Ch. 2 Graphing of Motion in One Dimension

Displacement-time Graph (  x vs.  t) Slope equals velocity. The "y" intercept equals the initial displacement.

– When two curves coincide, the two objects have the same displacement at that time. – Straight lines imply constant velocity.

Curved lines imply acceleration. An object undergoing constant acceleration traces a portion of a parabola.

– Average velocity is the slope of the straight line connecting the endpoints of a curve. – Instantaneous velocity is the slope of the line tangent to a curve at any point.

– Positive slope implies motion in the positive direction. – Negative slope implies motion in the negative direction.

-Zero slope implies a state of rest or no motion. -The area under a curve is meaningless, it tells us nothing.

Velocity-time graph (Vel. vs.  t) – Slope equals acceleration. – The "y" intercept equals the initial velocity.

– When two curves coincide, the two objects have the same velocity at that time. – Straight lines imply uniform acceleration.

– Curved lines imply non- uniform acceleration. – An object undergoing constant acceleration traces a straight line.

- Average acceleration is the slope of the straight line connecting the endpoints of a curve. - Instantaneous acceleration is the slope of the line tangent to a curve at any point.

-Positive slope implies an increase in velocity in the positive direction. - Negative slope implies an increase in velocity in the negative direction.

- Zero slope implies motion with constant velocity. - The area under the curve equals the change in displacement.

Acceleration-time graph (a vs.  t) – 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.