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1.3.2Kinematics

Motion Graphs — AP PHYSICS 1 Revision Notes & Topical Questions

5 min read 10 parts Lesson 11 of 14 1 quiz

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Lesson summary

1.3.2 Motion Graphs — AP PHYSICS 1 notes: Interpret position-time, velocity-time and acceleration-time graphs, including slope and area.GraphSlopey-interceptArea under curvePosition-timeInstantaneous velocityInitial positionNo meaningVelocity-timeAccelerationInitial velocityDispl…

  • Constant gradient
  • Curved line
  • Positive slope
  • Horizontal line
  • Straight sloping line
  • Displacement

Section 1 of 10Interpreting motion graphs

GraphSlopey-interceptArea under curve
Position-timeInstantaneous velocityInitial positionNo meaning
Velocity-timeAccelerationInitial velocityDisplacement
Acceleration-timeNo meaningInitial accelerationChange in velocity

Section 2 of 10Position-time graphs

Constant gradient
  • Constant gradient constant velocity
Curved line
  • Curved line acceleration
Positive slope
  • Positive slope motion in the positive direction; negative slope — motion in the negative direction
Horizontal line
  • Horizontal line at rest

Section 3 of 10Velocity-time graphs

Straight sloping line
  • Straight sloping line uniform acceleration
Curve
  • Curve non-uniform acceleration
Horizontal line
  • Horizontal line constant velocity
Area
  • Area displacement, with areas below the axis counted as negative

Section 4 of 10Acceleration-time graphs

Horizontal line
  • Horizontal line constant acceleration
Area
  • Area change in velocity

Section 5 of 10Finding slope

1
For a straight line, calculate Δy/Δx.
2
For a curve, draw a tangent at the chosen point.
3
Calculate the gradient of the tangent.
4
Use a ruler and make the triangle large.

Section 6 of 10Pattern: taxicab on a v-t graph

Shape
  • Shape acceleration, constant velocity, deceleration, rest, then motion in the negative direction
Displacement
  • Displacement the positive area (+9 m) and negative area (−10 m) give a net displacement of −1 m
Return to start
  • Return to start when the negative area equals the positive area (9 m)

Section 7 of 10Sketching graphs

Required
  • Required correct shape and labelled axes
Not required
  • Not required annotation with specific values

Section 8 of 10More from the specification

More from the specification
Motion graph invariance across reference frames
  • Motion graph invariance across reference frames velocity-time slope calculations yield identical acceleration regardless of origin shifts between inertial reference frames.
Stationary
  • Not moving.
Reference frame
  • Coordinate system used by an observer.
Final velocity
  • Velocity at the end, v.
Kinematic equation
  • Equation for constant-acceleration motion.
Kinematic equations
  • Equations relating displacement, velocity, acceleration and time for constant acceleration.
Relative motion
  • Motion of one object measured from another.

Section 9 of 10Key terms

TermMeaning
SlopeGradient of a graph, Δy/Δx.
TangentLine touching a curve at a point.
Area under a graphProduct of the axes quantities, e.g. displacement for v-t.
Uniform accelerationStraight line on a v-t graph.

Section 10 of 10Exam technique

1
Reading the area under a position-time graph as a quantity.
2
Reading the slope of an acceleration-time graph as a quantity.
3
Using a chord instead of a tangent for instantaneous values.
4
Counting areas below the axis as positive.

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