Distance-Time & Velocity-Time Graphs

Question 1

What does a straight, sloped line mean on a distance-time graph?

Answer 1

Constant speed — the object is moving at a steady rate.

Question 2

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

Answer 2

The object is stationary (no change in distance over time).

Question 3

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

Answer 3

The speed is changing — the object is accelerating or decelerating.

Question 4

What does a straight, horizontal line on a velocity-time graph show?

Answer 4

Constant velocity — no acceleration.

Question 5

What does a sloped line on a velocity-time graph indicate?

Answer 5

Constant acceleration (if slope is positive) or deceleration (if slope is negative).

Question 6

What does a horizontal line at velocity = 0 mean?

Answer 6

The object is at rest.

Question 7

What does the area under a velocity-time graph represent?

Answer 7

The distance travelled by the object.

Question 8

If the velocity-time graph is a curve, what does it indicate?

Answer 8

Changing acceleration (non-uniform acceleration).