Graphing motion

Position time graphs Show how the object changes its position over time. Slope indicates velocity (rise/run = change in position/change in time) Horizontal Line = Stopped! (no matter at which position) Up is + (moving away from zero point) Down is negative. (moving toward the zero point) Steeper lines are faster Peaks are a change in direction the "y" intercept equals the initial displacement. when two curves coincide, the two objects have the same displacement at that time.

Position time graphs Constant Velocity (straight line) Positive Velocity positive slope implies motion in the positive direction. Positive Velocity Changing Velocity (acceleration) (curved line) an object undergoing constant acceleration traces a portion of a parabola.

Leftward (-) Velocity Fast to Slow Negative (-) Velocity; negative slope implies motion in the negative direction Slow to Fast Accelerating in the opposite direction (curved down) Leftward (-) Velocity Fast to Slow                                                                                                     

Velocity time graphs Slope indicates acceleration Straight line is constant acceleration Curved is changing acceleration. Horizontal line not at zero means a constant velocity Horizontal line at zero means a zero velocity (stopped) Positive is above the x-axis (watch direction) Negative is below the x-axis Crossing the x axis is a change in direction Area under the curve is the displacement (height = Δvelocity, base = Δtime, Δvelocity *Δtime = displacement) the "y" intercept equals the initial velocity. when two curves coincide, the two objects have the same velocity at that time.

Acceleration time graphs slope is meaningless. the "y" intercept equals the initial acceleration. when two curves coincide, the two objects have the same acceleration at that time. an object undergoing constant acceleration traces a horizontal line. zero slope implies motion with constant acceleration. the area under the curve equals the change in velocity.