Distance vs.
Time
Graphs
Analysis of a Distance (d) vs Time (T)
Graph
Motion showed on a
Distance (d) vs. Time (t) Graph
• Where did the object start?
• Which direction did it go?
• Where did the object stop
• Is the motion constant?
• Is the motion changing?
• Can you tell which is faster (if 2 or
more objects are present)
Distance (d) vs. Time (t)
Graph
Describing a journey made by an object is
not exciting if you just use words. As with
much of science, graphs are more
revealing.
Plotting distance against time can tell you
a lot about a journey. Let's look a closer
look:
Distance (d) Vs. Time (t) Graph
• Time always runs horizontally (the x-axis).
• The arrow shows the direction of time. The further to
the right, the longer time from the start.
• Distance runs vertically (the y-axis).
• The higher up the graph we go, the further we are
from the start.
What type of Graph is This? Explain
Why. (Hint: Think of what is on the
axes and how to find slope)
t
• This is a speed graph because it shows a
change in distance over time (s = d/t).
• The slope of the line on the graph will equal
the speed. SLOPE = SPEED (higher slope
= faster speed)
𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑒 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒 = = = 𝑆𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑
𝑟𝑢𝑛 𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒
D
t
Interpreting Velocity on a Graph
You can use the slope 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡
of a line to find Velocity Velocity= 𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒
15 m
Displacement
More
Displacement
10 m In Less Time
(Faster)
5m
Less
Displacement
In More Time
(Slower)
5s 10 s 15 s
Think of the Velocity graph this way:Time
Which one of these balls will fall faster?
The graph with more steepness is the faster velocity. The less steep, the slower.
• What would a graph showing an object
moving at a constant speed look like? Try
to draw it.
t
Constant speed
t
Now, on the same graph, use a
dashed line to show a second object
with a SLOWER constant speed
2 constant speeds,
one faster, one slower
t
Try drawing a speed graph that shows an object
that speeds up. What do we call this motion?
Acceleration
t
Try drawing a speed graph that shows an object
that slows down. What do we call this motion?
Deceleration
t
Try drawing a speed graph that shows an object
that is going backwards at a constant speed.
t
Try drawing a speed graph that shows an object
that is going backwards slowing down.
t
Try drawing a speed graph that shows an object
that is going backwards speeding up.
t
Try drawing a speed graph that shows an object
that is stopped.
t
Q: What
As a group, should
describe howyou learn
fast the from
objectthis?
is probably
Interpreting
A: Steep lines
moving as you Speed
on motion graphs,
travel on
along mean
the ana
line Graph:
object
(left tois right)
moving
quickly! Non-steep lines
(After you try mean
it together, clickthe object
to see the real is moving slowly!
motion)
Q: HOW CAN YOU TELL?!?!
15 m It can help to think
about the speed of a
rolling ball on the slope
Distance
Now it’s moving fast!
10 m
This ball would roll fast!
This ball would roll slowly…
5m
Started slowly…
Stopped moving!
This ball won’t roll at all!
5s 10 s 15 s
Time
Try drawing a speed graph that shows an object
that travels at a constant speed, then slows
down, then comes to a stop?
t
A speed graph that shows an object that travels
at a constant speed, then slows down,
then comes to a stop?
deceleration
stopped
constant speed
t
Try drawing a speed graph that shows an object
that accelerates, then decelerates, comes to a
stop, then moves backwards at a constant
speed?
t
A speed graph that shows an object that accelerates,
then decelerates, comes to a stop, then
moves backwards at a constant speed?
stops
decelerates backwards at a
constant speed
accelerates
t
Different Motion Graph Examples
Big Ideas
• Slope of a distance vs. time graph represents
speed.
• A flat line on a distance vs. time graph means
you are not moving.
t
Big Ideas
• A negative trend line on a distance vs. time
graph means you are going backwards.
D D D
t t t
