The movement of objects can be described using motion graphs and numerical values. These are both used to help in the design of faster and more efficient vehicles.
If an object moves along a straight line, its motion can be represented by a velocity-time graph. The gradient of the line is equal to the acceleration of the object.
The table shows what each section of the graph represents:
Section of graph | Gradient | Velocity | Acceleration |
---|---|---|---|
A | Positive | Increasing | Positive |
B | Zero | Constant | Zero |
C | Negative | Decreasing | Negative |
D (v = 0) | Zero | Stationary (at rest) | Zero |
The area under the graph can be calculated by:
Calculate the total displacement of the object, whose motion is represented by the velocity-time graph below.
Here, the displacement can be found by calculating the total area of the shaded sections below the line.
Find the area of the triangle:
Find the area of the rectangle:
base × height
(10 - 4) × 8 = 48 m2
Add the areas together to find the total displacement:
(16 + 48) = 64 m