1. Graphs of Motion
KL PT/Physics 09

2. Motion Graphs Graphs can be used to represent the motion of objects
Show position, velocity and acceleration with respect to time
Ticker tape diagrams also represent the motion of an object
Each dot shows how far the object moves in a period of time ( example: 1 dot per second)
Time (s)

3. Imagine an object moving away from the origin at a constant speed
Shows how position changes with time
Each second shows the same amount of change in position
Ticker Tape Diagram

4. Object moving away at a constant speed

5. Object moving away at a constant speed
position
acceleration
time
time
slope
slope

6. Imagine an object moving towards the origin at a constant speed
Negative constant slope = negative constant velocity
zero slope = zero acceleration

7. Towards the origin at a constant speed
time
position
time
velocity
acceleration
time
slope
slope

8. Imagine an object moving away from the origin while speeding up
Time (s)
Shows how position changes with time
Each second shows an increasing change in position
Ticker Tape Diagram

9. Moving away from the origin while speeding up
Time (s)
Slope of the position time graph = Velocity
Increasing slope = increasing velocity
Time (s)
Constant positive slope = constant positive acceleration

10. Moving away from the origin while speeding up
time
position
time
velocity
acceleration
positive acceleration
time
slope
slope

11. Moving away from the origin while slowing down
time
position
Slope of the position time graph = Velocity
decreasing slope = decreasing velocity

12. Moving away from the origin while slowing down
time
velocity
acceleration
position
negative acceleration
time
time
slope
slope

13. Imagine an object moving towards the origin while speeding up
Time (s)
Shows how position changes with time
Each second shows an increasing change in position
Ticker Tape Diagram

14. Moving towards the origin while speeding up
position
velocity
acceleration
Negative acceleration
time
time
time
slope
slope

15. Motion Graphs Graphs can be used to represent the motion of objects
The slope of a position-time graph gives the velocity of the object
The slope of a velocity-time graph gives the acceleration of the object
Ticker tape diagrams also represent the motion of an object
Each dot shows how far the object moves in a period of time (1 dot per second)
Evenly spaced dots = constant velocity
Spaces increase = increasing velocity
Spaces decrease = decreasing velocity