MOTION CURVES

Motion Curves - refer to graphical

representations that show how the
position of an object changes over
time. These curves help us
understand the motion of objects
and are crucial in analyzing and
solving problems related to motion.
HOW TO PLOT MOTION CURVE
• Time is plotted on the x-axis
• Distance, is plotted on the y-axis
• Velocity, is plotted on the y-axis
• Acceleration is plotted on the y-axis
Velocity-time graphs
Velocity-time graphs show how an objects velocity
changes over time.
• Straight uphill sections represent constant
acceleration, downhill sections represent
constant deceleration.
• Flat sections represent the object
travelling at a constant speed.
• A curve represents a changing
acceleration.
Distance-time graphs
Distance-time graphs show
how an objects distance
changes with time. Distance
should be plotted on the y axis,
and time on the x axis.
• The steeper the graph is, the higher the
speed.
• If the graph is a straight line, then the speed is
constant.
• If the graph is flat, then no distance is
travelled in the time period, so the object is
stationary.
• If the graph is curved upwards, then the
object is accelerating (speeding up). If the
graph is a curve that is levelling out, then the
object is decelerating (slowing down).
Acceleration Diagram
• Time is plotted on the x-axis, and acceleration
is plotted on the y-axis.

• If the object is slowing down, the acceleration

should be negative.
FORMULA

• VELOCITY IS EQUAL TO THE AREA OF a-DIAGRAM

• DISTANCE IS EQUAL TO THE AREA OF V-DIAGRAM
• CHECK FOR DISTANCE – SUM OF AREA OF a-
DIAGRAM TIMES THE DISTANCE OF ITS CENTROID
FROM AXIS.
 SAMPLE PROBLEM
1. A CAR ACCELERATES UNIFORMLY FROM ZERO TO 12
m/sec^2, IN 8 SECONDS STARTING FROM REST. DURING THE
NEXT 4 SECONDS, THE CAR DECELERATES UNIFORMLY AT A
CONSTANT RATE OF 11 m/sec^2.

A. DETERMINE THE VELOCITY OF THE CAR AFTER 12 sec. ans.=4

m/s
B. DETERMINE THE DISTANCE OF THE AFTER 10 sec. ans. S=202 m
C. DETERMINE THE TOTAL DISTANCE TRAVELED AFTER 12 sec.
ans. S total=232 m
A. Acceleration diagram
12 m/s^2

4 sec

0 8 sec

-11 m/s^2

VELOCITY AFTER 12 SEC

( )
V= − ( )
= 4 m/s
B. Velocity diagram

V2=48
V=26
V=4

V1=0 8 10 12

DISTANCE TRAVELLED AFTER 10 sec.

V2 =8(12)/2 =48 m/s
V10 = 48-2(11) = 26 m/s
S = 48(8)/3 +(48+26)(2)/2 = 202 m
c.
V2=48
V=26
V=4

V1=0 8 10 12

DISTANCE TRAVELED AFTER 12 sec

S3 = 48(8)/3 +(48+4)(4)/2 = 232 m
Distance diagram

S3
S2

S1
2. A CAR THAT IS INITIALLY AT REST ACCELERATES
ALONG A STRAIGHT LEVEL ROAD ACCORDING TO
THE GIVEN DIAGRAM SHOWN.
3.6
A.DETERMINE THE MAX. SPEED ,
ans. 36 m/s
B.. DETERMINE THE DISTANCE
TRAVELLED BY THE CAR WHEN
THE MAX SPEED IS REACHED, 0 20
ans.= 480 m
C.DETERMINE THE VELOCITY AFTER
10 sec. , ans= 27 m/s
 3.6
A. VELOCITY = AREA OF ACCELERATION DIAGRAM

V= 3.6 (20)/2 = 36 m/s

0 20

36
B. DISTANCE = AREA OF VELOCITY DIAGRAM

S = (2/3 ) (36)(20) = 480 m

0 20
 3.6
C. VELOCITY AFTER 10 sec.
1.8
V = (3.6 +1.8)*10/2
= 27 m/s
0 10 20

36

0 10 20