PHYS 105 Rules for Interpreting Motion from Graphs

for exam 1

constant velocity

depicted by a constant slope/straight line on a distance vs time graph

change in velocity

depicted by a changing slope on a distance vs time graph

instantaneous velocity

the steeper the slope, the greater the instantaneous velocity (on a distance vs time graph)

greatest acceleration

occurs where the slope is the steepest on a distance vs time graph

backwards motion (on velocity graph)

backwards motion on a velocity graph is only depicted by the graph going below the x axis; even if the graph slopes downward it is still considered forward motion

greatest magnitude of acceleration

depicted by the steepest slope on a distance vs time graph

greatest distance traveled

found by locating the area under the line, or graph, that is the biggest (on a distance vs time graph)

downward spike on acceleration vs time graph

represents a decrease in velocity

upward spike on acceleration vs time graph

represents an increase in velocity

slope of distance vs. time graph

at any point on the graph, represents the instantaneous velocity at that time; rise over run

steepest slope on distance vs time graph

indicates where the car is moving the fastest

flat slope on distance vs time graph

indicates the car or object is not moving

smallest slope on distance vs time graph

indicates where the car or object is moving the slowest

downward slope on distance vs time graph

means the distance from the start is decreasing, or the object/car is moving in the opposite direction

change in distance vs time graph’s slope

represents a change in velocity; velocity can only change if the distance/time graph’s slope changes