Motion GraphingPosition vs. Time Graphs

• If intervals between distance & time intersection points are same; graph represents object moving at CONSTANT VELOCITY; NO ACCELERATION

• a = 0• SLOPE of a distance/time graph

represents the VELOCITY of the object• greater slope = greater velocity• SIGN of slope on a distance/time graph

indicates DIRECTION of object’s travel• POSITIVE (+) slope above x-axis indicates

travel AWAY from origin

time (s)

posi

tion

(m)

Motion GraphingPosition vs. Time Graphs

• If intervals between distance & time intersection points are same; graph represents object moving at CONSTANT VELOCITY; NO ACCELERATION

• a = 0• SLOPE of a distance/time graph

represents the VELOCITY of the object• greater slope = greater velocity• SIGN of slope on a distance/time graph

indicates DIRECTION of object’s travel• NEGATIVE (-) slope above x-axis

indicates travel TOWARDS origin

posi

tion

(m)

time (s)

Motion GraphingPosition vs. Time Graphs

• If graph has a SLOPE of ZERO; object has a VELOCITY and ACCELERATION of ZERO and is at rest in the same position.

• NO MOTION• slope = 0

• Vav = 0

• a = 0

posi

tion

(m)

time (s)

Motion GraphingPosition vs. Time Graphs

• If intervals between distance & time intersection points are increasing; graph represents object with INCREASING VELOCITY.

• VELOCITY NOT CONSTANT• Object has POSITIVE (+) ACCELERATION • a = V

t

• Average velocity (vav) is the slope of the line between any two points on the position-time graph.

• Instantaneous velocity (vinst) is the slope of the tangent line through one point on the position-time graph. po

sitio

n (m

)

time (s)

Motion GraphingPosition vs. Time Graphs

• If intervals between distance & time intersection points are increasing; graph represents object with INCREASING VELOCITY.

• VELOCITY NOT CONSTANT• Object has NEGATIVE (-) ACCELERATION due to

direction• a = V

t

• Average velocity (vav) is the slope of the line between any two points on the position-time graph.

• Instantaneous velocity (vinst) is the slope of the tangent line through one point on the position-time graph.

posi

tion

(m)

time (s)

Motion GraphingPosition vs. Time Graphs

• Graph of a VERTICAL line is UNDEFINED• Slope of line DOES NOT equal zero.• Object cannot be doing TWO things at SAME

time.

posi

tion

(m)

time (s)

Motion GraphingVelocity vs. Time Graphs

velo

city

(m

/s)

time (s)

• If intervals between velocity & time intersection points are same; graph represents object moving with INCREASING VELOCITY; CONSTANT ACCELERATION

• a = V t• SLOPE of a velocity/time graph

represents the ACCELERATION of the object

• greater slope = greater acceleration• SIGN of slope on a velocity/time graph

indicates change in velocity• POSITIVE (+) slope indicates object

increasing speed• Positive slope below x-axis indicates

object decreasing speed• There is NO RELATIONSHIP between

object and ORIGIN shown on graph.

Motion GraphingVelocity vs. Time Graphs

velo

city

(m

/s)

time (s)

• If intervals between velocity & time intersection points are same; graph represents object moving with DECREASING VELOCITY; CONSTANT NEGATIVE ACCELERATION

• a = -V t• SLOPE of a velocity/time graph

represents the ACCELERATION of the object

• greater slope = greater acceleration

• SIGN of slope on a velocity/time graph indicates change in velocity

• NEGATIVE (-) slope indicates object decreasing velocity

• Negative slope below x-axis indicates object increasing velocity

Motion Graphing*Velocity vs. Time Graphs

• If graph has a SLOPE of ZERO; object has a CONSTANT VELOCITY and ACCELERATION of ZERO.

• MOTION at a constant velocity• slope = 0

• Vav = constant

• a = 0

velo

city

(m

/s)

time (s)

Motion Graphing Velocity vs. Time Graphs

• If intervals between velocity & time intersection points are increasing; graph represents object with increasing ACCELERATION.

• Object has POSITIVE (+) ACCELERATION • a = V

t

• Average acceleration (aav) is the slope of the line any two points on the velocity-time graph.

• Instantaneous acceleration (ainst) is the slope of the tangent line through one point on the velocity-time graph. ve

loci

ty (

m/s

)

time (s)

Motion Graphing Velocity vs. Time Graphs

• If intervals between velocity & time intersection points are increasing; graph represents object with decreasing ACCELERATION.

• Object has NEGATIVE (-) ACCELERATION • -a = V

t

• Average velocity (vav) is the slope of the line between any two points on the position-time graph.

• Instantaneous velocity (vinst) is the slope of the tangent line through one point on the position-time graph.

velo

city

(m

/s)

time (s)