PhysicsLAB Resource Lesson
Summary: Graph Shapes for Constant Velocity

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traveling at a constant speed in a positive direction
position-time
s-t
velocity-time
v-t
acceleration-time
a-t
 
On all of these graphs, notice that
  • the slope of the position-time graph "equals" the height of the velocity-time graph
  • the slope of the velocity-time graph "equals" the height of the acceleration-time graph
Also note that the first two position-time graphs, shown immediately above and below, could have been drawn in either quadrant since:
  • quadrant I represents motion in a positive location
  • quadrant IV represents motion in a negative location
 
traveling at a constant speed in a negative direction
position-time
s-t
velocity-time
v-t
acceleration-time
a-t
 
If requested, the rectangular areas on the velocity-time graphs bounded by the horizontal "blue" graphs and the x-axis "equal" the object's displacement during that time interval. The displacement would be positive if calculated in quadrant I and negative if calculated in quadrant IV. The displacement can also be calculated as the difference in the heights on the position-time graph for the same interval of time.
 
remaining at rest
position-time
s-t
velocity-time
v-t
acceleration-time
a-t
 



 
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