Physics
State how the velocity-time graph can be used to find —
(i) the acceleration of a body,
(ii) the distance travelled by the body in a given time, and
(iii) the displacement of the body in a given time.
Answer
(i) Acceleration of a body — As acceleration is equal to the ratio of change in velocity and time taken, therefore, the slope ( or gradient ) of the velocity-time graph gives the acceleration.
(ii) Distance travelled by the body in a given time — The total distance travelled by the body is obtained by the arithmetic sum of the positive displacement and negative displacement (without sign).
(iii) Displacement of the body — As the product of velocity and time gives the displacement, therefore, the area enclosed between the velocity-time sketch and X - axis (i.e., the time axis) gives the displacement of the body.
The total displacement is obtained by adding positive displacement and negative displacement numerically with proper sign.
Related Questions
Draw a displacement-time graph for a boy going to school with a uniform velocity.
Can displacement-time sketch be parallel to the displacement axis ? Give reason to your answer.
What can you say about the nature of motion of a body if its displacement-time graph is —
(a) a straight line parallel to time axis?
(b) a straight line inclined to the time axis with an acute angle?
(c) a straight line inclined to the time axis with an obtuse angle?
(d) a curve
The figure shows displacement-time graph of two vehicles A and B moving along a straight road. Which vehicle is moving faster? Give reason.
