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Assume time = horizontal (x) axis, and velocity = vertical (y) axis. (Actually we should call it 'speed', since the graph conveys no information about the direction of the motion, only the speed. Similarly, the distance we'll find won't tell you how far from the starting point you wound up, only how much road or track you covered.) On the graph, there is some straight or wavy line representing your speed at every instant. -- Pick the starting time and ending time of the interval you're interested in. Draw vertical lines on the graph at the starting and ending times, long enough to cut the wavy line that represents the speed function. -- From the value of the function at the start-time, (the point where the 'start' vertical line cuts the graph of the function), draw a horizontal line, all the way across, to the 'end' vertical line. -- Now you must measure the area of the space bounded by the speed graph and the three straight lines you have drawn. This is easier if the graph was drawn on paper that is marked off in a grid of small squares. There may be places where the function is below the horizontal line, as well as places where the function is above it. If so, list the area of the space where the function is below the horizontal line as a negativenumber. -- When you're done, add up all the positive and negative pieces of area you have measured. The result is the total distance that the moving object traveled during the time between the 'start' and 'end' lines.

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How can you get the speed of an object from its distance-time graph?

You can find the speed of an object from its distance-time graph by calculating the slope of the graph at a specific point. The slope represents the object's velocity at that particular moment. By determining the slope, you can find the speed of the object at that point on the graph.


What is the quantity which is measured by the area occupied below the velocity - time graph?

Distance travelled (displacement). Distance = velocity/time, so velocity * time = distance. Likewise, x = dv/dt so the integral of velocity with respect to time (area under the graph) is x, the distance travelled.


How to find the velocity of a position-time graph?

To find the velocity of a position-time graph, you calculate the slope of the graph at a specific point. The slope represents the rate of change of position with respect to time, which is the velocity. The steeper the slope, the greater the velocity.


How do you find the average speed from a velocity time graph?

To find the average speed from a velocity-time graph, calculate the total distance traveled and divide it by the total time taken. This will give you the average speed. Alternatively, you can find the slope of the secant line that connects the initial and final points on the graph to determine the average speed.


What do the graphs of distance vs. time and distance vs. time square suggest?

The graph of distance vs. time suggests constant velocity if it is a straight line, while a curve on the graph implies changing velocity. The graph of distance vs. time squared suggests acceleration, as a linear relationship implies constant acceleration.

Related Questions

When do two different distance-time graphs have matching velocity-time graphs?

Two different distance-time graphs have matching velocity-time graphs when the slope of the distance-time graph represents the velocity in the velocity-time graph, as velocity is the derivative of distance with respect to time. This means that the steeper the distance-time graph, the greater the velocity on the velocity-time graph at that point.


What is the difference between a velocity time graph and a position time graph?

Simply put, a velocity time graph is velocity (m/s) in the Y coordinate and time (s) in the X and a position time graph is distance (m) in the Y coordinate and time (s) in the X if you where to find the slope of a tangent on a distance time graph, it would give you the velocity whereas the slope on a velocity time graph would give you the acceleration.


How do you figure out the starting point of a distance vs time graph when given the velocity vs time graph and a function?

To find the starting point of a distance vs time graph from a velocity vs time graph and a function, you would integrate the velocity function to find the displacement function. The starting point of the distance vs time graph corresponds to the initial displacement obtained from the displaced function.


How do you go from a position graph to a velocity graph?

you can't....it's merely impossible! Assuming it is a graph of velocity vs time, it's not impossible, it's simple. Average velocity is total distance divided by total time. The total time is the difference between finish and start times, and the distance is the area under the graph between the graph and the time axis.


What does a zero velocity graph look like?

In a velocity-time graph it will be the time axis (where velocity = 0). On a distance-time graph it will be a line parallel to the time axis: distance = some constant (which may be 0).


Calculate distance from a velocity time graph?

The area between the graph and the x-axis is the distance moved. If the velocity is constant the v vs t graph is a straight horizontal line. The shape of the area under the graph is a rectangle. For constant velocity, distance = V * time. Time is the x-axis and velocity is the y-axis. If the object is accelerating, the velocity is increasing at a constant rate. The graph is a line whose slope equals the acceleration. The shape of the graph is a triangle. The area under the graph is ½ * base * height. The base is time, and the height is the velocity. If the initial velocity is 0, the average velocity is final velocity ÷ 2. Distance = average velocity * time. Distance = (final velocity ÷ 2) * time, time is on the x-axis, and velocity is on the y-axis. (final velocity ÷ 2) * time = ½ time * final velocity ...½ base * height = ½ time * final velocity Area under graph = distance moved Most velocity graphs are horizontal lines or sloping lines.


How is a distance time graph different from a velocity time graph?

A distance-time graph shows how an object's distance from a starting point changes over time, indicating its position at various moments. In contrast, a velocity-time graph displays how an object's velocity changes over time, revealing information about its speed and direction. While the distance-time graph's slope represents speed, the velocity-time graph's slope indicates acceleration. Thus, each graph provides distinct insights into an object's motion.


Why is the distance time graph a straight line for?

A straight line on a distance - time graph represents a "constant velocity".


How do you know there is no motion on a distance time-graph?

distance = velocity x time so on the graph velocity is slope. If slope is zero (horizontal line) there is no motion


How can you get the speed of an object from its distance-time graph?

You can find the speed of an object from its distance-time graph by calculating the slope of the graph at a specific point. The slope represents the object's velocity at that particular moment. By determining the slope, you can find the speed of the object at that point on the graph.


The slope of a line on a distance time graph?

Velocity.


What does the area of a velocity time graph gives?

Distance.