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KINEMATICS II

DISPLACEMENT – TIME GRAPH

A displacement – time graph is a plot displacement (on the y – axis) against time (on the x
– axis) as shown in the graph below.

displacement
(m)

time/(s)

i) The shape of a displacement – time graph can be used to describe the motion
of the body.
ii) A Straight horizontal line on a displacement – time graph means ‘the body is
at rest or it is stationary’.
iii) A Straight line on a displacement – time graph means ‘that the body is
moving with constant velocity.
iv) A Curve displacement – time graph means ‘the body is either accelerating or
decelerating.
v) If the slope of a curved displacement – time graph is increasing ‘the body is
accelerating’, and if the slope of curve displacement – time graph is
decreasing ‘the body is decelerating’.

displacement displacement

time (s) time (s)

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Example 1. Describe the motion of the bodies depicted in the displacement – time graphs
below.

displacement (m) displacement (m) displacement (m)

a) time (s) b) time (s) c) time (s)

Graph a) denotes/shows ‘a body that is not moving’ (i.e. the body is at rest or stationary).

Graph b) denotes/shows ‘a body that is moving with a constant/uniform velocity’

Graph c) denotes/shows ‘a body that is accelerating’.

Example 2. Describe the motion of the body denoted/depicted in the displacement – time
graph below.

displacement s (m)
stage 1: moving with constant velocity
stage 2: body decelerating
stage 3: body at rest (or stationary)
stage 4: body accelerating.
stage 5: moving with constant velocity

stage 1 stage 2 stage 3 stage 4 stage 5 time t (s)

Question 1. Describe the motion of the body/object depicted in the displacement –

time graph below:
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Displacement vs Time for a Cart

C D
C
B E
B

A
Time (s)

A – B shows an object/body undergoing acceleration [1]

B – C shows an object/body undergoing constant/uniform velocity [1]

C – D shows an object/body at rest or stationary [1]

D – E shows an object/body undergoing deceleration [1]

Question 2 Describe the motion of the body/object depicted in the following

displacement – time graph below between the time intervals outlined.

displacement
(m)

0 2 4 6
time (s)

i) 0 – 2 seconds shows an object/body at rest or stationary. [1]

ii) 2 – 4 seconds shows an object/body undergoing acceleration. [1]

iii) 4 – 6 seconds shows an object/body undergoing a constant/uniform

increase in velocity. [1]
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Displacement s
(m)

0
5 10 15 time t (s)
–1

–2

–3

–4

Question 3 a) Describe the motion of the body/object depicted above in the

displacement – time graph for each of the five seconds intervals
outlined.

i) 0 – 5 s shows an object/body undergoing constant/uniform increase in velocity

[1]

ii) 5 – 10 s shows an object/body undergoing [1]

iii) 10 – 15 s shows an object/body undergoing constant/uniform decrease in

velocity. [1]

b) Calculate the velocity in the 1st 5 seconds. [2]

s=4m v=? t=5s

Using v = s = 4 m = 0.8 ms-1

t 5s
Question 4
A boy walks at a velocity of 3 ms-1 along a street for 50 s suddenly he remembers that he
has to buy something at a shop that he passed by, so he returns around and walks at a
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velocity of 2ms-1 for 10 s. He then stops for 30 s at the shop and finally walks forward
again at 2 ms-1 for another 20 s. Plot a displacement – time graph for the motion of the
boy.

Stage 1 : s1 = ? v1 = 3 ms-1 t1 = 50 s

Using s1 = v1 × t1 = 3 ms-1 ×50 s = 150 m

Stage 2 : s2 = ? v2 = 2 ms-1 t2 = 10 s

Using s2 = v2 × t2 = 2 ms-1 × 10 s = 20 m

Stage 3 : s3 = ? v3 = 0 ms-1 t3 = 30 s

Using s3 = v3 × t3 = 0 ms-1 × 30 s = 0 m

Stage 4 : s4 = ? v4 = 2 ms-1 t4 = 20 s

Using s4 = v4 × t4 = 2 ms-1 × 20 s = 40 m

displacement s
(m)

160

140

120

100

210

190

170

150

0 time t
(s)
50 70 90 100 110 100 110
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VELOCITY – TIME GRAPHS

A velocity – time graph is a plot velocity (on the y – axis) against time (on the x – axis) as
shown in the graph below.

velocity v,
(ms-1)

0
time t, (s)
Describing motion using the velocity – time graph

i) A straight horizontal line suggest constant velocity (hence no acceleration) since

the body is neither speeding up nor slowing down.

ii) A straight line that shows an increase in velocity over a specified time means ‘the
body/object is accelerating uniformly.

iii) A straight line that shows a decrease in velocity over a specified time means ‘the
body/object is decelerating uniformly.

iv) A Curve with a +ve slope (gradient) shows a non-uniform acceleration.

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v) A Curve with a –ve slope (gradient) shows a non- uniform deceleration.

Calculating the velocity of a body from the displacement – time graph

The velocity of a body/object can be easily be calculated from the displacement – time
graph by calculating the gradient or slope of the line
y
(x2 y2)

rise Δy = y2 – y1

(x1, y1)
Δx = x2 – x1
shift
x

delta Δ is the symbol which means ‘change in’ or ‘change of ’.

Slope (gradient) = vertical rise = y2 – y1 = Δy

Horizontal shift x2 – x1 Δx

Question 1. Find the velocity of the body represented by the displacement – time graph
below:

displacement s
(m)

25

20

15 (20,15)

10

0 time t (s)
5 10 15 20 25 30

s = 15 m t = 20 s v=?

Using v = s = 15 m = 0.75 ms-1

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t 20 s
displacement s (m)

75

60

45

30

15

time (s)
0 5 10 15 20

Question 2. From the displacement – time graph above

a) Calculate the velocity during the first 5 seconds of the journey. [2]
s1 = 0 m s2 = 60 m v=?
t1 = 0 s t2 = 5 s

Using v = s2 – s1 = 60 – 0 m = 12 ms-1
t2 – t1 (5 – 0 ) s

b) Calculate the velocity during the last 5 seconds of the journey. [2]
s1 = 60 m s2 = 0 m v=?
t1 = 10 s t2 = 15 s

Using v = s2 – s1 = 0 – 60 m = –12 ms-1

t2 – t1 (15–10) s

c) For how long was the body/object stationary (at rest)? t2 – t1 = (10–5) s = 5 s [1]

Velocity ms-1
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Question 2. With respect to the velocity – time graph above.

a) What is the maximum velocity?--------------------------------------------------[1]

b) For how long was there a constant velocity? -----------------------------------[1]

c) Calculate the object’s acceleration. [2]

d) Calculate the object’s deceleration. [2]

e) Calculate the total distance travelled by the object. [2]

Question 3. velocity – time graph of an object.

v ms-1
4

0
0 4 8 12 16 t (s)

With respect to the velocity – time graph above:

a) What is the maximum velocity? 8 ms-1 [1]

b) For how long was there a constant velocity? t2 – t1 = (10 – 2)s = 8 s[1]

c) Calculate the object’s acceleration. [2]

a = ?
u = 0 ms-1
v = 8 ms-1
t=2s

Using a = v – u = (8 – 0)ms-1 = 8 ms-1 = 4 ms-2

t 2s 2s

d) Calculate the object’s deceleration. [2]

a = ?
u = 8 ms-1
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v = 4 ms-1
t=2s
Using a = v – u = (4 – 8)ms-1 = – 4 ms-1 = – 2 ms-2
t 2s 2s

e) Calculate the distance travelled by the object in the first 10 seconds. [2]

Distance travelled in first 10 s = Area of triangle A + Area of square

= ½ × b × h + l2
= ½ (2 s) × (8 ms-1) + (8 s × 8 ms-1)
= 8 m + 64 m = 72 m

Question 4. A car starts from rest and reaches a velocity of 10 ms-1 in 4 s. It continues
with this velocity for a further 20 s and then comes to rest in a further 5 s.

a) Draw a velocity – time graph to show the information. [3]

velocity (ms-1)

15

10

time (s)
0 20 40 60 80

b) Calculate the object’s acceleration. [2]

a = ?
u = 0 ms-1
v = 10 ms-1
t=4s
Using a = v – u = (10 – 0)ms-1 = 10 ms-1 = 2.5 ms-2
t 4s 4s

c) Calculate the object’s deceleration. [2]

a = ?
u = 10 ms-1
v = 0 ms-1
t=5s
Using a = v – u = (0 – 10)ms-1 = –10 ms-1 = – 2 ms-2
t 5s 5s

d) Calculate the total distance travelled by the object. [2]

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Stage 1 : t1 = 4 s v1 = 10 ms-1 s = ?

Using s1 = v × t = 10 ms-1 × 4 s = 40 m

Stage 2 : t2 = 20 s v2 = 10 ms-1 s = ?

Using s2 = v × t = 10 ms-1 × 20 s = 200 m

Stage 3 : t3 = 5 s v3 = 10 ms-1 s = ?

Using s3 = v × t = 10 ms-1 × 5 s = 50 m

Total distance travelled s = s1 + s2 + s3 = (40 + 200 + 50) m = 290 m

Velocity – time graph

-1
Velocity (ms )

60

50

40

30
constant speed increasing acceleration
20
deceleration
10 acceleration

time (s)
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

What information can one obtain from a velocity – time graph.

i) the maximum velocity reached/attained by an body/object.

ii) The acceleration or deceleration of a body/object – (i.e. by finding the
gradient of the line.

iii) The total distance travelled by a body/object – (i.e. by calculating the area
under the graph itself)

Question 1. Velocity – time graph for a body/object.

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5.0 C

v (ms-1)
A
1.0 B

2.0 10.0
t (s)

a) Describe the motion of the body/object between the following points

i) A – B constant/uniform velocity [2]

ii) B – C shows an object/body undergoing contant/uniform acceleration. [2]

b) What is the maximum velocity? 6 ms-1 [1]

c) Calculate the acceleration of the body/object. [3]

a = ?
u = 3.5 ms-1
v = 6 ms-1
t = (14 – 6) = 8 s

Using a = v – u = (6 – 3.5) ms-1 = 2.5 ms-1 = 0.3125 ms-2

t 8s 8s

d) Calculate the total distance travelled by the body/object. [3]

Question 2
Velocity (ms-1)

3 B C

A D time (s)
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0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

a) Describe the motion of the body/object between the following points

i) A – B shows an object/body undergoing constant/uniform acceleration. [2]

ii) B – C shows an object/body with a constant velocity. [2]

iii) C – D shows an object/body undergoing constant/uniform deceleration. [2]

b) What is the maximum velocity? 3 ms-1 [1]

c) For how long was there a constant velocity? t1 – t2 = (5 – 2) s = 3 s [1]

d) Calculate the acceleration of the body/object. [3]

a = ?
u = 0 ms-1
v = 3 ms-1
t=2s

Using a = v – u = (3 – 0) ms-1 = 3 ms-1 = 1.5 ms-2

t 2s 2s

e) Calculate the total distance travelled by the body/object. [3]

Total distance travelled = Area of triangle A + A of Square + A of Triangle B

= ½ × b × h + l2 + ½ × b × h
= ½ (2 s) × (3 ms-1) + (3 s × 3 ms-1) + ½ (3 s) × (3 ms-1)
= 3 m + 9 m + 4.5 m = 16.5 m
Total distance travelled s = (6 + 9 + 9) m = 16.5 m
OR
= A of Trapezium
= ½ (a + b)h = ½ (8 s + 3 s) × 3 ms-1 = 16.5 m
Total distance travelled s = (6 + 9 + 9) m = 16.5 m

Question 5.
A car starting from rest with a uniform acceleration reaches a velocity of 10 ms -1 in
10 s and travel with this same velocity for half of a minute. It then decelerates
steadily and comes to rest in a further 20 s.

a) Draw a velocity –time graph for the journey. [3]

b) Calculate the acceleration of the car. [2]

c) Calculate the deceleration of the car. [2]

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d) Calculate the distance travelled by the car during the time when it had a constant
velocity. [2]

e) Calculate the total distance travelled by the car. [3]

Question 6.
A Bus starts from rest and accelerates at a rate of 3 ms-2 for 5 s. It travels at a constant
speed for a further 10 s and then comes to a halt(stop) in a further 3 s.

a) Draw a velocity – time graph to depict the motion of the Bus. [3]

b) Calculate the deceleration of the Bus. [2]

c) Calculate the total distance travelled by the Bus. [3]

Question 7.
A Bus starts from rest and accelerates uniformly at a rate of 2 ms-2 for 6 s. It then
maintains a constant speed for ½ minute. The brakes were then applied and the
vehicle retarded to rest in a further 5 seconds.

a) Draw a velocity –time graph to depict the motion of the Bus. [3]

b) Calculate the deceleration of the Bus. [2]

c) Calculate the total distance travelled by the Bus. [3]

Question 8. Sheldon is driving through town at 25.0 ms-1 and begins to decelerate at a
constant rate of 1.0 ms-2. Eventually Sheldon comes to a complete stop.
Depict Sheldon’s accelerated motion by sketching a velocity – time graph. Use the
velocity – time graph to determine the distance travelled while decelerating. [4]

Question 9. Rev. M . Lewis is driving his car at 25.0 ms-1. He accelerates at 2.0 ms-2
for 5 s. He then maintains this constant velocity for 10 s more.
Denote the 15 s of his motion by sketching a velocity – time graph. Use the graph to
determine the distance he travelled during the entire 15 s. [4]