1. Velocity-Time Graphs
2nd March 2012

2. Top Gear - Measuring Increases In Speed

3. Learning objectives
Bronze - Able to draw and interpret velocity-time graphs
Silver - Be able to calculate acceleration from a distance-time graph
Gold – Be able to make your own v/t graph.

4. Velocity – Time Graph
The graph is going to show part of my journey to school. It took 30s and my maximum velocity was 24 m/s.
I started the stopwatch and put my foot on the accelerator. 12 seconds later I was travelling at 24 m/s.
I could see the traffic lights so I pressed the brake. 2 s later I had stopped (14s in total).
The lights immediately turned green so I hit the accelerator again. I got to 10m/s after 6s (20s in total).
This was the speed limit so I continued on at 10m/s for another 4s (24s in total).
I could see the school so I hit the brake and 6s later I had stopped (30s in total).

5. Calculating acceleration

6. Draw velocity-time graphs for the journeys on the sheets.
Annotate the graphs to show the different stages.
Calculate the acceleration or deceleration for each stage.

7. Produce your own velocity-time graph for a journey you take regularly.
You can estimate the velocity.
It may help if you first draw a table showing the velocity at each time.
Finish for homework.