Graph Skills

y The gradient (slope) of a straight line graph is y2 constant and can be found by taking the coordinates between any y1 two points. The gradient of a curve changes continually. y -y Grad = y = 2 1 x x2 - x1 2 (x2;y2) y 1(x1,y1) x1 x x 2 (x2;y2) y 1(x1,y1) x x

y = y2 - y1 Gradat x = x x2 - x1

At any point the gradient is found by taking the gradient of a tangent to the curve at that point.

SKETCH GRAPHS - Constant Velocity

1 ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 . . . . . . . . .. . ....
time/(s) S1 S2 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Displacement increases by same amount in equal time intervals.

VELOCITY - TIME Graph v/(m/s)

DISPLACEMENT - TIME Graph s/(m)

.s

.
1

.s
t2

GRADIENT = velocity
2

AREA = displacement t/(s) t/(s)

t1

The gradient of the DISPLACEMENT vs TIME graph equals the velocity of the object.
(at any point)

The area between any two points on the VELOCITY - TIME graph equals the objects displacement between the two points.

SKETCH GRAPHS - Constant ACCELERATION

.... . .
time/(s)

1.

2.

S1 S2 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Displacement increases by (uniformly ) increasing amounts in equal time intervals.

DISPLACEMENT - TIME
s/(m)

v VELOCITY - TIME
(m/s)

ACCELERATION - TIME a (m/s2)

GRAD = v

GRAD = a

s1
t1

s2
t2 t/(s)
t/(s) t t/(s)

The gradient of the displacement vs time graph (tangent - at any point) gives the velocity of the object at that point.

The gradient of the velocity vs time graph (at any point) gives the acceleration of the object.

CONSTANT ACCELERATION - Summary

1

-- - - - -

-->

DISPLACEMENT - TIME s/(m)

VELOCITY - TIME

(m/s)

2
GRAD = v

ACCELERATION - TIME a (m/s2)

GRAD = a

.
t1

AREA = s t/(s)
Gradient of the displacement vs time graph gives the velocity.

.
t/(s)
t2

AREA = v t/(s)t2

t1

AREA of the acceleration vs time graph gives the average velocity. Gradient of the velocity vs time graph gives the acceleration of the object.

AREA under the VELOCITY vs time graph gives the displacement.

Consider the situation when an object is thrown vertically upwards and returns to the throwers hand. Take upwards as positive.
Draw the various sketch graphs associated with this particular motion.

Displacement/time

s
t v
Velocity/time

s
Distance/time

Speed/time

t
Acceleration/time

+ a -

Vertical motion

Consider the situation when an object is dropped vertically down, bounces (elastically) and returns to the throwers hand.
Take upwards as positive. Draw the various sketch graphs associated with this particular motion.

Displacement/time

s
t v
Velocity/time

s
Distance/time

Speed/time

t
Acceleration/time

+ a -

Vertical motion