Motion

Graph
and
• Graph
• Diagr
am
 Describing the
motion of an object
is easier understood
through graphical
presentations or use
of diagrams.
 Herein, the
relationship of
distance and time,
speed or velocity and
time are interpreted
easily when
presented through
Distance-Time Graph
(d-t graph)
One way of describing
motion is by plotting
distance against time in a
Cartesian plane. Like in
your mathematics class,
this presentation will make
Distance-Time Graph
(d-t graph)
Time is plotted on the
X-axis. The further to
the right on the axis,
the longer the time
from the start.
Distance is plotted on
the Y-axis. The higher
up the graph, the
further from the start.
Objects is at Rest
An object is NOT
MOVING when a
horizontal line is
shown on a distance-
time graph. In this
case, time is
increasing to the
right, but the
distance remains the
same. The object is
not moving hence,
the object is At Rest.
Object Moving at
Constant Speed
An object is moving
at a constant speed
when the distance
covered
increases
constantly with
time.
Constant speed is
shown by straight
lines on a graph.
 Suppose we have two
moving objects:
Both of the lines in the
graph show that each
object moved the same
distance, but the steeper
dashed line got there
before the other one:
Steeper The steeper dashed
Line line indicates that
the object has
moved a greater
distance at a given
time. In other words,
it has higher speed
than the object
which is represented
by the solid line.
Both lines are
straight, so both
Below is a graph that
show acceleration. It
looks different from The line on this
those that show graph is curving
constant speed. upwards. This
shows an
increase in
speed since the
line is getting
steeper. In other
words, the
 Speed-Time or
Velocity-time Graph
(V-T Graph)
Another type of motion graph is
the velocity-time graph. The
velocity of the object is plotted
against time. Although it looks
much like distance-time graphs,
the slope of the graph describes
the acceleration of the object.
Object Moving at
Constant Speed
The figure shows an
object moving at
a constant speed. A
straight horizontal
line means that
speed is constant. It
is not changing over
time. A straight line,
in this case, does not
mean that the object
is at rest.
Remember, this is a
Object is Accelerating
(Speeding Up)
The moving
object is said to
be
ACCELERATING
when its speed is
increasing as
shown in the
Object is Decelerating
(Slowing Down)
the moving
object is
decreasing its
speed or slowing
down. Thus, the
moving object is
DECELERATING.
DIAGRAM
S method of describing
Another
motion is through the use of
diagrams. A ticker-tape
diagram is an example of
motion diagram. This is
sometimes called as dot
diagram which makes use of a
stationary "ticker" that marks
A dot diagram reveals
if the object is moving
with a constant
velocity or
accelerating.
A changing distance
between dots
indicates a changing
velocity and
thus accelerating.
 A constant distance
between dots represents a
constant velocity and
therefore no acceleration.
Dot diagrams for objects
moving with a constant
velocity and with an
accelerated motion are
Let Us Practice!
 Imagine a car with an
engine leak that drips oil at
a regular rate. As the car
travels through town, it
would leave a trace of oil
on the street. That trace
would reveal information
about the motion of the car.
Glen owns such a car and it
leaves a signature of Glen’s
motion wherever he goes.
Analyze the three traces of
Glen’s ventures as shown
below. Assume Glen is
traveling from left to right.
Describe his car’s motion
characteristics during each
a. What happens to the car’s
speed in section A?
b. Infer the car’s motion at
section B.
c. Describe the car’s motion
in section C.
 Glen decelerates from a
high speed to low speed
until he is finally stopped.
He remains at rest for a
while and then gradually
accelerates until the trace
ends.
Describe the car’s motion
for Sections:

A?
B?
Glen travels at a constant
speed during the first
time interval and then
gradually accelerates
until the trace ends.
Describe the car’s motion
for Sections:
A?
B?
C?
D?
 Glen moves with a constant
speed in the first time
interval. He then abruptly
decelerates to a stop. He
remains at rest for some time
and then moves with a
constant speed, slower than