大象传媒

Displacement-time graphs - Higher

Displacement-time graphs show how the of a moving object changes with time.

A horizontal line on a displacement-time graph shows that the object is stationary (not moving because the displacement does not change)

A sloping line on a displacement-time graph shows that the object is moving.

In a displacement-time graph, the slope or gradient of the line, is equal to the velocity of the object.

The steeper the line (and the greater the gradient) the faster the object is moving.

Example

Displacement graph
Section of graphWhat is represented
O - APositive constant velocity
velocity = gradient of displacement-time graph = displacement 梅 time
displacement = 4 m 鈥 0 m = 4 m
time = 2 s 鈥 0 s = 2 s
velocity = displacement 梅 time = 4 m 梅 2 s = 2 m/s
A - BStopped
the displacement does not change: velocity = 0 m/s
B - CNegative constant velocity
the object is now travelling in the opposite direction
velocity = gradient of displacement-time graph = displacement 梅 time
displacement = 0 m 鈥 4 m = -4 m
time = 8 s 鈥 7 s = 1 s
velocity = displacement 梅 time = -4 m 梅 1 s = -4 m/s
At Cthe object has returned to its starting position
the displacement is once again zero
Section of graphO - A
What is representedPositive constant velocity
Section of graph
What is representedvelocity = gradient of displacement-time graph = displacement 梅 time
Section of graph
What is representeddisplacement = 4 m 鈥 0 m = 4 m
Section of graph
What is representedtime = 2 s 鈥 0 s = 2 s
Section of graph
What is representedvelocity = displacement 梅 time = 4 m 梅 2 s = 2 m/s
Section of graphA - B
What is representedStopped
Section of graph
What is representedthe displacement does not change: velocity = 0 m/s
Section of graphB - C
What is representedNegative constant velocity
Section of graph
What is representedthe object is now travelling in the opposite direction
Section of graph
What is representedvelocity = gradient of displacement-time graph = displacement 梅 time
Section of graph
What is representeddisplacement = 0 m 鈥 4 m = -4 m
Section of graph
What is representedtime = 8 s 鈥 7 s = 1 s
Section of graph
What is representedvelocity = displacement 梅 time = -4 m 梅 1 s = -4 m/s
Section of graphAt C
What is representedthe object has returned to its starting position
Section of graph
What is representedthe displacement is once again zero

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