Linear Motion of Objects on

Distance-Time Graphs
 Distance vs. Time Graphs
• Distance vs. time graphs tell you how far
something has traveled in a certain time.
Object at Rest
y-axis has the dependent variable
3.50
3.00
2.50
2.00
1.50
1.00
distance (meters)
0.50
0.00
0.00 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00 6.00
time (seconds)

x-axis has the independent variable

 Object at Rest
• The graph for
Object at Rest
an object at rest
3.50
is flat. 3.00

• After each time 2.50

2.00

the object is at 1.50

1.00
the same distance (meters)
0.50

distance 0.00
0.00 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00 6.00
meaning it has time (seconds)

not moved.
 Constant Speed
• An object at a Constant Speed
constant speed 16.00
is a diagonal 14.00

straight line. 12.00

10.00
• The distance 8.00
6.00
increases the 4.00
distance (meters)
same amount 2.00
0.00
from point to 0.00 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00 6.00
point. time (seconds)
 Accelerating Object (Speeding Up)
• The shape of the Accelerating Object

graph for an 200.00

accelerating object 150.00

is curved. 100.00

• The object covers 50.00

distance (meters)

more and more 0.00

distance between 0.00 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00

time (seconds)
5.00 6.00 7.00

each point if it is
speeding up.
 Negative Acceleration (Slowing Down)
• For an object Negative acceleration
with negative 200.00
acceleration the 180.00
160.00
graph is curved 140.00
120.00
and is getting 100.00
80.00
flatter. 60.00
40.00 (meters)
distance
• The object goes 20.00
0.00
less distance 0.00 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00 6.00 7.00
time (seconds)
from point to
point.
 Comparision of Speed
• When Comparison of Speed
comparing
16
speed, the line 14
with the steeper 12
10
slope has a 8
greater speed. 6
4
• A line with a distance (meters)
2

greater slope 0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
covers more time (seconds)

distance from
point to point.
 Acceleration Comparison
• When
comparing
A c c e l e r a t i o n C o m p a r i s o n

acceleration, 3 5 0 . 0 0

the line that is 3 0 0 . 0 0

curved the
2 5 0 . 0 0

2 0 0 . 0 0 S e r ie s 1

most has the 1 5 0 . 0 0 S e r ie s 2

greatest 1 0 0 . 0 0

distance (meters)

acceleration.
5 0 . 0 0

0 . 0 0

• A line that is 0 . 0 0 2 . 0 0 4 . 0 0 6 . 0 0 8 . 0 0

curved more
t i m e ( s e c o n d s )

covers more
distance from
point to point.
 Displacement Graphs
• Displacement graphs show displacement vs.
time.
• Displacement graphs tell you about traveling
in different directions.
• A positive slope is traveling away from the
start.
• A negative slope is traveling back to the start.
• A flat line is an object that is not moving.
 Direction Comparison
• A displacement of
0 is equal to the
where you started D i r e c t i o n C o m p a r i s o n

from. 6 0 .0 0

• Each point tells 5 0 .0 0

you how far you 4 0 .0 0

are from where 3 0 .0 0

S e r i e s 2

you started.
S e r i e s 1

2 0 .0 0

• At 4 hours the 1 0 .0 0

object represented
displacement (kilometers)

0 .0 0

by the square
0 . 0 0 1 .0 0 2 . 0 0 3 . 0 0 4 .0 0 5 . 0 0 6 .0 0

t im e ( h o u r s )

turned around and

went back to the Change of direction
starting point.
 S t o r y g r a p h

2 0 0

1 8 0

1 6 0

S e r ie s 1
1 4 0

S e r ie s 2

1 2 0
S e r ie s 3

1 0 0 S e r ie s 4

S e r ie s 5
8 0

S e r ie s 6

6 0
S e r ie s 7
displacement (no units)
4 0

2 0

0 2 0 4 0 6 0 8 0 1 0 0 1 2 0 1 4 0

t im e ( m in u t e s )
 Story Graph Explanation
• At first the object is traveling at a fairly constant velocity, away
from the starting point. (Series 1)
• Then it turns and goes at a constant velocity back towards the
starting position. (Series 2)
• It changes directions again and goes away from the starting point at
about the original constant velocity. (Series 3)
• From about 55 minutes to 75 minutes it moves at a slower constant
velocity. (Series 4)
• From about 75 minutes to about 85 minutes the object does not
move. (Series 5)
• From about 85 to 110 minutes it accelerates in a positive direction.
(Series 6)
• From about 95 minutes until about 110 minutes its velocity is about
the same as the original velocity and fairly constant. (Series 7)