Skip to content
Oak National Academy
Oak National Academy
Teachers
Pupils
New
New
Year 10
Edexcel
Foundation

Calculating from motion graphs (a=(v–u)/t and v=x/t)

I can take readings from motion graphs to calculate distance, displacement, speed, velocity and acceleration.

Download all resources
arrow-right
Share activities with pupils
arrow-right
New
New
Year 10
Edexcel
Foundation

Calculating from motion graphs (a=(v–u)/t and v=x/t)

I can take readings from motion graphs to calculate distance, displacement, speed, velocity and acceleration.

Download all resources
arrow-right
Share activities with pupils
arrow-right
warning

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.
View new resources
arrow-right

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A displacement–time graph shows how displacement changes with time.
  2. A velocity–time graph shows how velocity changes with time.
  3. Displacement–time and velocity–time graphs of the same motion have different shapes.
  4. Acceleration is equal to the gradient of a velocity–time graph.
  5. A falling line shows deceleration (decreasing velocity) which is a negative acceleration.

Keywords

  • Displacement–time graph - A displacement–time graph shows the displacement of an object over a period of time.

  • Velocity–time graph - A velocity–time graph shows the velocity of an object over a period of time.

  • Velocity - The velocity of an object is the rate of change of displacement. This is how fast it is moving in a particular direction.

  • Acceleration - The acceleration of an object is the rate of change of velocity. This is how much the velocity changes per second.

Common misconception

Pupils often confuse displacement–time graphs with velocity–time graphs.

Emphasise the need for pupils to always read the axes of a graph first, before they start to think about any lines drawn on it.

Use a wide variety of movement graphs, allowing pupils to identify the key information. Link these to real objects via video clips showing constant velocity, acceleration, deceleration and so on.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

Skip lesson video

Loading...

Starter quiz

Download starter quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the quantity to the unit it is measured in.
Correct Answer:mass,kilogram (kg)

kilogram (kg)

Correct Answer:velocity,metres per second (m/s)

metres per second (m/s)

Correct Answer:displacement,metres (m)

metres (m)

Correct Answer:time,seconds (s)

seconds (s)

Correct Answer:acceleration,metres per second squared (m/s$$^2$$)

metres per second squared (m/s$$^2$$)

Q2.
What is the velocity of this object at time = 3 s?
An image in a quiz
1 m/s
3 m/s
5 m/s
Correct answer: 6 m/s
9 m/s
Q3.
Which of these is a correct definition of acceleration?
Correct answer: The rate of change of velocity.
The rate of change of displacement.
The rate of change of speed.
The overall change in velocity.
The overall change in position.
Q4.
During which time period is this object decelerating?
An image in a quiz
Between 0 s and 2 s.
Between 2 s and 4 s.
Between 4 s and 7 s.
Correct answer: Between 5 s and 7 s.
Between 7 s and 8 s.
Q5.
A speedboat increases its velocity from 2.0 m/s to 14 m/s in a time of 8.0 s. Calculate the acceleration of the speedboat.
0.25 m/s$$^2$$
0.67 m/s$$^2$$
Correct answer: 1.5 m/s$$^2$$
1.75 m/s$$^2$$
12 m/s$$^2$$
Q6.
The displacement-time graph shows the movement of a robot. Calculate the velocity of the robot at time = 45 s.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: -0.1 m/s, -0.1

Exit quiz

Download exit quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the key words and phrases to their explanations.
Correct Answer:displacement-time graph,this shows the displacement of an object over a period of time

this shows the displacement of an object over a period of time

Correct Answer:velocity-time graph,this shows the velocity of an object over a period of time

this shows the velocity of an object over a period of time

Correct Answer:acceleration,the rate of change of velocity

the rate of change of velocity

Correct Answer:velocity,the rate of change of displacement

the rate of change of displacement

Q2.
The graph shows the movement of a van over time. Find the total distance travelled for the journey.
An image in a quiz
20 km
30 km
50 km
70 km
Correct answer: 100 km
Q3.
The graph shows the movement of a van making two deliveries. Find the average speed of the van during the outwards journey, from 0 to 3 hours.
An image in a quiz
0.6 km/h
10 m/s
10 km/h
Correct answer: 17 km/h
17 m/s
Q4.
The graph shows the displacement of a dynamics trolley along a bench. Calculate the velocity of the trolley at time = 2 s.
An image in a quiz
0.16 m/s
Correct answer: 0.20 m/s
0.27 m/s
0.40 m/s
5.0 m/s
Q5.
Find the distance travelled by this object during the first 4 seconds of motion.
An image in a quiz
1 m
2 m
4 m
Correct answer: 8 m
16 m
Q6.
Use the graph to find the acceleration of the moving object between time = 2 s and time = 4 s.
An image in a quiz
0.25 m/s$$^2$$
0.50 m/s$$^2$$
0.75 m/s$$^2$$
1.5 m/s$$^2$$
Correct answer: 2.0 m/s$$^2$$