Graphing Motion

Graphing Motion
Graphing Motion in One Dimension

Interpret graphs of position versus time for
a moving object to determine the velocity
of the object
Describe in words the information
presented in graphs and draw graphs from
descriptions of motion
Write equations that describe the position
of an object moving at constant velocity
Parts of a
Graph
X-axis
Y-axis
All
axes must be labeled with

appropriate units, and values.
Position vs. Time

The x-axis is always
time
The y-axis is always
position
The slope of the line
indicates the velocity
of the object.
Slope = (y2-y1)/(x2-x1)
d1-d0/t1-t0
d/t
Uniform Motion
Uniform
motion is when the velocity of

an object does not change
Straight lines on position-time graphs
mean uniform motion.
Given below is a diagram of a ball rolling along a table. Strobe

pictures reveal the position of the object at regular intervals of time,
in this case, once each 0.1 seconds.
Notice that the ball covers an equal distance between flashes. Let's assume this
distance equals 20 cm and display the ball's behavior on a graph plotting its xposition versus time.
The slope of this line would equal 20 cm divided by 0.1 sec or 200 cm/sec. This
represents the ball's average velocity as it moves across the table. Since the
ball is moving in a positive direction its velocity is positive. That is, the ball's
velocity is a vector quantity possessing both magnitude (200 cm/sec) and
direction (positive).
Steepness of slope on PositionTime graph

Slope
is related to velocity
Steep slope = higher
velocity
Shallow slope = less
velocity
Different Position. Vs. Time graphs

Uniform Motion
Constant positive velocity

(zero acceleration)
Constant negative velocity

(zero acceleration)
Accelerated
Motion
Increasing positive velocity

(positive acceleration)
Decreasing negative velocity

(positive acceleration)
Different Position. Vs. Time

Changing slope means changing velocity!!!!!!
Decreasing negative slope = ??
Increasing negative slope = ??
X
B
A
t
C
A Starts at home (origin) and goes forward
slowly
B Not moving (position remains constant as time
progresses)
C Turns around and goes in the other direction
quickly,
passing up home
During which intervals was he traveling in a positive direction?

During which intervals was he traveling in a negative direction?
During which interval was he resting in a negative location?
During which interval was he resting in a positive location?
During which two intervals did he travel at the same speed?
A) 2-5 s, 6-7 s B) 9-11 s C) 0-2 s D)7-9 s E) 6-7 s and 9-11 s, also 0-2 s and 5-6 s
and 7-9 s
Graphing w/
Acceleration
t
A Start from rest south of home; increase speed gradually

B Pass home; gradually slow to a stop (still moving north)
C Turn around; gradually speed back up again heading south
D Continue heading south; gradually slow to a stop near the
starting point
Tangent
Lines
On a position vs. time graph:

SLOPE
VELOCITY
SLOPE
SPEED
Positive
Positive
Steep
Fast
Negative
Negative
Gentle
Slow
Zero
Zero
Flat
Zero
Increasing &
Decreasing
Increasing
Decreasing

Increasing means moving forward (positive direction).
Decreasing means moving backwards (negative direction).
Concavity
t

Concave up means positive acceleration.
Concave down means negative acceleration.
Graphing Velocity in One

Dimension
Determine, from a graph of velocity versus
time, the velocity of an object at a specific
time
Interpret a v-t graph to find the time at
which an object has a specific velocity
Velocity vs. Time

X-axis is the
time
Y-axis is the
velocity
Slope of the
line = the
acceleration
Different Velocity-time graphs
Different Velocity-time graphs
Velocity vs. Time

Horizontal lines = constant velocity
Sloped line = changing velocity
Steeper
= greater change in velocity per
second
Negative slope = deceleration
Acceleration vs. Time

Time is on the x-axis
Acceleration is on the
y-axis
Shows how
acceleration changes
over a period of time.
Often a horizontal
line.
All 3 Graphs
t
v
t
a
t
Real life
Note how the v graph is pointy and the a graph skips. In real life,
the blue points would be smooth curves and the orange segments
would be connected. In our class, however, well only deal with
constant acceleration.
v
t
a
t
Constant Rightward Velocity
Constant Leftward Velocity
Constant Rightward
Acceleration
Constant Leftward Acceleration
Leftward Velocity with

Rightward Acceleration
Graph Practice
Try making all three graphs for the following scenario:
1. Newberry starts out north of home. At time zero hes
driving a cement mixer south very fast at a constant speed.
2. He accidentally runs over an innocent moose crossing
the road, so he slows to a stop to check on the poor moose.
3. He pauses for a while until he determines the moose is
squashed flat and deader than a doornail.
4. Fleeing the scene of the crime, Newberry takes off again
in the same direction, speeding up quickly.
5. When his conscience gets the better of him, he slows,
turns around, and returns to the crash site.

Graphing Motion

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Graphing Motion

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Graphing Motion

Graphing Motion in One Dimension

axes must be labeled with

Position vs. Time

motion is when the velocity of

Given below is a diagram of a ball rolling along a table. Strobe

Steepness of slope on PositionTime graph

Different Position. Vs. Time graphs

Constant positive velocity

Constant negative velocity

Increasing positive velocity

Decreasing negative velocity

Different Position. Vs. Time

Decreasing negative slope = ??

Increasing negative slope = ??

During which intervals was he traveling in a positive direction?

A Start from rest south of home; increase speed gradually

On a position vs. time graph:

On a position vs. time graph:

On a position vs. time graph:

Graphing Velocity in One

Velocity vs. Time

Different Velocity-time graphs

Different Velocity-time graphs

Velocity vs. Time

= greater change in velocity per

Acceleration vs. Time

Constant Rightward Velocity

Constant Leftward Velocity

Constant Leftward Acceleration

Leftward Velocity with

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