Kinematics

Graphs Of Motion

Problem solving

Terms
Displacement
Velocity
Acceleration
Time
Gradient/slope
Distance
 Graphs Of Motion
Distance/time graphs
Time is always plotted along the bottom (x-axis) and distance is always up the side (y-axis).

The graph above shows a body that is stationary (not moving at all). As time passes
the distance does not change… simple!
The graph above shows a body moving at constant velocity. As
time passes the distance increased uniformly. Note the gradient
of this graph is equal to the speed of the body (speed –
distance/time). So in this example speed = 2m / 10s = 0.2 m/s.
The graph above shows a body accelerating. The
change in distance increases and time passes so it must
be getting faster and faster.
The graph above shows a body decelerating.
The change in distance decreases as time
passes so it must be slowing down.
Velocity/time  graphs
A velocity against time graph shows how fast a body was going at a particular instant in
time. Time is always plotted on the bottom (X-axis) and velocity is up the side (Y-axis). 

The graph above shows velocity is not changing as time passes

(so the body is moving at a constant velocity)
The graph below shows a body accelerating, for
example, a sprinter during the first 20m of a 100m
race.
The graph below shows a body decelerating,
for example, the same sprinter during the last
20m of a 100m sprint.