2.

2
ANALYSING MOTION
GRAPHS
 Analying Motion Graphs

Data of the motion can be presented in

the form of a graph called a motion graph
THE DISPLACEMENT-TIME GRAPH
S/m
A Positive velocity
means moving
forward

negative velocity
means moving
t/s
backward
O B

Gradient = change of displacement

time
= velocity
 THE DISPLACEMENT-TIME GRAPH

s/m OA The gradient is

A
positive and constant

Moving forward with a

constant velocity
O t/s
B

AB The gradient is
negative and constant

Moving backward with

a constant velocity
 THE DISPLACEMENT-TIME GRAPH
s/m
The gradient is zero

zero velocity ie. at rest

t/s
s/m
Moving forward with a
constant velocity and reach
the reference point after 3 s
t/s
3
s/m The gradient is positive
and increasing

Moving forward with

an acceleration
t/s

s/m
The gradient is positive
and decreasing

Moving forward with a

deceleration
t/s
THE VELOCITY-TIME GRAPH
V/ m s-1
A

O t/s
B

Gradient = change of velocity

time
 THE VELOCITY-TIME GRAPH

v / m s-1 AB The gradient is

A negative and constant

B C Uniform deceleration
BC The gradient is
O t/s zero

Zero acceleration i.e.

uniform velocity
 Displacement-
time graph
summary Velocity-time
graph

Represents Represents
gradient
velocity acceleration

Uniform velocity Straight line Uniform acceleration

Moves forward Positive

gradient
acceleration

Moves backward Negative deceleration

gradient

stationary Zero Uniform velocity

gradient

No significance Area under graph Represents distance

Passing through Intercept time-axis Object stops

the reference point
 evaluation
1. Which of the following graphs shows a body moving with

decreasing acceleration ?
A Displacement C Velocity

Time Time

B Displacement D Velocity

Time Time
2. Figure below shows the displacement- time graph of a
boy. Displacement /m

A
C

B
Time
0

The motion of the boy in section AB and BC is

Section AB Section BC

A Moving forward at rest

B Moving backward at rest

C Moving backward uniform velocity

D deceleration uniform velocity

3. What information is represented by the gradient and area
under a velocity- time graph ?

Gradient Area under graph

A Acceleration Average velocity

B Acceleration displacement

C Average velocity displacement

D Average velocity acceleration

4. Figure below shows the velocity- time graph of a lorry.
velocity

A B

C
0 Time

Which of the followings is the correct description of its motion ?

A Moving forward with constant velocity , at rest

and then moves backward

B Accelerates, at rest and then decelerates.

C Accelerates, moving with constant velocity

and then decelerates.
5. Figure below shows the velocity- time graph of a car.
Velocity/m s-1

The acceleration-time
graph for the car is

0 Time/s
2 3 6
A acceleration C acceleration

time
time
B acceleration D acceleration

time
time
To determine displacement,
velocity and acceleration
from motion graph
Example The graph shows the motion of a moving particle.
Displacement /m
(b) Calculate the velocity
B
of the particle in the
100 first 20 s.
80 Velocity = gradient AB
60 = (100 – 20)m
40 20 s
= 4 m s-1
20 A
(c) Calculate the average
O velocity
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
S1 = 80 m, S2 = -60m,
Time / s
S3 = 0 m
(a) What is the displacement of the
Average Velocity
particle from the starting point
= displacement
just before it moves with a uniform
time
velocity.
= 80 + (-60) = 0.333 m s-1
40 m 60
Example The graph shows the motion of a moving particle.

Displacement /m
(b) Calculate the average
velocity
15 (c) Calculate the average
10 speed
5 S1 = -10-15 = -25 m
B
0 S2 = 5 –(-10) = 15m
10 20 30 40 50 60
-5
Time / s
(b) Average Velocity
-10 = displacement

(a) What is the velocity of the particle time

from t=30 s to t= 60 s ?
= (-25 )+15 = -0.167 m s-1
Velocity = gradient
(30,-10) (c) Average speed
60
= 5-(-10) m (60, 5) = total distance
(60-30) s
= 0.5 m s-1 time
= 25+ 15 = 0.667 m s-1
Example The graph shows the motion of a motorcycle.
velocity/m s-1
(b) Calculate the average
C velocity of the
20
motorcycle.
15
A B
S1= (10)(10) = 100 m
10
S2 S3
S2= 1 (10+ 20)30 = 450m
5 S1
D 2

0 10 20 30 40 50 60
S3= 1 (20)(20) = 200m
2
Time / s
Average Velocity
(a) Calculate the deceleration of the
= Displacement
motorcycle.

Deceleration = gradient CD time

= 100 + 450 + 200
= 20 - 0 m s-1 60
40 – 60 s (40, = 12.5 ms-1
20)
= -1 m s-2 (60, 0)
Example The graph shows the motion of a motorcycle.
S1= ½ (20)(15) =150 m
velocity/m s-1
S2= ½ (30)(-10) =-150 m
15
S3= ½ (10)(5) 25 m
10

5 S1 (a) Average Velocity

S3 = Displacement
0
S2
10 20 30 40 50 60
-5 time 25 m
= 150 + (-150)+
-10 Time / s 60 s
= 0.417 m s-1
(a) Calculate the average
velocity of the motorcycle (b) Average speed
= Total distance

(b) Calculate the average time

= 150 + 150 + 25 m
speed of the motorcycle.
60 s
= 5.417 ms-1
 Summary
Displacement-time graph
 determine velocity from the gradient
 area under graph = no significance

Velociity -time graph

 determine acceleration from the gradient
 determine displacement from the area
under graph

Average velocity = displacement / time

Average speed = distance / time