Motion Graphs

Describing the motion of an object is occasionally hard to

do with words. Graphs help make motion easier to
picture, and therefore understand.
 Mo#on Graphs PloBng distance against /me can tell you a lot
about mo/on. Let's look at the axes:

Describing the mo/on of an Time is always ploGed on

object is occasionally hard to do the X-axis (boGom of the
graph). The further to the
with words. Some/mes graphs right on the axis, the
help make mo/on easier to longer the /me from the
start.
picture, and therefore

Distance
understand. Distance is ploGed on the
Y-axis (side of the graph).
The higher up the graph,
Remember: the further from the
Time start.

Mo#on is a change in posi/on

measured by distance and /me. If an object is not moving, a horizontal line is
shown on a distance-/me graph.
Speed tells us the rate at which
an object moves.
Time is increasing
to the right, but its
Velocity tells the speed and distance does not
direc/on of a moving object.
Distance

change. It is not
moving. We say it
is At Rest.
Accelera#on tells us the rate
speed or direc/on changes.
Time
 If an object is moving at a constant speed, it means Graphs that show accelera/on look dierent from
it has the same increase in distance in a given /me: those that show constant speed.

Time is increasing to the

The line on this graph is
right, and distance
curving upwards. This
is increasing constantly
shows an increase in
with /me. The object
speed, since the line is
moves at a constant
geBng steeper:
speed.

Distance
Distance

In other words, in a given

Constant speed is shown
/me, the distance the
by straight
object moves is change
lines on a graph.
(geBng larger). It is
accelera#ng.
Time
Time

Lets look at two moving objects: Summary:

Both of the lines in the graph show that each object A distance-/me graph tells us how far an object has moved with /me.
The steeper the graph, the faster the mo/on.
moved the same distance, but the A horizontal line means the object is not changing its posi/on - it is
steeper dashed line got there before the other one: not moving, it is at rest.
A downward sloping line means the object is returning to the start.
A steeper line
indicates a larger
distance moved in a
given /me. In other
Distance

words, higher speed.

Both lines are

straight, so both
speeds are constant.
Time
SPEED-TIME GRAPHS This graph shows
decreasing speed.
Speed-Time graphs are also called Velocity-Time

Speed
graphs. The moving object is
Speed-Time graphs look
much like Distance-Time decelera#ng.
graphs. Be sure to read the
labels!! Time is ploGed on
Time
the X-axis. Speed or velocity
is ploGed on the Y-axis. What about comparing two moving objects at the
same /me?
A straight horizontal line on a Both the dashed and solid
speed-/me graph means line show increasing
Speed

that speed is constant. It is speed.

Speed
not changing over /me. Both lines reach the same
top speed, but the
A straight line does not solid one takes longer.
mean that the object is not
Time moving! The dashed line shows a
Time greater accelera#on.

Summary:
A speed - /me graph shows us how the speed of a moving object
This graph shows changes with /me.
The steeper the graph, the greater the accelera/on.
increasing speed. A horizontal line means the object is moving at a constant speed.
A downward sloping
The moving object is line means the object is
accelera#ng.
Speed

slowing down.

Time
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