Forces and Motion: Distance-Time Graphs

Distance-time graphs illustrate how an object’s position changes over a given timeframe, with distance on the y-axis and time on the x-axis.
A straight horizontal line on a distance-time graph represents an object at rest, as the distance does not increase over time.
A straight, sloping line denotes constant speed. The gradient of the line corresponds to the speed of the object.
A steeper line indicates higher speed, while a less steep line denotes a slower speed.
When the line goes from horizontal to sloping, that indicates the object has started moving.
If the line on the graph curves upwards, it indicates the object is accelerating.
Conversely, a downward curve denotes deceleration. The object’s speed reduces over time.
The total distance covered by an object is represented by the total length of the line on the distance-time graph.
The speed at any given point along the graph can be calculated by drawing a tangent to the point and working out the gradient of this tangent.
The area under a speed-time graph represents the distance travelled by the object within a specific timeframe.
A negative slope on a distance-time graph indicates the object is moving in the opposite direction.