DISTANCE-TIME GRAPHS
The steepness of a distance-time graph represents the speed. A horizontal line shows that the speed is zero. time distance The steeper the line is, the greater the speed. A straight line shows that the speed is constant (steady).
Example 1 150 distance from home (km) 100 50 75 time (t hours) 1 1 2 3 4 5 The distance-time graph shows the journey of a car. a Calculate the speed of the car during the first hour of the journey.
Example 150 distance from home (km) 100 50 1.5 50 time (t hours) 1 2 3 4 5 The distance-time graph shows the journey of a car. b Calculate the speed of the car between t = 1.5 and t = 3.
Example 150 distance from home (km) 100 125 50 2 time (t hours) 1 2 3 4 5 The distance-time graph shows the journey of a car. c Calculate the speed of the car between t = 3 and t = 5.
Example 150 distance from home (km) 100 50 time (t hours) 1 2 3 4 5 The distance-time graph shows the journey of a car. d Calculate the average speed for the whole journey.
Example 150 distance from home (km) 100 50 time (t hours) 1 2 3 4 5 The distance-time graph shows the journey of a car. e Explain what is happening between t = 1 and t = 1.5. The line is horizontal which means that the speed is zero. So the car is stationary (i.e. not moving).