Calculating from motion graphs: including displacement (a=(v-u)/t and v=x/t)
I can take readings from motion graphs to calculate distance, displacement, speed, velocity and acceleration.
Calculating from motion graphs: including displacement (a=(v-u)/t and v=x/t)
I can take readings from motion graphs to calculate distance, displacement, speed, velocity and acceleration.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Acceleration is equal to the gradient of a velocity-time graph.
- A falling line shows decreasing velocity called deceleration, which is a negative acceleration.
- Instantaneous speed at a point on a displacement-time graph equals the gradient of a tangent at that point.
- The distance travelled is equal to the area under a velocity-time graph.
- Displacement is equal to the net positive area under a velocity-time graph.
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.
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 acceleration of an object is the rate of change of velocity. This is how much the velocity changes per second.
Acceleration - The acceleration of an object is the rate of change of velocity. This is how much the velocity changes per second.
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).
Video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
mass -
kilogram (kg)
velocity -
metres per second (m/s)
displacement -
metres (m)
acceleration -
metres (m)
acceleration -
metres per second squared (m/s$$^2$$)
time -
seconds (s)
![An image in a quiz](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Foaknationalacademy-res.cloudinary.com%2Fimage%2Fupload%2Fv1708879395%2Fytpqxaqlw3adn1csnukn.png&w=640&q=75)
![An image in a quiz](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Foaknationalacademy-res.cloudinary.com%2Fimage%2Fupload%2Fv1708879395%2Fytpqxaqlw3adn1csnukn.png&w=640&q=75)
![An image in a quiz](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Foaknationalacademy-res.cloudinary.com%2Fimage%2Fupload%2Fv1708548407%2Fbocstrot0knwmujxju8f.png&w=640&q=75)
Exit quiz
6 Questions
displacement-time graph -
this shows the displacement of an object over a period of time
velocity-time graph -
this shows the velocity of an object over a period of time
acceleration -
the rate of change of velocity
velocity -
the rate of change of displacement
![An image in a quiz](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Foaknationalacademy-res.cloudinary.com%2Fimage%2Fupload%2Fv1708895275%2Fe1eq88qlehypexdnin81.png&w=640&q=75)
![An image in a quiz](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Foaknationalacademy-res.cloudinary.com%2Fimage%2Fupload%2Fv1708895275%2Fe1eq88qlehypexdnin81.png&w=640&q=75)
![An image in a quiz](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Foaknationalacademy-res.cloudinary.com%2Fimage%2Fupload%2Fv1708895275%2Fkmkpstjnrwy7n2cegx0p.png&w=640&q=75)
![An image in a quiz](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Foaknationalacademy-res.cloudinary.com%2Fimage%2Fupload%2Fv1708894278%2Fs50tnjb85viq2av92dle.png&w=640&q=75)
![An image in a quiz](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Foaknationalacademy-res.cloudinary.com%2Fimage%2Fupload%2Fv1708894278%2Fs50tnjb85viq2av92dle.png&w=640&q=75)