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A graph of velocity vs. time of a ship coming into a harbor is shown below. (a) Describe the motion of the ship based on the graph. (b)What would a graph of the ship’s acceleration look like?

Line graph of velocity versus time. The line has three legs. The first leg is flat. The second leg has a negative slope. The third leg also has a negative slope, but the slope is not as negative as the second leg.

(a) The ship moves at constant velocity and then begins to decelerate at a constant rate. At some point, its deceleration rate decreases. It maintains this lower deceleration rate until it stops moving.

(b) A graph of acceleration vs. time would show zero acceleration in the first leg, large and constant negative acceleration in the second leg, and constant negative acceleration.

A line graph of acceleration versus time. There are three legs of the graph. All three legs are flat and straight. The first leg shows constant acceleration of 0. The second leg shows a constant negative acceleration. The third leg shows a constant negative acceleration that is not as negative as the second leg.
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Section summary

  • Graphs of motion can be used to analyze motion.
  • Graphical solutions yield identical solutions to mathematical methods for deriving motion equations.
  • The slope of a graph of displacement x size 12{x} {} vs. time t size 12{t} {} is velocity v size 12{v} {} .
  • The slope of a graph of velocity v size 12{v} {} vs. time t size 12{t} {} graph is acceleration a size 12{a} {} .
  • Average velocity, instantaneous velocity, and acceleration can all be obtained by analyzing graphs.

Conceptual questions

(a) Explain how you can use the graph of position versus time in [link] to describe the change in velocity over time. Identify (b) the time ( t a , t b , t c , t d , or t e ) at which the instantaneous velocity is greatest, (c) the time at which it is zero, and (d) the time at which it is negative.

Line graph of position versus time with 5 points labeled: a, b, c, d, and e. The slope of the line changes. It begins with a positive slope that decreases over time until around point d, where it is flat. It then has a slightly negative slope.
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(a) Sketch a graph of velocity versus time corresponding to the graph of displacement versus time given in [link] . (b) Identify the time or times ( t a , t b , t c , etc.) at which the instantaneous velocity is greatest. (c) At which times is it zero? (d) At which times is it negative?

Line graph of position over time with 12 points labeled a through l. Line has a negative slope from a to c, where it turns and has a positive slope till point e. It turns again and has a negative slope till point g. The slope then increases again till l, where it flattens out.
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(a) Explain how you can determine the acceleration over time from a velocity versus time graph such as the one in [link] . (b) Based on the graph, how does acceleration change over time?

Line graph of velocity over time with two points labeled. Point P is at v 1 t 1. Point Q is at v 2 t 2. The line has a positive slope that increases over time.
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(a) Sketch a graph of acceleration versus time corresponding to the graph of velocity versus time given in [link] . (b) Identify the time or times ( t a , t b , t c , etc.) at which the acceleration is greatest. (c) At which times is it zero? (d) At which times is it negative?

Line graph of velocity over time with 12 points labeled a through l. The line has a positive slope from a at the origin to d where it slopes downward to e, and then back upward to h. It then slopes back down to point l at v equals 0.

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Consider the velocity vs. time graph of a person in an elevator shown in [link] . Suppose the elevator is initially at rest. It then accelerates for 3 seconds, maintains that velocity for 15 seconds, then decelerates for 5 seconds until it stops. The acceleration for the entire trip is not constant so we cannot use the equations of motion from Motion Equations for Constant Acceleration in One Dimension for the complete trip. (We could, however, use them in the three individual sections where acceleration is a constant.) Sketch graphs of (a) position vs. time and (b) acceleration vs. time for this trip.

Line graph of velocity versus time. Line begins at the origin and has a positive slope until it reaches 3 meters per second at 3 seconds. The slope is then zero until 18 seconds, where it becomes negative until the line reaches a velocity of 0 at 23 seconds.
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A cylinder is given a push and then rolls up an inclined plane. If the origin is the starting point, sketch the position, velocity, and acceleration of the cylinder vs. time as it goes up and then down the plane.

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Problems&Exercises

Note: There is always uncertainty in numbers taken from graphs. If your answers differ from expected values, examine them to see if they are within data extraction uncertainties estimated by you.

(a) By taking the slope of the curve in [link] , verify that the velocity of the jet car is 115 m/s at t = 20 s size 12{t="20"`s} {} . (b) By taking the slope of the curve at any point in [link] , verify that the jet car’s acceleration is 5 . 0 m/s 2 size 12{5 "." "0 m/s" rSup { size 8{2} } } {} .

Line graph of position over time. Line has positive slope that increases over time.
Line graph of velocity versus time. Line is straight with a positive slope.

(a) 115 m/s size 12{"115 m/s"} {}

(b) 5 . 0 m/s 2 size 12{5 "." "0 m/s" rSup { size 8{2} } } {}

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Using approximate values, calculate the slope of the curve in [link] to verify that the velocity at t = 10.0 s size 12{t="10"`s} {} is 0.208 m/s. Assume all values are known to 3 significant figures.

Line graph of position versus time. Line is straight with a positive slope.
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Using approximate values, calculate the slope of the curve in [link] to verify that the velocity at t = 30.0 s is 0.238 m/s. Assume all values are known to 3 significant figures.

v = ( 11.7 6.95 ) × 10 3 m ( 40 . 0 – 20 .0 ) s = 238 m/s
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By taking the slope of the curve in [link] , verify that the acceleration is 3 . 2 m /s 2 at t = 10 s size 12{t="10"`s} {} .

Line graph of velocity versus time. Line has a positive slope that decreases over time until the line flattens out.
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Construct the displacement graph for the subway shuttle train as shown in [link] (a). Your graph should show the position of the train, in kilometers, from t = 0 to 20 s. You will need to use the information on acceleration and velocity given in the examples for this figure.

Line graph of position versus time. Line begins with a slight positive slope. It then kinks to a much greater positive slope.
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(a) Take the slope of the curve in [link] to find the jogger’s velocity at t = 2 . 5 s size 12{t=2 "." 5`s} {} . (b) Repeat at 7.5 s. These values must be consistent with the graph in [link] .

Line graph of position over time. Line begins sloping upward, then kinks back down, then kinks back upward again.
Line graph of velocity over time. Line begins with a positive slope, then kinks downward with a negative slope, then kinks back upward again. It kinks back down again slightly, then back up again, and ends with a slightly less positive slope.
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A graph of v t is shown for a world-class track sprinter in a 100-m race. (See [link] ). (a) What is his average velocity for the first 4 s? (b) What is his instantaneous velocity at t = 5 s ? (c) What is his average acceleration between 0 and 4 s? (d) What is his time for the race?

Line graph of velocity versus time. The line has two legs. The first has a constant positive slope. The second is flat, with a slope of 0.

(a) 6 m/s

(b) 12 m/s

(c) 3 m/s 2 size 12{"3 m/s" rSup { size 8{2} } } {}

(d) 10 s

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[link] shows the displacement graph for a particle for 5 s. Draw the corresponding velocity and acceleration graphs.

Line graph of position versus time. The line has 4 legs. The first leg has a positive slope. The second leg has a negative slope. The third has a slope of 0. The fourth has a positive slope.
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Questions & Answers

how did you get 1640
Noor Reply
If auger is pair are the roots of equation x2+5x-3=0
Peter Reply
Wayne and Dennis like to ride the bike path from Riverside Park to the beach. Dennis’s speed is seven miles per hour faster than Wayne’s speed, so it takes Wayne 2 hours to ride to the beach while it takes Dennis 1.5 hours for the ride. Find the speed of both bikers.
MATTHEW Reply
420
Sharon
from theory: distance [miles] = speed [mph] × time [hours] info #1 speed_Dennis × 1.5 = speed_Wayne × 2 => speed_Wayne = 0.75 × speed_Dennis (i) info #2 speed_Dennis = speed_Wayne + 7 [mph] (ii) use (i) in (ii) => [...] speed_Dennis = 28 mph speed_Wayne = 21 mph
George
Let W be Wayne's speed in miles per hour and D be Dennis's speed in miles per hour. We know that W + 7 = D and W * 2 = D * 1.5. Substituting the first equation into the second: W * 2 = (W + 7) * 1.5 W * 2 = W * 1.5 + 7 * 1.5 0.5 * W = 7 * 1.5 W = 7 * 3 or 21 W is 21 D = W + 7 D = 21 + 7 D = 28
Salma
Devon is 32 32​​ years older than his son, Milan. The sum of both their ages is 54 54​. Using the variables d d​ and m m​ to represent the ages of Devon and Milan, respectively, write a system of equations to describe this situation. Enter the equations below, separated by a comma.
Aaron Reply
find product (-6m+6) ( 3m²+4m-3)
SIMRAN Reply
-42m²+60m-18
Salma
what is the solution
bill
how did you arrive at this answer?
bill
-24m+3+3mÁ^2
Susan
i really want to learn
Amira
I only got 42 the rest i don't know how to solve it. Please i need help from anyone to help me improve my solving mathematics please
Amira
Hw did u arrive to this answer.
Aphelele
hi
Bajemah
-6m(3mA²+4m-3)+6(3mA²+4m-3) =-18m²A²-24m²+18m+18mA²+24m-18 Rearrange like items -18m²A²-24m²+42m+18A²-18
Salma
complete the table of valuesfor each given equatio then graph. 1.x+2y=3
Jovelyn Reply
x=3-2y
Salma
y=x+3/2
Salma
Hi
Enock
given that (7x-5):(2+4x)=8:7find the value of x
Nandala
3x-12y=18
Kelvin
please why isn't that the 0is in ten thousand place
Grace Reply
please why is it that the 0is in the place of ten thousand
Grace
Send the example to me here and let me see
Stephen
A meditation garden is in the shape of a right triangle, with one leg 7 feet. The length of the hypotenuse is one more than the length of one of the other legs. Find the lengths of the hypotenuse and the other leg
Marry Reply
how far
Abubakar
cool u
Enock
state in which quadrant or on which axis each of the following angles given measure. in standard position would lie 89°
Abegail Reply
hello
BenJay
hi
Method
I am eliacin, I need your help in maths
Rood
how can I help
Sir
hmm can we speak here?
Amoon
however, may I ask you some questions about Algarba?
Amoon
hi
Enock
what the last part of the problem mean?
Roger
The Jones family took a 15 mile canoe ride down the Indian River in three hours. After lunch, the return trip back up the river took five hours. Find the rate, in mph, of the canoe in still water and the rate of the current.
cameron Reply
Shakir works at a computer store. His weekly pay will be either a fixed amount, $925, or $500 plus 12% of his total sales. How much should his total sales be for his variable pay option to exceed the fixed amount of $925.
mahnoor Reply
I'm guessing, but it's somewhere around $4335.00 I think
Lewis
12% of sales will need to exceed 925 - 500, or 425 to exceed fixed amount option. What amount of sales does that equal? 425 ÷ (12÷100) = 3541.67. So the answer is sales greater than 3541.67. Check: Sales = 3542 Commission 12%=425.04 Pay = 500 + 425.04 = 925.04. 925.04 > 925.00
Munster
difference between rational and irrational numbers
Arundhati Reply
When traveling to Great Britain, Bethany exchanged $602 US dollars into £515 British pounds. How many pounds did she receive for each US dollar?
Jakoiya Reply
how to reduced echelon form
Solomon Reply
Jazmine trained for 3 hours on Saturday. She ran 8 miles and then biked 24 miles. Her biking speed is 4 mph faster than her running speed. What is her running speed?
Zack Reply
d=r×t the equation would be 8/r+24/r+4=3 worked out
Sheirtina
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Source:  OpenStax, College physics. OpenStax CNX. Jul 27, 2015 Download for free at http://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11406/1.9
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