Velocity Time Graphs, Acceleration & Position Time Graphs - Physics

The Organic Chemistry Tutor2 minutes read

Motion graphs show different aspects of motion, with slope representing velocity and area indicating displacement. Understanding the relationship between graphs and calculations can help determine velocity, acceleration, and speed accurately.

Insights

  • Motion graphs encompass position time, velocity time, and acceleration time graphs, with slope indicating velocity and area representing displacement.
  • Understanding motion graphs involves recognizing that slope signifies acceleration changes, while analyzing area reveals displacement variations, crucial for interpreting velocity and acceleration in different scenarios.

Get key ideas from YouTube videos. It’s free

Recent questions

  • What do motion graphs include?

    Position time, velocity time, acceleration time graphs.

  • How is slope calculated in graphs?

    By dividing change in y by change in x.

  • What does the area in graphs represent?

    Represents multiplication of length by width.

  • How is speed different from velocity?

    Speed is distance over time, velocity is displacement.

  • What does positive acceleration indicate?

    Leads to increase in velocity and speed.

Related videos

Summary

00:00

Understanding Motion Graphs and Calculating Slope

  • Motion graphs include position time graphs, velocity time graphs, and acceleration time graphs.
  • Slope in graphs is associated with division, while area is linked to multiplication.
  • Slope is calculated by dividing the change in y by the change in x.
  • Area is found by multiplying the length by the width, representing the change in x and change in y.
  • Position time graphs show motion along the x or y axis, velocity time graphs show velocity, and acceleration time graphs show acceleration.
  • The slope of a position time graph represents velocity, while the area doesn't provide useful information.
  • The slope of a velocity time graph is acceleration, and the area represents displacement.
  • The slope of an acceleration time graph can represent jerk or jolt, and the area gives the change in velocity.
  • The slope of a tangent line on a position time graph gives instantaneous velocity, while the slope of a secant line gives average velocity.
  • Speed is calculated as distance divided by time in distance time graphs, while velocity is displacement over time in position time graphs.

20:00

Understanding Acceleration Through Graph Analysis

  • Positive acceleration leads to an increase in velocity and speed, while negative acceleration results in a decrease in velocity but an increase in speed.
  • When velocity is negative and acceleration is positive, velocity becomes less negative, leading to a decrease in speed.
  • Three linear shapes on a position-time graph indicate constant velocity, with acceleration being zero in each case.
  • Four parabolic shapes on a position-time graph show varying velocities, with acceleration being negative for the first two shapes and positive for the last two.
  • Analyzing the slope changes on a graph helps determine acceleration; a decreasing slope indicates negative acceleration, while an increasing slope signifies positive acceleration.
Channel avatarChannel avatarChannel avatarChannel avatarChannel avatar

Try it yourself — It’s free.