Honors Physics - Graphing Motion Review

Vocabulary and core relationship flashcards covering the basics of position, velocity, and acceleration graphs from Honors Physics.

Slope of a Position vs. Time Graph

The property of the graph that represents the object's velocity.

Slope of a Velocity vs. Time Graph

The property of the graph that represents the object's acceleration.

Area under a Velocity vs. Time Graph

The property of the graph that represents the object's displacement or distance.

Area under an Acceleration vs. Time Graph

The property of the graph that represents the object's change in velocity.

Horizontal line (Position vs. Time)

Graph representation indicating that the object is at rest.

Horizontal line above zero (Velocity vs. Time)

Graph representation indicating the object is moving with a constant speed.

Faster Speed Magnitude

Determined by looking at the magnitude of the slope on a position vs. time graph; for example, an object with a slope of $-5\,m/s$ is moving faster than one with a slope of $+3\,m/s$.

Constant Velocity (Graphing)

Indicated by a straight-line segment on a position vs. time graph.

Acceleration (Velocity-Time Calculation)

Calculated by finding the slope of the line on a velocity vs. time graph, such as from $0\,s$ to $20\,s$.

Displacement (Velocity-Time Calculation)

Calculated by determining the geometric area under the velocity vs. time graph, often broken into simple shapes.

X-axis

The axis on a motion graph where time is normally placed because it is the independent variable.

Velocity is zero, acceleration must be zero

A conceptual statement that is not always true, according to motion graph relationships.