Question

How do you describe the motion of an object on a graph?

Answer 1

Distance-time graph:

1. A distance-time graph can be used to represent the distance traveled by an object with time.
2. The gradient of the line in a distance-time graph equals the speed of the object.
3. The faster the object moves, the greater the gradient (and the steeper the line).
4. If the speed remains constant, the slope remains constant (i.e., a straight line).
5. When the speed changes, so do the slope (i.e., a curved line).
6. If the speed is positive, the slope is positive (moving up and to the right) and vice versa.

Interpretation of graph:

1. If an object moves along a straight line, the distance traveled can be represented by a distance-time graph.
2. In a distance-time graph, the gradient of the line is equal to the speed of the object. The greater the gradient (and the steeper the line) the faster the object is moving.
3. The speed of an object can be calculated from the gradient of a distance-time graph.
4. If an object is accelerating or decelerating, its speed can be calculated at any particular time by drawing a tangent to the curve at that time or measuring the gradient of the tangent.
5. A negative gradient means that the speed of the object is decreasing.
6. A steeper slope means that the object is moving at a faster speed and a flat slope implies that the object is traveling at a constant speed.