Distance Time Graphs
The two variables that exist in graphing are the dependent variable and the independent variable The dependent variable is the factor that in an experiment that changes in response to the independent variable The independent variable is the factor in an experiment that is changed by the invesitgator
Graph the data for a cyclist On a distance time graph, time is usually the independent variable plotted on the x axis and distance is the dependent variable Graph the data for a cyclist Time (s) Distance (m) 1 10 2 20 3 30 4 40 5 50 6 60
The line of the graph is straight pointing upwards to the right The line of the graph is straight pointing upwards to the right. The dependent variable (distance) is increasing at a constant rate with the independent variable (time
Based on the information given calculate the speed :
Now calculate the slope of the line using the basic slope equation
What do you notice about the speed calculation and the slope calculation?
The rule for distance time graphs when calculating speed is that the slope of a line is equivalent to the speed of the object
Therefore, it makes logical sense that the steeper the slope of the line the greater the speed of the object.