What does a vertical line on a velocity versus time graph suggest?

[L²Cc]

what does a vertical line in a velocity versus time graph imply?

 

[radou]

Is you set the velocity axis to be horizontal, and the time axis to be vertical, then a vertical line implies constant velocity.

Else, it doesn't imply anything, since that set of points is not even a function.

 

[L²Cc]

oops...should have given out that info. hmm..the velocity axis is horizontal, whereas time is vertical...in this situation, what does the vertical line imply?

 

[Swapnil]

You posted the same question twice. You also posted it here:
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=140999

 

[L²Cc]

oops, human error.

 

[ZapperZ]

The other thread has been deleted. Please note that it is explicitly mentioned in the PF Guidelines that everyone has agreed to that multiple posting is not allowed.

Zz.

 

[Integral]

Suppose the vertical part of the graph occurs at x_0.

What is the velocity at x_0 - \delta ?

What is the velocity at x_0 + \delta ?

Ok, now what has happened at the verical portion of the graph?

 

[ocalhoun]

I suppose that could only happen if the velocity at that time was infinite, as otherwise the vertical line would have an upper limit to it.
It would also mean that the velocity of whatever you're measuring just jumped instantly with no time for acceleration, which would be highly unusual.

In other words, if I saw such a graph, the first things I would check would be the veracity of the data and the validity of the math.

 

[rcgldr]

what does a vertical line in a velocity versus time graph imply?

That something was wrong with the data or how the graph was plotted. As mentioned, maybe the axis got reversed (velocity is horiztonal, time is vertical).