Graphs of Motion

KL PT/Physics 09
 Motion Graphs
• Graphs can be used to represent the
motion of objects
– Show position, velocity and acceleration
Time (s)
with respect to time

• Ticker tape diagrams also represent

the motion of an object
– Each dot shows how far the object moves
in a period of time ( example: 1 dot per
second)
 Imagine an object moving
away from the origin at a constant speed

Shows how position changes with time

Each second shows the same amount of change in position

Ticker Tape Diagram

Object moving away at a constant speed
 Object moving away at a constant speed
position

acceleration
0 0 0
time time

slope slope
 Imagine an object moving
towards the origin at a constant speed

Negative constant slope = negative constant velocity

zero slope = zero acceleration

position Towards the origin at a constant speed

velocity

acceleration
0
0 0
time
time time

slope slope
 Imagine an object moving
away from the origin while speeding up

Time (s)

Shows how position changes with time

Each second shows an increasing change in position

Ticker Tape Diagram

Moving away from the origin while speeding up

Time (s)

Slope of the position time graph = Velocity

Increasing slope = increasing velocity

Time (s)

Constant positive slope = constant positive acceleration

 Moving away from the origin while speeding up

acceleration
position

velocity
positive
acceleration
0 0 0
time time time

slope slope
Moving away from the origin while slowing down
position

0
time

Slope of the position time graph = Velocity

decreasing slope = decreasing velocity
Moving away from the origin while slowing down

acceleration
velocity
position

negative
acceleration
0 0 0
time time
time

slope slope
 Imagine an object moving
towards the origin while speeding up

Time (s)

Shows how position changes with time

Each second shows an increasing change in position

Ticker Tape Diagram

 Moving towards the origin while speeding up

acceleration
position

velocity
Negative
acceleration
0 0 0
time time time

slope slope
 Motion Graphs
• Graphs can be used to represent the motion of objects
– The slope of a position-time graph gives the velocity of the object
– The slope of a velocity-time graph gives the acceleration of the object

• Ticker tape diagrams also represent the motion of an object

– Each dot shows how far the object moves in a period of time (1 dot per
second)
– Evenly spaced dots = constant velocity
– Spaces increase = increasing velocity
– Spaces decrease = decreasing velocity