Converting a d-t Graph to a v-t Graph

1. Mark each point on the d-t graph where the slope of the graph changes (these are actually
points where the velocity of the object changes).

2. Determine the slope (velocity) of the d-t graph for each straight line segment.

3. Draw v-t axes beneath the d-t graph and make the time axis the same as the one on the d-t
graph.

4. Draw vertical lines (lightly) from each marked point down to the v-t graph.

5. During each segment where the velocity is constant, draw a horizontal line in the
corresponding segment on the v-t graph.

6. Join the line segments you have drawn by connecting their endpoints with straight lines
(either vertical or sloped).

Example 1

2
Position (m)

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

-1

-2

-3

-4

Time (s)

1.5

1
Velocity (m/s)

0.5

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

-0.5

-1

-1.5

-2

Time (s)

PH30S Mr. Smith

 Converting a v-t Graph to a d-t Graph

1. Divide the area under the v-t graph into a series of sections with defined areas (triangles and
rectangles).

2. Calculate or estimate the area (displacement) of each section of the v-t graph, noting in
particular whether it is positive or negative.

3. Draw d-t axes beneath the v-t graph and make the time axis the same as the one on the v-t
graph.

4. Mark the points on the v-t graph at the end of each section, indicating whether the motion is
positive or negative.

5. Draw vertical lines (lightly) from each marked point down to the d-t graph.

6. Mark the value of the displacement for each point at the corresponding time on the d-t graph.

7. Join the points, and check that the lines match the motion.

PH30S Mr. Smith

Example 2

2
Velocity (m/s)

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

-1

-2

-3

-4

Time (s)

14

13

12

11

10

6
Position (m)

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
-1

-2

-3

-4

-5

-6

Time (s)

PH30S Mr. Smith

PH30S Mr. Smith
 Worksheet

1. Convert the following velocity-time graph into the corresponding position-time graph.

2
Velocity (m/s)

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

-1

-2

-3

-4

Time (s)

20

19

18

17

16

15

14

13

12
Position (m)

11

10

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Time (s)

PH30S Mr. Smith

2. Convert the following position-time graph into the corresponding velocity-time graph.

2
Position (m)

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

-1

-2

-3

-4

Time (s)

1.75

1.5

1.25

0.75

0.5
Velocity (m/s)

0.25

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
-0.25

-0.5

-0.75

-1

-1.25

-1.5

-1.75

-2

Time (s)

PH30S Mr. Smith

3. Convert the following position-time graph into the corresponding velocity-time graph.

25

24

23

22

21

20

19

18

17

16

15
Position (m)

14

13

12

11

10

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

Time (s)

1.5

1
Velocity (m/s)

0.5

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

-0.5

-1

-1.5

-2

Time (s)

PH30S Mr. Smith

4. Convert the following velocity-time graph into the corresponding position-time graph.

2
Velocity (m/s)

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

-1

-2

-3

Time (s)

30
29
28
27
26
25
24
23
22
21
20
19
18
Position (m)

17
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

Time (s)

PH30S Mr. Smith