1. Making and Interpreting Distance – Time Graphs
Graphing Speed
Making and Interpreting
Distance – Time Graphs

2. GRAPHING SPEED DISTANCE-TIME GRAPHS Distance is plotted on
the vertical axis. D I S T A N C E
Time is plotted on the
horizontal axis.
TIME

3. CONSTANT SPEED If something is “constant” what does that mean?
It does not change
So…
what does the term constant speed mean?
Speed that does not change is constant speed.
Name some things that you think have constant
speed.
Think outside the

4. GRAPHING CONSTANT SPEED
DISTANCE-TIME GRAPHS
straight
diagonal
line
t d
100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 1 2 3 4 5 20 40 60 80
100 D I S T A N C E
(m)
TIME (sec)
Describe the shape of the line for constant speed

5. GRAPHING CONSTANT SPEED
DISTANCE-TIME GRAPHS
A has the >
slope therefore
it has the >
constant speed.
How do you know? A B C
t d
100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 1 2 3 4 5 20 40 60 80
100 D I S T A N C E
(m)
TIME (sec)
Which object has the greatest constant speed?

6. GRAPHING AVERAGE SPEED
DISTANCE-TIME GRAPHS
A flat
horizontal
line means
motion
stopped.
What does this
part of the line
mean?
100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10
t d 1 2 3 4 5 10 30 40 80 D I S T A N C E
(m)
zigzag
TIME (sec)
Describe the shape of the line for average speed?

7. Average Speed Average speed is speed that changes or fluctuates.
Most moving objects travel at average speed,
they start from a stand still, begin slowly,
increase their speed, slow down, speed up,
and eventually slow to a stop.
On a distance-time graph average speed would
appear as a line that changes direction as it
goes across the graph. It would be described as
a zig-zag line.
A slanted line indicates that motion is occurring.
A flat horizontal line indicates that motion has
stopped but time continues.

8. Acceleration In order to understand acceleration you must
understand the difference in speed and velocity.
Speed is how long it takes a moving object to
travel a distance.
Velocity is speed in a given direction.
NOW, ACCELERATION IS THE RATE OF CHANGE
IN VELOCITY.
You must understand that if either speed or
direction changes, the object has undergone
acceleration.

9. Let’s look at why this might be.
In this diagram, how many times will
the people experience acceleration
from where they are now to the end
of the ride? 1
Speeds up 2
???
Speeds up
Is there any
other place
that its
velocity will
change?
Slowing down
is also considered
to be acceleration.
Let’s look at why this might be.

10. CURVED GRAPHING ACCELERTION DISTANCE-TIME GRAPHS
100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10
t d 1 2 3 4 5 10 20 40 70
110 D I S T A N C E
(m)
CURVED
TIME (sec)
Describe the shape of a line showing acceleration.

11. INTERPRETING a c b d DISTANCE-TIME GRAPHS TIME (hr) SNAIL RACES
MHS
INTERPRETING
DISTANCE-TIME GRAPHS
SNAIL RACES
Results a c
100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 b D I S T A N C E
(in) d
Pass out question
sheet for this slide.
TIME (hr)

12. Model Car
Races
Time
Total distance covered (meters)
(sec) A B C D 1 3 2 4
.25 6 8 .5 9 12 16 5 15 10 18 7 21 14 24 19 27 22 28 30 20 25 36
Construct a
distance –
time graph
for the values
in the data
table.
PASS OUT GRAPH
PAPER FOR THIS
EXERCISE.
NEATNESS
COUNTS !

13. Model Car Race Results GraphedI S T A N C E
(m)
TIME (sec)
Your graph should look like this.

14. A few questions for you:
What does the horizontal line for car C indicate?
Which car(s) is/are accelerating? How do you know?
Which car(s) is/are traveling at constant speed?
Which car won the race?
How do you know which car won the race?
What is the average speed of each car in the race?
It had to stop during a portion of the race
Car D because its line is curving.
Cars A and B show straight diagonal lines
Car D because it traveled farther in the 10 seconds
Because it traveled farther in the 10 seconds
A 3 m/s B 2 m/s C 2.5 m/s D 3.6 m/s

15. QUIZ 1.The graph used to graph speed is called a ___________-______
2. Speed that does not change is called ____________ speed.
3. Speed that fluctuates is called _______________ speed.
4. The shape of a line on a distance-time graph for constant speed
is a ________________, _______________ line.
5. The > the slope the _______ the constant speed.
6. On a distance time graph a line that is horizontal indicates
___________________ ______________.
7. The formula for calculating speed is _________=__________
8. Speed in a given direction is called _________________.
9. The rate of change in velocity is called___________________.

16. We hope that you have been able to learn something from us.
The
End
We hope that you have been able to learn something from us.