Session 3 (one more time!) - Graphs of Motion

An object's motion can be represented on graphs:

x vs. t

v vs. t

a vs. t

For a non-moving object, all 3 graphs resemble horizontal lines.

For an object moving with constant velocity:

the x vs. t graph is linear - that is, the displacement increases by the same amount each time interval.

For an object moving with constant acceleration, the displacement increases exponentially with respect to time.

See image above.

The slope of an x vs. t graph will give the velocity. Of course, if the graph is a curve, things are a bit complicated. You could take a tangent line to a particular point on the curve - then take the slope of the tangent line to get the instantaneous velocity at that point.

The slope of a v vs. t graph will give the acceleration.