Graphs of Motion Lesson # 4

Acceleration - time graphs

➢ An acceleration time graph indicates the acceleration of the body.
➢ The area under the acceleration – time graph is the change in velocity of time.
➢ To establish the actual velocity of the object, the initial velocity is known.

The motion of a cyclist is shown on the following acceleration – time graph.

Description of the motion above;

A. Constant positive acceleration
B. Constantly increasing positive acceleration
C. Constantly decreasing positive acceleration
D. Increasing positive acceleration
E. Constantly increasing negative acceleration
F. Constant negative acceleration
G. Decreasing negative acceleration

Example
The graph below shows an object at a constant positive acceleration. Find the increases in velocity after 2 seconds.

Solution:
Area under the graph is the velocity. Hence,
v = A = Lxw = 2 x 5 = 10ms-1

Conversation of Graphs
Example
Change the displacement – time graph below to veloity – time graph.

Example
Convert this velocity – time graph to acceleration – time graph

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 Graphs of Motion Lesson # 4
More conversation on graph
Distance - time graph to speed - time grap

Displacement to velocity to acceleration - graph

Note that the parabola describes the motion of any object thrown vertically upwards.

Graphs of swinging pendulum

(i)

(ii)

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 Graphs of Motion Lesson # 4
(d) Graphs of rubber balls thrown upwards and down.
A rubber balls thrown upwards for a height of 20 cm came dome and bounced for seconds. If it takes 2 seconds to
make a complete cycle then the following is achieved. (Assume no air resistance and energy is lost).

Calculating Average and instantaneous velocities from graphs

(i)
4
Average velocity = = 1.6 ms-1
2.5

6−2 4
Instantaneous velocity = = = 2 ms-1
4−2 2

(ii)
6
Average velocity = = 2 ms-1
3

9−3 4
Instantaneous velocity = = = 3 ms-1
4−2 2

Note that; Instantaneous velocities are always greater that average velocities

Activities
1. The motion of a cyclist is shown on the
following displacement - time graph

Describe the following;

(a) What was the cyclist’s speed at t = 3s and t =
14s?
(b) Convert the graph into velocity – time graph.

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 Graphs of Motion Lesson # 4
2. A car is moving along a straight road. The graph shows how its velocity changes from the start of the
journey.

Find the following;

(a) What is the total distance travelled by the car?
(b) What is the total displacement of the car from its
starting point?
(c) What is the average speed over the first 12.5
seconds?
(d) What is the acceleration of the car over section C of
the graph?
(e) Convert the graph above to acceleration – time graph.

3. The diagram below shows the velocity – time graph of a coaster bus.

Find the following;

(a) The maximum and minimum velocities
(b) Change the graph into acceleration – time graph.

5. The velocity–time graph below shows the motion of a bus.

(c) a) Find the acceleration at t= 10s and t= 30s.
(d) b) Find the velocity at time = 60s.
(e) c) Find the distance covered in first 40s.
(f) d) Find the acceleration at t= 70s.
(g) e) Draw an acceleration-time graph for the
above motion.

6. The graph shows velocity-time graph

Using the graph shown.

a) Calculate the acceleration of the car at (i) 5 s, (i) 15 s and (iii) 30 s.
b) Calculate the displacement after 40 s.
c) Calculate the average velocity.
d) Sketch an acceleration-time graph.

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