Position vs Time Graphs

Position vs Time Graphs Reading Position vs Time Graphs Think about it Look at the Axes Titles First! What does the graph say about the object’s motion? Practice

Position-Time Graphs 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 position (cm) time (s)

Position vs. Time Graphs x-axis: Time y-axis: Position slope = Velocity horizontal line: at rest straight line: constant velocity positive slope = positive velocity negative slope = negative velocity curved line: changing velocity

Position-Time Graphs The slope of a P-T graph is equal to the object’s velocity in that segment. slope = change in y change in x time (s) position (m) 10 20 30 40 50 slope = (30 m – 10 m) (30 s – 0 s) slope = (20 m) (30 s) slope = 0.67 m/s

Position vs. Time Graphs Determine the velocity from each of the above graphs. Which graph has a greater speed, the top right graph or bottom left graph?

Position vs. Time Graphs What is happening to the velocity of an object whose position-time graph looks like this? What is this object doing?

Position-Time Graphs The following P-T graph corresponds to an object moving back and forth along a straight path. Can you describe its movement based on the graph? time (s) position (m) N S