Distance vs Time Graphs

Distance is the measure of path that is traveled. We calculate distance in terms of kilometers, meters,
centimeters etc.

Time is the measure of how long it took and it is measured in days, hours, minutes and seconds.

The units of distance and time are convertible.

A distance vs time graph is the graph that is made up with distance on y coordinate axis and time on x
coordinate axis. This graph simply measures the distance between two particular objects. Many a times
we use a distance – time graph to indicate the journey made by someone from a place to another and
then getting back to original place from where the journey was started.

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Slope of Distance Time Graph

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The slope of the distance time graph represents the speed of the object or the person.

Slope is defined as the ratio of the change in y coordinates to the corresponding change in x coordinates.
So here we can say the slope of the distance time graph will be change in position divided by the
corresponding change in time, which represents speed of an object.

In this case the slope of the graph or the speed is (20–10)(2–1)(20–10)(2–1) = 10 m/s.
Constant Velocity Graph
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Velocity is the measurement of rate of change of the position of the object or a person, that is, how fast
the position is changing with respective change in time. It is measured in m/s, or km/h or miles per hour
(mph). Constant velocity means there is no change in position with change is time, or in other words the
difference of velocities at two instants of time is zero. When velocity is zero, the displacement - time graph
represents a horizontal line.

This implies that the object or a person is not moving from its original position with increase in time. Now
we know that acceleration is the rate of change of velocity.

In the given displacement time graph as the velocity is not changing, this means that acceleration is zero.

We can have two types of constant velocity apart from zero velocity that are, positive velocity and
negative velocity.

When the displacement is increasing in a positive direction with time then we say that velocity is positive
and constant.

This is represented in graph as below

The first figure represents constant positive velocity. The second one represents the same with the only
difference that the object or person is moving in negative region. Since the velocity is positive, therefore,
we can calculate acceleration at any instant and, it will be positive again.

The negative constant velocity is represented by the following graph.

The first figure represents constant negative velocity. The second one represents the same, the only
difference is that the object or person is moving in negative region. Here, the location of the position of
the object becomes less and less positive with change in time.

Since the velocity is negative, therefore, we can calculate acceleration at any instant of the object or
person which will be negative only.
Changing Velocity Graph
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When velocity varies with time, the graph of position/displacement time can never be a straight line. In
this case the graph will be a curve because with changing velocity with time, the displacement will also
vary. We will have graph something like below.

In this case also we will have positive and negative velocity and positive and negative acceleration
respectively. Since the velocity is changing with time therefore we calculate acceleration only at an
instant.

The first picture represents negative velocity as the position/displacement is decreasing with increasing
time. Thus, we have negative acceleration in this case. The second picture represents positive velocity as
the displacement at an instant is increasing with time. Thus, in this case we have positive acceleration.

In either case as the velocity is changing we cannot find a constant acceleration. We can only find
acceleration at a particular time or instant.

Thus we have two types of accelerations namely positive and negative no matter the velocity is constant
or changing. Acceleration depends on velocity and time while velocity depends on displacement and time
both.
It is to be noted that the slope of the displacement time graph represents velocity and with curved graph
of displacement time we will always have variable velocity which can only be calculated at an instant.
Speed vs Time Graphs

Related Topics

Physics Help Physics Tutor

 Distance vs Time Graphs

o Slope of Distance Time Graph
o Constant Velocity Graph
o Changing Velocity Graph
Related Concepts
distance vs time graph
acceleration vs time graph
Displacement vs Time Graph
Graph of Velocity vs Time
Distance Time Graph Animation
displacement vs distance
Distance Time Equation
Distance Time Formula

Related Formulas
Distance Speed and Time Formula
distance time and speed formula
Distance Traveled

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Distance and Time Calculator
battery life time calculation
Free Fall Time Calculator
Acceleration Calculator Distance

Related Worksheets
Distance Rate Time Worksheet
Time Worksheet
Elapsed Time Worksheet
Tell Time Worksheet
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