GRAPHS OF

MOTION
Science 7
Ms. J. Galutera
Mr. L. Remos
 Objectives:
After accomplishing this module, I can:
 describe the components of the graphs of motion;
 analyze how objects move using graphs; and
 graph the motion of objects using different data.
Motion Diagrams

Motion diagrams contain

useful information about
an object’s position at
various times.
 Graphs
● are powerful tools in
interpreting the motion of an
object for an interval of time.
● are good way to show
relationship between two
variables.
 Graphs
● Drawing graphs is a very useful
means of presenting information -
and making it easily understood.
● A graph makes its easy to see if
changes in one variable cause
changes in the other variable (the
effect).
Four Ways to 1. Choose which will be the
Draw a dependent and independent
variables of the problem. The
Graph dependent variable goes on
the y-axis and the independent
variable goes on the x-axis. Do
not forget to label each axis,
How do we respectively.
graph?
 Remember!
● The independent variable is the
one that causes the change in the
dependent variable.

● The dependent variable is the

response to changes in the
independent variable.
Four Ways to 2. Make a scale for each axis by
Draw a counting boxes to fit your
largest value You can count
Graph by multiples of 1, 2, 5, or 10.

How do we
graph?
 3. Plot each point by finding the x-
Four Ways to value and y-value based on the

Draw a data of the problem.

Graph

How do we
graph?
 4. Draw a smooth curve/line that
Four Ways to shows the patters of the points.

Draw a Do not just connect the dots.

Graph

We call this
the
line of best
fit.
Reading the Graph:
 Position vs. Time
Graph
● As you see on the graph, x-axis
shows us time and y-axis show
position.
● We observe that position is
linearly increasing in positive
direction with the time.
Slope of a Graph
● is the steepness of a line.
● It is the ratio of the “rise”
(vertical change: y-axis) to
the “run” (horizontal
change: x-axis).
Position vs. Time Graphs
Slope of Position
vs. Time Graph
● In a position vs. time graph,
the slope is therefore a
distance/ displacement
divided by a time, which is
equal to speed/velocity.
Position vs. Time
Graphs
a) shows the graph for an
object stationary over a
period of time. The slope is
zero, so the object has zero
velocity/speed. The object is
not getting any farther away
from its starting point.
Position vs. Time
Graphs
b) You can see that the displacement
is increasing as time goes on. The
slope, however, stays constant so
the speed/velocity is constant.
● Here the slope is positive, so the
object is moving in the direction we
have defined as positive. This is
called uniform motion.
Position vs. Time
Graphs c) shows the graph for an object
moving at a constant
acceleration. You can see that
both the displacement and the
velocity (slope of the graph)
increase with time.
● The slope is increasing with time;
thus, the velocity is increasing
with time and the object is
accelerating.
 Reading the Graph:
A steeper line on a
position vs. time graph
means a faster speed.
 ed
a g ra p h b as
u ct
Constr given data.
Let’s Draw! onthe

Position vs. Time

Time (s) Position (m)
0.0 0.0
1.0 5.0
2.0 10.0
3.0 15.0
4.0 20.0
5.0 25.0

Don’t forget to label the x and

y axis!
 ing
r th e follow
Answe ns about the
questio aph.
gr
Let’s Analyze!
● What is the average speed of the
man for his travel?

● What is the man’s instantaneous speed at

2.0 seconds?
 Speed/Velocity ● We can benefit from this graph by two
ways. One of them is identifying the
vs. Time Graph displacement (area under the graph) and the
● In velocity vs. time graphs or speed vs. slope which gives the acceleration.
time graphs, x-axis is time, as in the case
of position vs. time graphs, and y-axis is
velocity/speed.
Speed/Velocity vs. Time Graphs
Speed/Velocity vs.
Time Graph
a) Shows the graph of an object
moving at a constant
speed or velocity. The
slope is zero, meaning it is
not accelerating.
Speed/Velocity vs.
Time Graph
b) Shows the graph of an object with
increasing speed/velocity.
The slope, however, stays
constant (straight line) so the
acceleration is constant. This
is called uniformly
accelerated motion.
Speed/Velocity vs.
Time Graph
c) Shows the graph of an object with
decreasing speed/velocity.
The slope is still constant since
the line is straight but pointing
downwards. The acceleration is
still constant; however, it is
negative.
 g
t h e f ollowin .
r ph
Answe bout the gra
n s a
questio
Let’s Analyze!
● At the first 10 s, what is the motion of
the object?

● What is the acceleration of the car between

10 s – 20 s?

● What is the acceleration of the car between

20 s – 30 s?

● What happened on the last 10 seconds of

the object’s motion?
Reading the Graph: