Speed – Time Graphs (Velocity – Time Graphs)

A horizontal line on a speed-time graph represents a constant speed. A sloping line on a speed-time
graph represents an acceleration. The sloping line shows that the speed of the object is changing. The
object is either speeding up or slowing down.
Examples of Speed – time Graphs
Speed

Speed m/s
 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦
Acceleration =
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒
1. A motorist starting a car from rest, accelerates uniformly to a speed of 25m/s in 5 s. She maintains
this speed for another 12 s. She then applies brakes and decelerates uniformly to rest in 3 s.
(a) Draw a velocity – time graph to show the different segments of the journey.

(b) Determine:
(i) the acceleration, in ms-2, during the first 5 s.
(ii) the retardation, in ms-2, during the last 3 s.
(iii) the total length of the journey in metres.
(iv) the average speed for the whole journey in metres per second
(a)
Speed m/s

30

25

20

15

10

0
0 5 10 15 20 25

Time (seconds)
𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦
(i) Acceleration =
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒
= 25 ÷ 5

= 5 ms-2

𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦
(ii) Acceleration =
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒
= 25 ÷ 3

= 8.3 ms-2

Retardation = - 8.3 ms-2

 (iii) ) The total length of the journey in metre, which is the area under the graph. (Area of the
trapezium)

1
Area of trapezium = (a + b) h
2
1
= (20 + 12) 25
2

= 400
The total length of the journey = 400 m
𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
(iv) speed =
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒

400
=
20

= 20 m/s

2. A motorist starting a car from rest, accelerates uniformly to a speed of 27m/s in 6 s. He maintains
this speed for another 14 s. He then applies brakes and decelerates uniformly to rest in 5 s.
(c) Draw a velocity – time graph to show the different segments of the journey.

(d) Determine:
(i) the acceleration, in ms-2, during the first 6 s.
(ii) the retardation, in ms-2, during the last 5 s.
(iii) the total length of the journey in metres.
(iv) the average speed for the whole journey in metres per second
Speed m/s

30

25

20

15

10

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Time (seconds)
 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦
(i) Acceleration =
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒
= 27 ÷ 6

= 4.5 ms-2

𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦
(ii) Acceleration =
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒
= 27 ÷ 5

= 5.4 ms-2

Retardation = - 5.4 ms-2

(iii) ) The total length of the journey in metre, which is the area under the graph. (Area of the
trapezium)

1
Area of trapezium = (a + b) h
2
1
= (25 + 14) 27
2

= 526.5
The total length of the journey = 526.5 m
𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
(iv) speed =
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒

526.5
=
25

= 21.06 m/s