Experiment 1 — Read the Motion Graph

Topic: Physics · Class 9 · Motion: distance–time and velocity–time graphs

Aim: Produce a velocity–time graph that is a straight sloping line and read an acceleration of 2 m/s² from it.

Daily: A speedometer needle climbing steadily, a train pulling out of a station, a ball rolling down a ramp — every one of them draws one of these graphs, whether anyone plots it or not.

Decel: a curve that flattens out

Uniform: a horizontal line at 6 m/s

Accel: a straight line sloping upwards

Decel: a straight line sloping downwards

Question: On a velocity–time graph, what does the area under the line represent?

Exp: Velocity × time gives distance, so the enclosed area is the distance covered.

Question: The slope of a distance–time graph gives…

Exp: Rise over run is metres per second.

Question: A horizontal line on a velocity–time graph means…

Question: Which equation finds v when u, a and t are known?

Exp: The first equation of motion.

Question: A car going round a circular track at steady speed…

Exp: Velocity is a vector; changing direction is acceleration.