Mission KG5 Basics of Velocity-Time Graphs
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The velocity-time graph for an object with a constant negative acceleration would be a line ____.
Velocity versus time graphs represent changes that occur in an object's velocity with respect to time. The slope of the line is the acceleration (change in velocity divided by the change in time) of the object. The area under the line (between the line on the graph and the time axis) is the displacement of the object.
The slope of the line on a velocity-time graph reveals information about an object's acceleration. The slope is the acceleration; so "as the slope goes, so goes the acceleration." If the slope is 0 (as for a horizontal line), then the acceleration is 0 (i.e., the velocity is constant). If the slope is large, then the acceleration is large. If the slope is small, then the acceleration is small. If the slope is constant (as for a straight line), then the acceleration is constant. If the slope is changing (as for a curved line), then the acceleration is changing. If the slope is positive (sloping upward), then the acceleration is positive. If the slope is negative (sloping downward), then the acceleration is negative. As the slope goes, so goes the acceleration.
