Motion graphs: Forces: Physics: GCSE (9:1)

• Distance-time graph

  A graph with distance on the y-axis and time on the x-axis

  
• Horizontal line on a distance-time graph

  Represents a stationary object

  
• Inclined line on a distance-time graph


  Represents an object moving at a constant speed

  
• Curved line on a distance-time graph

  Represents an object that is accelerating (or decelerating)

  
• Gradient of a distance-time graph


  Used to calculate the speed of an object

  
• (higher-tier only)

  Finding speed from a non-linear distance-time graph

  Draw a tangent to the curve and find the gradient of the tangent

  
• Velocity-time graph

  A graph with velocity distance on the y-axis and time on the x-axis

  
• Horizontal line on a velocity-time graph


  Represents an object moving at a constant speed

  
• Inclined line on a velocity-time graph


  Represents an object accelerating at a constant rate

  
• Gradient of a velocity-time graph


  Used to calculate the acceleration of an object

  
• (higher-tier only)

  Area under a velocity-time graph


  Used to calculate the distance-travelled by an object

  
• (higher-only)

  Finding distance travelled from a linear velocity-time graph


  Can be calculated by using geometry

  
• (higher-only)

  Finding distance travelled from a non-linear velocity-time graph


  Can be found by counting the squares beneath the line