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Home Concept Builders 1D Kinematics Velocity-Time Graphs Help Help 5

Velocity-Time Graphs - Questions 5 Help

The shape of a velocity-time graph reveals much information about the motion of an object. Whether the line is horizontal or sloped and where the line is located reveals information about the manner in which the object is moving. Learn more in the How to Think About This Situation section.

There are three similar versions of this question. Each includes three velocity-time graphs and an object that is changing its velocity or accelerating.
 

Version 1:

The velocity-time graphs represent the motion of three different objects. Identify any object that is changing its velocity or accelerating. Tap on all that apply.
 

There are three velocity-time graphs. You must choose which is /are representative of a changing velocity or accelerated motion. The way to think about these graphs is described below.

Velocity-Time Graphs: A horizontal line on a velocity-time graph is an indication of a constant velocity motion. And a sloped line (whether straight or curved) is an indication of a changing velocity motion. Lines that are heading away from the time axis represent speeding up motions. And lines that are approaching the time axis represent slowing down motions.

Don't Be Confused: The slope of the line on a velocity-time graph reveals information about the acceleration of the object. A line with zero slope is a line representing zero acceleration. A line with a slope is a line representing an accelerating object. If the line is straight and diagonal, then the acceleration is a constant value - maybe 4 m/s/s. This would mean the velocity is changing by an amount of 4 m/s every second. If the line is sloped and curved, then there is an acceleration but not a constant acceleration.

The following pages from The Physics Classroom Tutorial may provide additional background information and help with the topics in this Concept Builder:

Meaning of Shape for a v-t Graph

Meaning of Slope for a v-t Graph

Relating the Shape to the Motion for a v-t Graph

Concept Builder Teacher Notes Directions