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Year 11
Higher

Calculating journeys from linear speed-time graphs

I can deduce that the area under a speed-time graph gives the distance travelled and deduce how this may be calculated.

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New
New
Year 11
Higher

Calculating journeys from linear speed-time graphs

I can deduce that the area under a speed-time graph gives the distance travelled and deduce how this may be calculated.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Distance travelled is calculated by multiplying speed and time.
  2. This is represented on a speed-time graph by the area bound by the graph and the x axis.
  3. Calculating this area gives the total distance travelled.

Common misconception

Calculating area by counting squares rather than looking at the scales.

Remind pupils that often on speed-time graphs the scales on the axes will be different. Check the scales before calculating distance. Check the final answer is realistic in context.

Keywords

  • Compound shape - A compound shape is a shape created using two or more basic shapes.

In lesson 5 pupils sketch distance-time from speed-time graphs. Now they can find the distance travelled at any given time they could revisit drawing distance-time graphs from linear speed-time graphs.
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).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Speed = __________
speed $$\times$$ time
time $$\times$$ distance
speed $$\div$$ time
Correct answer: distance $$\div$$ time
time $$\div$$ distance
Q2.
Speed is the rate at which something is moving. It is measured as the distance travelled per unit of __________.
speed
Correct answer: time
miles
hours
mph
Q3.
Which of these graphs shows a constant speed?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
Q4.
The area of the shaded shape is square units.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 18
Q5.
The area of the shaded shape is square units.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 30, A=30
Q6.
The area of the shaded shape is square units.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 28

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
On a speed-time graph the __________ bound by the graph and horizontal axis tells us the distance travelled.
length
distance
Correct answer: area
speed
volume
Q2.
Which calculation would find how far is travelled between $$0$$ and $$4$$ seconds?
An image in a quiz
$$4\times12=48$$ metres
$$6\times18=108$$ metres
Correct answer: $${1\over2}\times4\times12=24$$ metres
$${1\over2}\times6\times18=54$$ metres
$$12$$ metres
Q3.
Calculate how far the particle travelled between $$4$$ and $$6$$ seconds.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 30 metres, 30
Q4.
How far has the particle modelled in this graph travelled after $$6$$ seconds? metres.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 90
Q5.
How far has the particle modelled in this graph travelled between $$0$$ and $$3$$ seconds?
An image in a quiz
Half the whole area under the graph up to $$6$$ seconds.
$${{1\over2}(10+16)\times{3}}$$ metres
Correct answer: $$(2\times14)+\left({{1\over2}(14+16)\times{1}}\right)$$ metres
$$(2\times14)+\left({{1\over2}(14+16)\times{3}}\right)$$ metres
$$(3\times14)+\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)$$ metres
Q6.
How far has the particle modelled in this graph travelled after $$6$$ seconds? metres.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 100