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As we begin our study of motion along a line, three major types of graphs will dominate the picture:
position- time, velocity- time, acceleration- time. Each of the three types have many concepts in
common and connect in many ways to each other.

For each, you must remember that slope = RISE / RUN or m = D y / D x.

You should also remember some of these area equations: AREA of a rectangle = LW; AREA of a
triangle = 1/2 bh; AREA of a trapezoid = 1/2 (h1 + h2)b. (L=length, W= width, b=base, h=height)

The slope of a position, time
graph gives the ratio of change
in position over change in time.
In physics, this is defined as
velocity. For the graph to the
right, the slope is always the
same (as it is for any straight
line). That means that the
velocity (the slope) is constant.
This is true only for a linear
function. The slope AND velocity
have a value of 8/3 or 2.67 m/s.

The slope of a velocity, time
graph is the ratio of change in
velocity per change in time. In
physics, this ratio is
ACCELERATION. The unit on
acceleration is m/sec^2. Once
again, because the slope is
constant for a linear function,
the acceleration has a constant
value of 12/8 or 1.5 m/s^2.

Look at the graphs on the right. If
the axes are labeled position, time,
what physics relationship will the
slope of this graph give you?

Answer the following questions.
The answers will appear in the
box when you place the mouse
over the jumble of letters and
numbers.

1. Which motion has the greatest
positive velocity?

2. Which motion has a negative
velocity?

3. Which motion has zero
velocity?

4. Which object has a change in
position of 4 meters?

USE WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED TO MAKE A
MATCHING ACCELERATION, TIME GRAPH FOR
THIS VELOCITY, TIME GRAPH.