2.

2 Linear Motion Graphs

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2.2.1 Interpret types of motion from the following: (i) displacement-time graph (ii) velocity-
time graph (iii) acceleration-time graph.

Displacement-Time Graph
The diagram below shows the motion of a car with respect to time.

(a) Plot a displacement-time graph for the car. (b) Calculate the gradient of the
graph.

(c) What is the unit for this gradient?

(d) What is the physical quantity

shown by this unit?

▪ For displacement-time graph: gradient of the graph = velocity

object at rest object moving with uniform object moving with

velocity acceleration

▪ Object is at the same ▪ Rate of change of ▪ Rate of change of

position at any time.
▪ The straight line of the
graph has a zero gradient
showing that the velocity is
zero.
displacement is uniform.
▪ The straight line of the
graph has a uniform
gradient showing that the
velocity is uniform.
displacement is increasing.
▪ The gradient of the curve is
increasing showing that the
velocity is increasing.

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Velocity-Time Graph
The diagram below shows the car move from rest in a straight line.

(a) Plot a velocity-time graph for the car.

(b) Calculate the gradient of the graph. (e) Calculate the area under the graph.

(c) What is the unit for this gradient? (f) What is the unit for this area under the
graph?

(d) What is the physical quantity shown by (g) What is the physical quantity shown by
this unit? this unit?

▪ For velocity-time graph: gradient of the graph = acceleration

area under the graph = displacement
object moving with uniform object moving with uniform object moving with uniformly
velocity acceleration decreasing velocity

▪ Object has the same ▪ Rate of change of velocity is
velocity at any time. constant.
▪ The straight line of the ▪ The straight line of the
graph has a zero gradient graph has a constant
showing that the gradient showing that the
acceleration is zero. acceleration is uniform.
▪ The area the graph is 20 m ▪ The area the graph is 27 m
showing that the showing that the
displacement travelled is 20 displacement travelled is 27
m. m.
▪ Rate of change of velocity is
constant and negative.
▪ The straight line of the
graph has a constant and
negative gradient showing
that the deceleration is
uniform.
▪ The area the graph is 27 m
showing that the
displacement travelled is 27
m.

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Acceleration-Time Graph

Object moving with zero object moving with uniform object moving with increasing
acceleration acceleration acceleration

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2.2.2 Analyse displacement-time graph to determine distance, displacement and velocity.

1. A car started its journey at point A. After 30 seconds, the car had reached point B. The car stops at point B
for 10 seconds. Then, the car turned around and arrived at the point A after 15 seconds. The car stopped at
point A for 20 seconds. The car then went on his way and get to the point C after 10 seconds.

velocity from 0 s to 30 s velocity from 30 s to 40 s velocity from 40 s to 55 s

velocity from 55 s to 75 s velocity from 75 s to 85 s

total distance travelled overall displacement

average speed average velocity

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 2. Diagram above shows the initial
point and the final point of a
motorcycle ridden to the right
(positive direction) and then to
the left (negative direction). The
displacement-time graph shows
the linear motion of the
motorcycle.

velocity from A to B velocity from B to C velocity from C to D

velocity from D to E velocity from E to F

total distance travelled overall displacement

average speed average velocity

3. The diagram below shows a displacement-time graph of an object.

(a) Calculate the velocity of the object between

(i) A and B (ii) B and C (iii) C and D

(b) Describe the motion of the object between

(i) A and B:
(ii) B and C:
(iii) C and D:
(c) Find
(i) total distance travelled (ii) overall displacement

(d) Calculate
(i) average speed (ii) average velocity

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2.2.3 Analyse velocity-time graph to determine distance, displacement, velocity and
acceleration.

1. A truck began its journey at point A. After 30 s, the truck got to the point B and has a speed of 20 m s -1. Truck
then moves with a velocity of 20 m s-1 for 10 s. Then, the truck increases its speed to reach 30 m s -1 in 15 s.
After 10 s of moving with a velocity of 30 m s -1, the driver has pressed the brake, causing the truck to stop
completely at C after 5 s. After stopping for 10 s, the driver turn the truck and drove toward the starting
point of the journey. After 20 s, the velocity is 10 m s-1.

acceleration from 0 s to 30 s acceleration from 30 s to 40 s acceleration from 40 s to 55 s

acceleration from 55 s to 65 s acceleration from 65 s to 70 s acceleration from 70 s to 80 s

acceleration from 80 s to 100 s

displacement to the right displacement to the left overall displacement

total distance travelled average speed average velocity

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2. Diagram below shows the linear motion of a bicycle.

Diagram below shows the velocity-time graph showing the motion of the bicycle.

acceleration from 0 s to 50 s acceleration from 50 s to 70 s acceleration from 70 s to 100 s

acceleration from 100 s to 120 s acceleration from 120 s to 150 s

displacement to the right displacement to the left overall displacement

total distance travelled average speed average velocity

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3. Diagram below shows the velocity-time graph of a car.

Based on the graph,

(a) calculate the acceleration of the car for
(i) JK (ii) KL (iii) LM (iv) MN

(b) State the types of motion of the car for

(i) JK:
(ii) KL:
(iii) LM:
(iv) MN:

(c) Calculate the displacement travelled by the car during

(i) the first 10 s of motion (ii) the car moves with uniform velocity

(iii) the last 10 s of motion (iv) the whole journey

(d) Calculate the total distance for the whole journey.

(e) Calculate
(i) the average speed (ii) the average velocity

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2.2.4 Convert and sketch: (i) displacement-time graph to velocity-time graph and vice-versa
(ii) velocity-time graph to acceleration-time graph

CASE 1: Interpret displacement-time graph to sketch velocity-time graph

Diagram below shows the displacement-time graph of an object in linear motion.

(a) Determine the velocity of the object at (b) sketch a velocity-time graph
each stage of its motion.

velocity = gradient of displacement-time

graph

time velocity
0 s to 6 s

6 s to 12 s

12 s to 20 s

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CASE 2: Interpret velocity-time graph to sketch acceleration-time graph
CASE 3: Interpret velocity-time graph to sketch displacement-time graph
Diagram below shows the velocity-time graph that is plotted based on the linear motion of a car
driven by Encik Simon. He drives his car at a speed of 30 m s–1 and applies the brakes when he
sees an obstruction on the road. Interpret the velocity-time graph of the motion of his car and
sketch

(a) displacement-time graph

displacement = area under velocity-time

graph

time displacement
0 s to 6 s

6 s to 10 s

(b) acceleration-time graph

acceleration = gradient of velocity-time graph

time acceleration
0 s to 6 s

6 s to 10 s

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2.2.5 Solve problems involving linear motion graphs.

1. The velocity-time graph shows the motion

of Henry. Determine his
(a) acceleration
(b) displacement
(c) average velocity

2. Diagram shows the velocity-time graph of

the linear motion of a car. Interpret the
velocity-time graph and sketch a graph of:
(a) displacement against time
(b) acceleration against time

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 3. Diagram shows Roy is taking 3 minutes to walk to the
sundry shop located 400 m to the right of his house. After
1 minute, he buys an ice cream and walks to the
playground located 300 m from the sundry shop in 2
minutes. he sits and rests on a bench near the playground
for 2 minutes. Then, using a shortcut to return to his
house, Roy reaches his house in 2 minutes.
(a) What is the average velocity of the motion of Roy
from
(i) house to the sundry shop?
(ii) sundry shop to the playground?
(iii) playground to the house?
(b) Calculate Roy’s average speed.

4. A car is driven from rest and accelerated at 4 m s –2 for 8 s along a straight road. The car is
driven at the constant velocity for 20 s and then its brakes are applied. The car reduces its
velocity at the rate of 2 m s–2 till it stops. Sketch a graph of:
(a) acceleration against time
(b) velocity against time
(c) displacement against time

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5. Diagram below shows the velocity-time graph of a motorcycle travelling along a straight
road between two traffic lights.

(a) Explain the motion of the motorcycle as represented by the lines OA and BC on the
graph.

OA:

BC:

(b) What is the time interval during which the motorcycle is moving at a constant velocity?

(c) What is the distance between the two traffic lights?

(d) Sketch a displacement-time graph to represent the motion of the motorcycle between
the two traffic lights.

(e) Sketch an acceleration-time graph to represent the motion of the motorcycle between
the two traffic lights.

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6. The velocity-time graph in diagram below shows a particle starting from rest and travelling
east.

(a) How long does the particle travel towards the east?

(b) How long does the particle travel towards the west?

(c) Find the average speed and the average velocity.

7. Diagram below shows the displacement-time graph of a moving particle.

(a) What is the velocity of the particle in the initial period of 3 seconds?

(b) How long is the particle stationary?

(c) At what point in time does the particle return to its original position?

(d) Calculate the

(i) average speed (ii) average velocity

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8. The velocity-time graph shows the movement of a particle.

(a) What is the total distance travelled by the particle in 10 seconds?

(b) For how long is the particle moving with constant velocity?

(c) Calculate the ratio of acceleration : deceleration.

(d) Calculate the average velocity of the particle.

9. Diagram below shows a velocity-time graph.

(a) Calculate acceleration of OA and BC.

(b) Calculate overall displacement.

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10. Diagram below shows the velocity-time graph of a motorcycle starting from rest and
travelling north.

(a) What is the deceleration from t = 10 s to t = 13 s?

(b) What is the displacement of the motorcycle during the first 13 s?

(c) For how long is the motorcycle travelling towards the south?

(d) What is the displacement of the motorcycle at t = 20 s?

(e) What is the average velocity of the motorcycle for the whole journey?

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11. Diagram below shows a displacement-time graph.

(a) Calculate velocity of OP, QR and RS.

(b) Calculate displacement.

12. A sport car starting from rest, accelerates uniformly to 30 m s-1 over a period of 20 s. The
car maintains the velocity for 30 s. The velocity is then reduced uniformly to 20 m s-1 in
10 s and then brought to rest after another further 10 s.
(a) Draw a velocity-time graph to represent the journey as described.

(b) From the graph, find

(i) the acceleration of the car for the first 20 s.

(ii) the distance travelled.

(iii) the average velocity over the time described.

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Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations.

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