How do you determine the speed or velocity of an object using a distance vs. time graph

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Jewels

Physics

10 January, 00:57

How do you determine the speed or velocity of an object using a distance vs. time graph

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Layne Braun · Answer 1

The speed of an object can be determined from the distance vs time graph.

You know that speed = distance/time

in the graph, distance/time = slope of the curve.

So SPEED IS GIVEN BY THE SLOPE of the curve in the graph.

● If the distance vs time curve is a straight line, parallel to time axis (x-axis), slope is 0. That means speed is 0. So the object is at rest.

● If the distance vs time curve is a straight line, with some non-zero slope; That means speed is nonzero and constant. So the object is in uniform motion.

● If the distance vs time curve is a curved, the slope is changing. That means speed is changing. So the object is in an accelerated motion.