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Graphical Analysis of One-Dimensional Motion

Module by: OpenStax College. E-mail the author

Summary:

  • Describe a straight-line graph in terms of its slope and y-intercept.
  • Determine average velocity or instantaneous velocity from a graph of position vs. time.
  • Determine average or instantaneous acceleration from a graph of velocity vs. time.
  • Derive a graph of velocity vs. time from a graph of position vs. time.
  • Derive a graph of acceleration vs. time from a graph of velocity vs. time.

A graph, like a picture, is worth a thousand words. Graphs not only contain numerical information; they also reveal relationships between physical quantities. This section uses graphs of displacement, velocity, and acceleration versus time to illustrate one-dimensional kinematics.

Slopes and General Relationships

First note that graphs in this text have perpendicular axes, one horizontal and the other vertical. When two physical quantities are plotted against one another in such a graph, the horizontal axis is usually considered to be an independent variable and the vertical axis a dependent variable. If we call the horizontal axis the xx size 12{x} {}-axis and the vertical axis the yy size 12{y} {}-axis, as in Figure 1, a straight-line graph has the general form

y=mx+b.y=mx+b. size 12{y= ital "mx"+`b} {}
(1)

Here mm size 12{m} {} is the slope, defined to be the rise divided by the run (as seen in the figure) of the straight line. The letter bb size 12{b} {} is used for the y-intercept, which is the point at which the line crosses the vertical axis.

Figure 1: A straight-line graph. The equation for a straight line is y = mx + b y = mx + b size 12{y= ital "mx"+b} {} .
Graph of a straight-line sloping up at about 40 degrees.

Graph of Displacement vs. Time (a = 0, so v is constant)

Time is usually an independent variable that other quantities, such as displacement, depend upon. A graph of displacement versus time would, thus, have xx size 12{x} {} on the vertical axis and tt size 12{t} {} on the horizontal axis. Figure 2 is just such a straight-line graph. It shows a graph of displacement versus time for a jet-powered car on a very flat dry lake bed in Nevada.

Figure 2: Graph of displacement versus time for a jet-powered car on the Bonneville Salt Flats.
Line graph of jet car displacement in meters versus time in seconds. The line is straight with a positive slope. The y intercept is four hundred meters. The total change in time is eight point zero seconds. The initial position is four hundred meters. The final position is two thousand meters.

Using the relationship between dependent and independent variables, we see that the slope in the graph above is average velocity v-v- size 12{ { bar {v}}} {} and the intercept is displacement at time zero—that is, x0x0 size 12{x rSub { size 8{0} } } {}. Substituting these symbols into y=mx+by=mx+b size 12{y= ital "mx"+b} {} gives

x = v - t + x 0 x = v - t + x 0 size 12{x= { bar {v}}t+x rSub { size 8{0} } } {}
(2)

or

x=x0+v-t.x=x0+v-t. size 12{x=x rSub { size 8{0} } + { bar {v}}t} {}
(3)

Thus a graph of displacement versus time gives a general relationship among displacement, velocity, and time, as well as giving detailed numerical information about a specific situation.

The Slope of x vs. t :

The slope of the graph of displacement xx size 12{x} {} vs. time tt size 12{t} {} is velocity vv size 12{v} {}.

slope = Δ x Δt = v slope = Δ x Δt = v
(4)

Notice that this equation is the same as that derived algebraically from other motion equations in Motion Equations for Constant Acceleration in One Dimension.

From the figure we can see that the car has a displacement of 400 m at time 0.650 m at tt size 12{t} {} = 1.0 s, and so on. Its displacement at times other than those listed in the table can be read from the graph; furthermore, information about its velocity and acceleration can also be obtained from the graph.

Example 1: Determining Average Velocity from a Graph of Displacement versus Time: Jet Car

Find the average velocity of the car whose position is graphed in Figure 2.

Strategy

The slope of a graph of xx size 12{x} {} vs. tt size 12{t} {} is average velocity, since slope equals rise over run. In this case, rise = change in displacement and run = change in time, so that

slope = Δ x Δt = v- . slope = Δ x Δt = v- .
(5)

Since the slope is constant here, any two points on the graph can be used to find the slope. (Generally speaking, it is most accurate to use two widely separated points on the straight line. This is because any error in reading data from the graph is proportionally smaller if the interval is larger.)

Solution

1. Choose two points on the line. In this case, we choose the points labeled on the graph: (6.4 s, 2000 m) and (0.50 s, 525 m). (Note, however, that you could choose any two points.)

2. Substitute the xx and tt values of the chosen points into the equation. Remember in calculating change (Δ)(Δ) size 12{ \( Δ \) } {} we always use final value minus initial value.

v-= Δx Δt =2000 m−525 m6.4 s−0.50 s,v-= Δx Δt =2000 m−525 m6.4 s−0.50 s, size 12{ { bar {v}}= { {Δx} over {Δt} } = { {"2000 m" - "525 m"} over {6 "." "4 s" - 0 "." "50 s"} } } {}
(6)

yielding

v-=250 m/s.v-=250 m/s. size 12{ { bar {v}}="250 m/s"} {}
(7)

Discussion

This is an impressively large land speed (900 km/h, or about 560 mi/h): much greater than the typical highway speed limit of 60 mi/h (27 m/s or 96 km/h), but considerably shy of the record of 343 m/s (1234 km/h or 766 mi/h) set in 1997.

Graphs of Motion when aa size 12{a} {} is constant but a≠0a≠0 size 12{a <> 0} {}

The graphs in Figure 3 below represent the motion of the jet-powered car as it accelerates toward its top speed, but only during the time when its acceleration is constant. Time starts at zero for this motion (as if measured with a stopwatch), and the displacement and velocity are initially 200 m and 15 m/s, respectively.

Figure 3: Graphs of motion of a jet-powered car during the time span when its acceleration is constant. (a) The slope of an xx size 12{x} {} vs. tt size 12{t} {} graph is velocity. This is shown at two points, and the instantaneous velocities obtained are plotted in the next graph. Instantaneous velocity at any point is the slope of the tangent at that point. (b) The slope of the vv size 12{v} {} vs. tt size 12{t} {} graph is constant for this part of the motion, indicating constant acceleration. (c) Acceleration has the constant value of 5.0 m/s25.0 m/s2 size 12{5 "." "0 m/s" rSup { size 8{2} } } {} over the time interval plotted.
Three line graphs. First is a line graph of displacement over time. Line has a positive slope that increases with time. Second line graph is of velocity over time. Line is straight with a positive slope. Third line graph is of acceleration over time. Line is straight and horizontal, indicating constant acceleration.
Figure 4: A U.S. Air Force jet car speeds down a track. (credit: Matt Trostle, Flickr)
Figure 4 (Figure_02_07_03a.jpg)

The graph of displacement versus time in Figure 3(a) is a curve rather than a straight line. The slope of the curve becomes steeper as time progresses, showing that the velocity is increasing over time. The slope at any point on a displacement-versus-time graph is the instantaneous velocity at that point. It is found by drawing a straight line tangent to the curve at the point of interest and taking the slope of this straight line. Tangent lines are shown for two points in Figure 3(a). If this is done at every point on the curve and the values are plotted against time, then the graph of velocity versus time shown in Figure 3(b) is obtained. Furthermore, the slope of the graph of velocity versus time is acceleration, which is shown in Figure 3(c).

Example 2: Determining Instantaneous Velocity from the Slope at a Point: Jet Car

Calculate the velocity of the jet car at a time of 25 s by finding the slope of the xx size 12{x} {} vs. tt size 12{t} {} graph in the graph below.

Figure 5: The slope of an xx size 12{x} {} vs. tt size 12{t} {} graph is velocity. This is shown at two points. Instantaneous velocity at any point is the slope of the tangent at that point.
A graph of displacement versus time for a jet car. The x axis for time runs from zero to thirty five seconds. The y axis for displacement runs from zero to three thousand meters. The curve depicting displacement is concave up. The slope of the curve increases over time. Slope equals velocity v. There are two points on the curve, labeled, P and Q. P is located at time equals ten seconds. Q is located and time equals twenty-five seconds. A line tangent to P at ten seconds is drawn and has a slope delta x sub P over delta t sub p. A line tangent to Q at twenty five seconds is drawn and has a slope equal to delta x sub q over delta t sub q. Select coordinates are given in a table and consist of the following: time zero seconds displacement two hundred meters; time five seconds displacement three hundred thirty eight meters; time ten seconds displacement six hundred meters; time fifteen seconds displacement nine hundred eighty eight meters. Time twenty seconds displacement one thousand five hundred meters; time twenty five seconds displacement two thousand one hundred thirty eight meters; time thirty seconds displacement two thousand nine hundred meters.

Strategy

The slope of a curve at a point is equal to the slope of a straight line tangent to the curve at that point. This principle is illustrated in Figure 5, where Q is the point at t=25 st=25 s size 12{t="25"`s} {}.

Solution

1. Find the tangent line to the curve at t=25 st=25 s size 12{t="25"`s} {}.

2. Determine the endpoints of the tangent. These correspond to a position of 1300 m at time 19 s and a position of 3120 m at time 32 s.

3. Plug these endpoints into the equation to solve for the slope, vv size 12{v} {}.

slope = v Q = Δx Q Δt Q = 3120 m − 1300 m 32 s − 19 s slope = v Q = Δx Q Δt Q = 3120 m − 1300 m 32 s − 19 s size 12{"slope"=v rSub { size 8{Q} } = { {Δx rSub { size 8{Q} } } over {Δt rSub { size 8{Q} } } } = { { left ("3120"`m - "1300"`m right )} over { left ("32"`s - "19"`s right )} } } {}
(8)

Thus,

v Q = 1820 m 13 s = 140 m/s. v Q = 1820 m 13 s = 140 m/s.
(9)

Discussion

This is the value given in this figure’s table for vv size 12{v} {} at t=25 st=25 s. The value of 140 m/s for vQvQ is plotted in Figure 5. The entire graph of vv vs. tt can be obtained in this fashion.

Carrying this one step further, we note that the slope of a velocity versus time graph is acceleration. Slope is rise divided by run; on a vv size 12{v} {} vs. tt graph, rise = change in velocity ΔvΔv size 12{Dv} {} and run = change in time ΔtΔt size 12{Dt} {}.

The Slope of v vs. t:

The slope of a graph of velocity vv size 12{v} {} vs. time tt size 12{t} {} is acceleration aa size 12{a} {}.

slope = Δv Δt = a slope = Δv Δt = a
(10)

Since the velocity versus time graph in Figure 3(b) is a straight line, its slope is the same everywhere, implying that acceleration is constant. Acceleration versus time is graphed in Figure 3(c).

Additional general information can be obtained from Figure 5 and the expression for a straight line, y=mx+by=mx+b size 12{y= ital "mx"+b} {}.

In this case, the vertical axis yy size 12{y} {} is VV size 12{V} {}, the intercept bb size 12{b} {} is v0v0 size 12{v rSub { size 8{0} } } {}, the slope mm size 12{m} {} is aa size 12{a} {}, and the horizontal axis xx size 12{x} {} is tt size 12{t} {}. Substituting these symbols yields

v=v0+at.v=v0+at. size 12{v=v rSub { size 8{0} } + ital "at"} {}
(11)

A general relationship for velocity, acceleration, and time has again been obtained from a graph. Notice that this equation was also derived algebraically from other motion equations in Motion Equations for Constant Acceleration in One Dimension.

It is not accidental that the same equations are obtained by graphical analysis as by algebraic techniques. In fact, an important way to discover physical relationships is to measure various physical quantities and then make graphs of one quantity against another to see if they are correlated in any way. Correlations imply physical relationships and might be shown by smooth graphs such as those above. From such graphs, mathematical relationships can sometimes be postulated. Further experiments are then performed to determine the validity of the hypothesized relationships.

Graphs of Motion Where Acceleration is Not Constant

Now consider the motion of the jet car as it goes from 165 m/s to its top velocity of 250 m/s, graphed in Figure 6. Time again starts at zero, and the initial displacement and velocity are 2900 m and 165 m/s, respectively. (These were the final displacement and velocity of the car in the motion graphed in Figure 3.) Acceleration gradually decreases from 5.0 m/s25.0 m/s2 to zero when the car hits 250 m/s. The slope of the xx vs. tt graph increases until t=55 st=55 s size 12{t="55"`s} {}, after which time the slope is constant. Similarly, velocity increases until 55 s and then becomes constant, since acceleration decreases to zero at 55 s and remains zero afterward.

Figure 6: Graphs of motion of a jet-powered car as it reaches its top velocity. This motion begins where the motion in Figure 3 ends. (a) The slope of this graph is velocity; it is plotted in the next graph. (b) The velocity gradually approaches its top value. The slope of this graph is acceleration; it is plotted in the final graph. (c) Acceleration gradually declines to zero when velocity becomes constant.
Three line graphs of jet car displacement, velocity, and acceleration, respectively. First line graph is of position over time. Line is straight with a positive slope. Second line graph is of velocity over time. Line graph has a positive slope that decreases over time and flattens out at the end. Third line graph is of acceleration over time. Line has a negative slope that increases over time until it flattens out at the end. The line is not smooth, but has several kinks.

Example 3: Calculating Acceleration from a Graph of Velocity versus Time

Calculate the acceleration of the jet car at a time of 25 s by finding the slope of the vv size 12{v} {} vs. tt size 12{t} {} graph in Figure 6(b).

Strategy

The slope of the curve at t=25 st=25 s size 12{t="25"`s} {} is equal to the slope of the line tangent at that point, as illustrated in Figure 6(b).

Solution

Determine endpoints of the tangent line from the figure, and then plug them into the equation to solve for slope, aa size 12{a} {}.

slope = Δv Δt = 260 m/s − 210 m/s 51 s − 1.0 s slope = Δv Δt = 260 m/s − 210 m/s 51 s − 1.0 s
(12)
a=50 m/s50 s=1.0 m/s2.a=50 m/s50 s=1.0 m/s2.
(13)

Discussion

Note that this value for aa is consistent with the value plotted in Figure 6(c) at t=25 st=25 s size 12{t="25"`s} {}.

A graph of displacement versus time can be used to generate a graph of velocity versus time, and a graph of velocity versus time can be used to generate a graph of acceleration versus time. We do this by finding the slope of the graphs at every point. If the graph is linear (i.e., a line with a constant slope), it is easy to find the slope at any point and you have the slope for every point. Graphical analysis of motion can be used to describe both specific and general characteristics of kinematics. Graphs can also be used for other topics in physics. An important aspect of exploring physical relationships is to graph them and look for underlying relationships.

Check Your Understanding

A graph of velocity vs. time of a ship coming into a harbor is shown below. (a) Describe the motion of the ship based on the graph. (b)What would a graph of the ship’s acceleration look like?

Figure 7
Line graph of velocity versus time. The line has three legs. The first leg is flat. The second leg has a negative slope. The third leg also has a negative slope, but the slope is not as negative as the second leg.
[ Show Solution ]

Section Summary

  • Graphs of motion can be used to analyze motion.
  • Graphical solutions yield identical solutions to mathematical methods for deriving motion equations.
  • The slope of a graph of displacement xx size 12{x} {} vs. time tt size 12{t} {} is velocity vv size 12{v} {}.
  • The slope of a graph of velocity vv size 12{v} {} vs. time tt size 12{t} {} graph is acceleration aa size 12{a} {}.
  • Average velocity, instantaneous velocity, and acceleration can all be obtained by analyzing graphs.

Conceptual Questions

Exercise 1

(a) Explain how you can use the graph of position versus time in Figure 9 to describe the change in velocity over time. Identify (b) the time (tata, tbtb, tctc, tdtd, or tete) at which the instantaneous velocity is greatest, (c) the time at which it is zero, and (d) the time at which it is negative.

Figure 9
Line graph of position versus time with 5 points labeled: a, b, c, d, and e. The slope of the line changes. It begins with a positive slope that decreases over time until around point d, where it is flat. It then has a slightly negative slope.

Exercise 2

(a) Sketch a graph of velocity versus time corresponding to the graph of displacement versus time given in Figure 10. (b) Identify the time or times (tata, tbtb, tctc, etc.) at which the instantaneous velocity is greatest. (c) At which times is it zero? (d) At which times is it negative?

Figure 10
Line graph of position over time with 12 points labeled a through l. Line has a negative slope from a to c, where it turns and has a positive slope till point e. It turns again and has a negative slope till point g. The slope then increases again till l, where it flattens out.

Exercise 3

(a) Explain how you can determine the acceleration over time from a velocity versus time graph such as the one in Figure 11. (b) Based on the graph, how does acceleration change over time?

Figure 11
Line graph of velocity over time with two points labeled. Point P is at v 1 t 1. Point Q is at v 2 t 2. The line has a positive slope that increases over time.

Exercise 4

(a) Sketch a graph of acceleration versus time corresponding to the graph of velocity versus time given in Figure 12. (b) Identify the time or times (tata, tbtb, tctc, etc.) at which the acceleration is greatest. (c) At which times is it zero? (d) At which times is it negative?

Figure 12
Line graph of velocity over time with 12 points labeled a through l. The line has a positive slope from a at the origin to d where it slopes downward to e, and then back upward to h. It then slopes back down to point l at v equals 0.

Exercise 5

Consider the velocity vs. time graph of a person in an elevator shown in Figure 13. Suppose the elevator is initially at rest. It then accelerates for 3 seconds, maintains that velocity for 15 seconds, then decelerates for 5 seconds until it stops. The acceleration for the entire trip is not constant so we cannot use the equations of motion from Motion Equations for Constant Acceleration in One Dimension for the complete trip. (We could, however, use them in the three individual sections where acceleration is a constant.) Sketch graphs of (a) position vs. time and (b) acceleration vs. time for this trip.

Figure 13
Line graph of velocity versus time. Line begins at the origin and has a positive slope until it reaches 3 meters per second at 3 seconds. The slope is then zero until 18 seconds, where it becomes negative until the line reaches a velocity of 0 at 23 seconds.

Exercise 6

A cylinder is given a push and then rolls up an inclined plane. If the origin is the starting point, sketch the position, velocity, and acceleration of the cylinder vs. time as it goes up and then down the plane.

Problems & Exercises

Note: There is always uncertainty in numbers taken from graphs. If your answers differ from expected values, examine them to see if they are within data extraction uncertainties estimated by you.

Exercise 1

(a) By taking the slope of the curve in Figure 14, verify that the velocity of the jet car is 115 m/s at t=20 st=20 s size 12{t="20"`s} {}. (b) By taking the slope of the curve at any point in Figure 15, verify that the jet car’s acceleration is 5.0 m/s25.0 m/s2 size 12{5 "." "0 m/s" rSup { size 8{2} } } {}.

Figure 14
Line graph of position over time. Line has positive slope that increases over time.
Figure 15
Line graph of velocity versus time. Line is straight with a positive slope.
[ Show Solution ]

Exercise 2

Take the slope of the curve in Figure 16 to verify that the velocity at t=10 st=10 s size 12{t="10"`s} {} is 207 m/s.

Figure 16
Line graph of position versus time. Line is straight with a positive slope.

Exercise 3

Take the slope of the curve in Figure 16 to verify that the velocity at t=30.0 st=30.0 s is 238 m/s.

[ Show Solution ]

Exercise 4

By taking the slope of the curve in Figure 17, verify that the acceleration is 3.2 m/s23.2 m/s2 at t=10 st=10 s size 12{t="10"`s} {}.

Figure 17
Line graph of velocity versus time. Line has a positive slope that decreases over time until the line flattens out.

Exercise 5

Construct the displacement graph for the subway shuttle train as shown in Figure 3(a). You will need to use the information on acceleration and velocity given in the examples for this figure.

[ Show Solution ]

Exercise 6

(a) Take the slope of the curve in Figure 19 to find the jogger’s velocity at t=2.5 st=2.5 s size 12{t=2 "." 5`s} {}. (b) Repeat at 7.5 s. These values must be consistent with the graph in Figure 20.

Figure 19
Line graph of position over time. Line begins sloping upward, then kinks back down, then kinks back upward again.
Figure 20
Line graph of velocity over time. Line begins with a positive slope, then kinks downward with a negative slope, then kinks back upward again. It kinks back down again slightly, then back up again, and ends with a slightly less positive slope.
Figure 21
Figure 21 (Figure_02_08Sol_18.jpg)

Exercise 7

A graph of vtvt is shown for a world-class track sprinter in a 100-m race. (See Figure 22). (a) What is his average velocity for the first 4 s? (b) What is his instantaneous velocity at t=5 st=5 s? (c) What is his average acceleration between 0 and 4 s? (d) What is his time for the race?

Figure 22
Line graph of velocity versus time. The line has two legs. The first has a constant positive slope. The second is flat, with a slope of 0.
[ Show Solution ]

Exercise 8

Figure 23 shows the displacement graph for a particle for 5 s. Draw the corresponding velocity and acceleration graphs.

Figure 23
Line graph of position versus time. The line has 4 legs. The first leg has a positive slope. The second leg has a negative slope. The third has a slope of 0. The fourth has a positive slope.

Glossary

independent variable:
the variable that the dependent variable is measured with respect to; usually plotted along the xx size 12{x} {}-axis
dependent variable:
the variable that is being measured; usually plotted along the yy size 12{y} {}-axis
slope:
the difference in yy size 12{y} {}-value (the rise) divided by the difference in xx size 12{x} {}-value (the run) of two points on a straight line
y-intercept:
the y-y- size 12{y} {}value when xx size 12{x} {}= 0, or when the graph crosses the yy size 12{y} {}-axis

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