speed

What does a diagonal line on a velocity time graph mean?

Accelerating

What does it mean if the horizontal line is higher on the graph?

It’s a faster constant speed

How is velocity different from speed?

Speed is how fast something moves, however velocity includes both speed and direction.

Relative speed

The speed of an object as observed from the frame of reference of another object.

Instantaneous speed

The speed an object is travelling at a particular moment.

What does a horizontal line on a distance-time graph mean?

The object is stationary

What does a diagonal line on a distance-time graph mean?

The object is at a steady/constant speed

What does a curved line upwards on a distance-time graph mean?

Object is accelerating or speeding up.

What does a curved line downwards mean on a distance-time graph?

Object is decelerating or slowing down

The steeper the slope, the faster the speed.

What does the gradient of the line equal?

Speed

How do you calculate the speed from a distance-time graph?

Change in y/change in x

Acceleration

When an object increases velocity (speeds up)

Deceleration

When an object is slowing down

Acceleration formula

Acceleration (m/s squared) = change in velocity (b-a) (m/s)/ change in time(s)

Deceleration formula

Deceleration (m/s squared) = change in velocity (a-b) (m/s) / change in time (s)

What does a horizontal line at the bottom of the graph on a velocity time graph mean?

Object is not moving or stationary

What does a horizontal line in the middle of a velocity time graph mean?

Constant speed