Question

What does velocity mean in motions graphs?

Answer 1

Velocity is the change in position occurring over a change in time. Change in position is known as displacement, and is represented by `Deltad`, and change in time is represented by `Deltat`, and velocity is represented by `(Deltad)/(Deltat)`.

In position vs. time graphs, time is the independent variable and is on the x-axis, and position is the dependent variable and is on the y-axis. The velocity is the slope of the line, and is the change in position/change in time, as determined by `(y_2-y_1)/(x_2-x_1)` = `(d_2-d_1)/(t_2-t_1)` =`(Deltad)/(Deltat)`.

The following position vs. time graph shows the different possibilities when the velocity is constant. Constant velocity is represented by a straight line on a position vs. time graph.

On the graph, Line A represents constant negative velocity. Lines B and D represent constant positive velocity. The steeper slope of Line B indicates a faster velocity than D. Line C indicates a constant velocity of zero, meaning the object is at rest.

The position vs. time graph below indicates that the motion of an object is not constant. Suppose it is a car. For the first 10s, it travels at a constant positive velocity. For the next 5s, its velocity is zero, meaning it has stopped. For the next 25s it travels at a constant negative velocity, and for the last 15s, it travels at a constant positive velocity and returns to its initial position.