Finding Speed, Velocity, Displacement, etc. from velocity-time graphs?

In summary, speed is a measure of how fast an object is moving while velocity is a measure of how fast an object is moving in a specific direction. To calculate speed from a velocity-time graph, you can find the slope of the line at any point on the graph. Displacement is a measure of the change in an object's position and is related to velocity because the magnitude of an object's displacement can be calculated from its average velocity. A velocity-time graph can also tell us about an object's acceleration, with a steeper slope indicating a greater acceleration and a flatter slope indicating a smaller acceleration. To determine the distance traveled by an object using a velocity-time graph, you can find the area under the curve or use the formula distance
  • #1
rayj098
8
0
Lets say I had these two graphs:

attachment.php?attachmentid=39252&stc=1&d=1316969322.jpg


attachment.php?attachmentid=39253&stc=1&d=1316969322.jpg


How would I find distance traveled, displacement, speed and velocity from these graphs?


I would appreciate it if you could show your work.


Thanks in advance.
 
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  • #2
As this is posted in the coursework section, I am assuming this is homework for a class. As such, please follow the template that was provided and include relevant equations and your best attempt. We are more than happy to help you, but need to know where you're getting stuck before we can offer advice.
 

1. What is the difference between speed and velocity?

Speed is a measure of how fast an object is moving, while velocity is a measure of how fast an object is moving in a specific direction. In other words, velocity takes into account both the speed and direction of an object's motion.

2. How do you calculate speed from a velocity-time graph?

To calculate speed from a velocity-time graph, you can find the slope of the line at any point on the graph. The slope represents the object's velocity at that particular time. If the graph is a straight line, the slope will be constant and the speed can be calculated by dividing the change in distance by the change in time.

3. What is displacement and how is it related to velocity?

Displacement is a measure of the change in an object's position from its starting point to its ending point. It is related to velocity because the magnitude of an object's displacement can be calculated by taking the absolute value of its average velocity and multiplying it by the time interval.

4. Can a velocity-time graph tell us about an object's acceleration?

Yes, a velocity-time graph can tell us about an object's acceleration. The slope of the velocity-time graph represents the object's acceleration at any given point. A steeper slope indicates a greater acceleration, while a flatter slope indicates a smaller acceleration.

5. How can we use a velocity-time graph to determine the distance traveled by an object?

To determine the distance traveled by an object using a velocity-time graph, you can find the area under the curve on the graph. This can be done by dividing the graph into smaller sections and calculating the area of each section, then adding them together. Alternatively, if the graph is a straight line, you can use the formula distance = velocity x time to calculate the total distance traveled.

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