Question

briefly describe how different characteristic of motion are reflected by Position vs. time graphs and Velocity vs. time graphs

Answer 1

The Position-Time Graph

The position-time graph describes the motion of an object over a period of time. Time in seconds is conventionally plotted on the x-axis and the position of the object in meters is plotted along the y-axis. The slope of the position-time graph reveals important information about the velocity of the object.

Slope of the Position-Time Graph

The slope of a position-time graph reveals the type of velocity an object undergoes during its motion. A constant slope of a position-time graph indicates a constant velocity. A varying slope of a position-time graph indicates a changing velocity. The direction of the slope of the position-time graph indicates the sign of the velocity. For example, if it slopes downward, from left to right, the velocity is negative.

The Velocity-Time Graph

The velocity-time graph of an object reveals the speed at which an object is moving at a given time and whether it is slowing down or speeding up. Time in seconds is usually plotted on the x-axis while the velocity in meters per second is usually plotted along the y-axis. Objects moving at a constant rate have a straight-line velocity-time graph. Objects moving at variable speeds have sloping, linear velocity graphs.

Slope of the Velocity-Time Graph

The slope of the velocity-time graph reveals the acceleration of an object. If the slope of the velocity-time graph is a horizontal line, the acceleration is 0. This means the object is either at rest or moving at a constant speed, without speeding up or slowing down. If the slope is positive, the acceleration is increasing. If slope is negative, acceleration is decreasing.