10.

5 Distance/time graphs

Using distance/time graphs

We can use a distance/time graph to answer questions about an object’s movement.
Here is an example.
The graph shows the movement of a runner in a race.
100

80

60
distance / m
40

20

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Distance/time graph for a runner. time / s

: Find 10 s on the time

axis. Draw a line straight up from this point until it reaches the graph line, as shown.
Now draw horizontally across to the distance axis. The answer is 80 m.
: Find 100 m on the
distance axis. Draw a line horizontally from this point until it reaches the graph line, as
shown. Now draw vertically down to the time axis. The answer is 12.5 s.

Activity 11.5
Journey graphs

1 Here is some information about Mina’s journey to the market. Use the
information to draw up a table showing how far she had walked at different points
in the journey. Then draw a distance/time graph.
Mina left home, walking slowly. After 10 minutes, she had walked 1000 m.
Then she met a friend. They stood and talked for 4 minutes.
Mina realised she might be late. She ran the next 2000 m to the market and
arrived there 30 minutes after leaving home.
2 Draw a distance/time graph for a journey similar to Mina’s. It might be a journey
on a bus or plane. Swap your graph with a partner.
From your partner’s graph, draw a table of distances and times for the journey.
Then write a description of the journey, in words.

Summary

10 Measuring motion 133