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Position-Time and Velocity-Time Graphs

The document discusses position-time graphs and velocity-time graphs. A position-time graph shows an object's position over time, with time on the x-axis and position on the y-axis. The shape of the graph indicates the motion, with straight lines indicating constant speed. A velocity-time graph shows velocity over time, with a horizontal line indicating constant velocity and sloped lines indicating acceleration or deceleration. Features on one graph can be translated to features on the other graph.

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delano619
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353 views21 pages

Position-Time and Velocity-Time Graphs

The document discusses position-time graphs and velocity-time graphs. A position-time graph shows an object's position over time, with time on the x-axis and position on the y-axis. The shape of the graph indicates the motion, with straight lines indicating constant speed. A velocity-time graph shows velocity over time, with a horizontal line indicating constant velocity and sloped lines indicating acceleration or deceleration. Features on one graph can be translated to features on the other graph.

Uploaded by

delano619
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Position-Time and Velocity-Time

Graphs
Questions for Consideration
What is a position-time graph?
What is a velocity-time graph?
How do features on one graph translate
into features on the other?
Position-Time Graphs
Show an objects position as a function of
time.
x-axis: time
y-axis: position
Position-Time Graphs
Imagine a ball rolling along a table, illuminated by a strobe light
every second.






You can plot the balls position as a function of time.
0 s 1 s 2 s 3 s 4 s 5 s 6 s 7 s 8 s 9 s 10 s
Position-Time Graphs
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
time (s)
p
o
s
i
t
i
o
n

(
c
m
)

Position-Time Graphs
What are the
characteristics of
this graph?
Straight line, upward
slope
What kind of motion
created this graph?
Constant speed

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
time (s)
p
o
s
i
t
i
o
n

(
c
m
)

Position-Time Graphs
Each type of motion has a characteristic
shape on a P-T graph.
Constant speed
Zero speed (at rest)
Accelerating (speeding up)
Decelerating (slowing down)
Position-Time Graphs
Constant speed is represented by a
straight segment on the P-T graph.
time (s)
p
o
s
.

(
m
)

Constant speed in positive
direction.
time (s)
p
o
s
.

(
m
)

Constant speed in negative
direction.
Position-Time Graphs
Constant speed is represented by a
straight segment on the P-T graph.
time (s)
p
o
s
.

(
m
)

A horizontal segment means
the object is at rest.
Position-Time Graphs
Curved segments on the P-T graph
mean the objects speed is changing.
time (s)
p
o
s
.

(
m
)

Speeding up in positive
direction.
time (s)
p
o
s
.

(
m
)

Speeding up in negative
direction.
Position-Time Graphs
Curved segments on the P-T graph
mean the objects speed is changing.
time (s)
p
o
s
.

(
m
)

Traveling in positive
direction, but slowing down.
time (s)
p
o
s
.

(
m
)

Traveling in negative
direction, but slowing down.
Position-Time Graphs
The slope of a P-T graph is equal to the
objects velocity in that segment.
time (s)
p
o
s
i
t
i
o
n

(
m
)

10 20 30 40
10
20
30
40
50
slope =
change in y
change in x
slope =
(30 m 10 m)
(30 s 0 s)
slope =
(20 m)
(30 s)
slope = 0.67 m/s
Position-Time Graphs
The following P-T graph corresponds to an object
moving back and forth along a straight path. Can you
describe its movement based on the graph?
time (s)
p
o
s
i
t
i
o
n

(
m
)

N
S
Velocity-Time Graphs
A velocity-time (V-T) graph shows an
objects velocity as a function of time.
A horizontal line = constant velocity.
A straight sloped line = constant
acceleration.
Acceleration = change in velocity over time.
Positive slope = positive acceleration.
Not necessarily speeding up!
Negative slope = negative acceleration.
Not necessarily slowing down!
Velocity-Time Graphs
A horizontal line on the V-T graph means
constant velocity.
time (s)
v
e
l
o
c
i
t
y

(
m
/
s
)

N
S
Object is moving at
a constant velocity
North.
Velocity-Time Graphs
A horizontal line on the V-T graph means
constant velocity.
time (s)
v
e
l
o
c
i
t
y

(
m
/
s
)

N
S
Object is moving at
a constant velocity
South.
Velocity-Time Graphs
If an object isnt moving, its velocity is
zero.
time (s)
v
e
l
o
c
i
t
y

(
m
/
s
)

N
S
Object is at rest
Velocity-Time Graphs
If the V-T line has a positive slope, the
object is undergoing acceleration in
positive direction.
If v is positive also, object is speeding up.
If v is negative, object is slowing down.
Velocity-Time Graphs
V-T graph has positive slope.
time (s)
v
e
l
o
c
i
t
y

(
m
/
s
)

N
S Positive velocity and
positive acceleration: object
is speeding up!
time (s)
v
e
l
o
c
i
t
y

(
m
/
s
)

N
S Negative velocity and
positive acceleration: object
is slowing down.
Velocity-Time Graphs
If the V-T line has a negative slope, the
object is undergoing acceleration in the
negative direction.
If v is positive, the object is slowing down.
If v is negative also, the object is speeding
up.
Velocity-Time Graphs
V-T graph has negative slope.
time (s)
v
e
l
o
c
i
t
y

(
m
/
s
)

N
S Positive velocity and
negative acceleration:
object is slowing down,
time (s)
v
e
l
o
c
i
t
y

(
m
/
s
)

N
S
Negative velocity and
negative acceleration:
object is speeding up! (in
negative direction)

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