Graphing Speed

The motion of an object can be graphed.

A distance-time graph shows the motion

of a certain object in line graph form.

Time is plotted on the horizontal (X) axis

Distance is plotted on the vertical (Y) axis
Velocity
Sometimes, knowing the speed isn’t enough.

For example, sailors must know the speed and

direction their boat is travelling in.

Velocity is a description of both

speed and direction.

e.g. a sailboat travelling at

20 kph in a SE direction
Acceleration
Objects can speed up, slow down or change direction.

Acceleration measures how much an object’s

speed changes over a certain time.

Acceleration can be:

A change in speed

A change in direction

A change in speed & direction

Acceleration
Acceleration can be positive, negative or zero.

Positive Acceleration Object speeds up

Negative Acceleration Object slows down

Zero Acceleration Constant or no speed

Acceleration
Formula for acceleration:

acceleration = change in velocity

time

a = Vfinal - Vinitial
t

Velocity: meters per seconds (m/s)

Time: seconds (s)
Acceleration: meters per second squared (m/s2)
Example 1
A motorcycle’s velocity at the top of the hill is 11.0 m/s.
4.0 seconds later it reaches the bottom of the hill with a
velocity of 20.0 m/s. What is the acceleration of the
motorcycle?

a = Vfinal - Vinitial
t
a = 20.0 m/s - 11.0 m/s
4.0
a = 9.0 m/s
4.0
a = 2.25 m/s2
Example 2
A speed skater just finished a race. After she crossed the finish
line, she coasted to a complete stop. If her initial speed was
13.0 m/s and her acceleration was -2.9 m/s2, how long did it
take her to stop?

a = Vfinal - Vinitial
t
- 2.9 m/s2 = 0.0 m/s - 13.0 m/s
t
t (- 2.9) = - 13.0 m/s
t = - 13.0 m/s / - 2.9
t = 4.5 s