitsu’s average speed in km h – 1 returning from Lachlan’s house to home.

0.4 km/h -1

(c) Explain why Mitsu’s displacement does not change from 2 to 4 hours of the journey.

This represents the time period of two hours in which Mitsu is visiting her friend

(d) Explain how you know Mitsu has reached home at the end of the journey.

Mitsu has reached home t the end of the journey because her displacement is zero at the point