Distance-Time Graphs

Distance: The length of actual path between the initial and final position of a moving
object in the given time interval
Distance is a scalar quantity.
SI Unit of distance is metre (m)
A distance-time graph shows how the distance of an object (from a point) varies over time:

Graphs showing how the distance travelled by three objects varies over time

Finding Speed

 The speed of an object is given by the gradient of the line.

 A horizontal line means stationary.
 A straight line means constant speed.
 If the gradient increases the object is speeding up (accelerating).
 If the gradient decreases the object is slowing down (decelerating).
 If the line is going down, the object is moving backwards.

Speed
  Speed (measured in metres per second) is the distance moved by an object each second.
 The average speed of an object is given by the equation:

 You can rearrange the equation with the help of the formula triangle:

Use the formula triangle to help you rearrange the equation

Practical: Investigating Motion

Investigate the motion of everyday objects such as toy cars or tennis balls.

 You might be asked to describe an experiment in which you have to determine the speed or
acceleration of an object, or how its position or speed change with time.
 As part of this, you will be expected to list any apparatus that you need, explaining clearly
how you will use it.

Some simple apparatus that can be used to measure distance and time

 The experiment you describe must be realistic: Using a ruler to measure the length of an
athletics track is not realistic – you would be far better using a (long) tape measure.
Top Tips for describing experiments:

 If you need to use an equation to calculate something, start off by giving it.
(Listing it at the start will give you some hints about the things you need to mention later).
 State what your independent variable is (the thing that you are going to change) and how
you will measure it.
If appropriate, you should also suggest some values for your independent variable.
 State what your dependent variable is (the thing you are going to measure), and describe
how you will measure it (what equipment will you use?)
 List any variables that you need to control and explain briefly how you will do so.
 Finally, state that you will repeat the experiment several times and take an average.

Example:

“Describe an experiment to measure the terminal velocity of a falling paper cone.”

 I will determine the terminal velocity using the equation:

Speed = distance / time

 My independent variable will be the distance, which I will measure using a tape measure. I
will drop the paper cone from a variety of heights starting at 1 metre and going up in 10 cm
intervals to 2 meters.

(Note: These distances are big enough that the times will be measurable – any smaller and they won’t
be).

 My dependent variable will be the time which I will measure using a stop clock. I will start
the clock when I drop the cone and stop it when it hits the ground.
 I will repeat each measurement three times and take an average of the times at each height.
 I will then calculate the speed at each height using the above equation.
 I will use the same paper cone throughout the experiment and do the experiment somewhere
where there are no drafts which could affect the results.

Exam Tip

 You may write your answer using bullet points (as in the example above).
 The use of bullet points will help you to structure your answer and to keep better track of the
marking points that you have addressed.

Light gates

 Sometimes you may be asked to suggest ways in which an experiment could be improved.
 Light gates are pieces of apparatus that allow times to be measured more accurately, but in
order to gain marks you must describe what they do and how you would use them.
 Light gates can be used to accurately time the motion of objects in a laboratory

 A light gate can be used to start a timer when an object passes through it (blocking the light
gate).
 A second light gate (a fixed distance away) can be used to stop the timer.
 Light gates can also be used to determine the speed of an object through the gate by timing
how long the gate is blocked for.

Acceleration

Acceleration, Velocity & Time

Relationship between acceleration, change in velocity and time taken:

 Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity: In other words, how much the velocity of an
object changes by every second.
 Acceleration is given by the equation (where u is the initial velocity of an object and v is its
final velocity):

(Where u is the initial velocity of an object and v is its final velocity.)

 You can rearrange this equation with the help of the formula triangle:
 Use the formula triangle to help you rearrange the equation

 The units of acceleration are m/s2, which mean the same thing as m/s/s – the change in
velocity (in m/s) every second.

Exam Tip

 Marks are often available for giving the correct unit, even if your answer is incorrect.
 You must, however, give an answer (even if it’s just a guess): giving a unit without an
answer will not gain you any marks.

Velocity-Time Graphs

 A Velocity-time graph shows how the velocity (or speed) of an object changes over time.
 Graph showing how the velocity (speed) of an object changes over time

Finding Acceleration
Specification Point 1.8
 Determine acceleration from the gradient of a velocity−time graph

 The acceleration of an object is given by the gradient of the graph:

 Graph showing how acceleration can be determined from gradient

 If the line is horizontal, the velocity is constant (no acceleration).

 If the line slopes upwards then the object is accelerating (speeding up).
 If the line goes down then the object is decelerating (slowing down).

Finding Distance
 Determine the distance travelled from the area between a velocity−time
graph and the time axis

 The distance travelled by an object can be found by determining the area beneath the

graph.

The distance travelled can be found from the area beneath the graph
 If the area beneath the graph forms a triangle (the object is accelerating or decelerating) then
the area can be determined using the formula:

area = ½ × base × height

 If the area beneath the graph is a rectangle (constant velocity) then the area can be
determined using the formula:

area = base × height