Distance and Motion - St. Mary's H.S.

Analyzing Motion Plots - St. Mary's H.S.

V. Finding displacement using V vs t graphs

Area under the plot between = displacement (distance) 

 

Ex) What is the displacement this object covered from t = 0 to t = 6 seconds?

d = Area of the triangle:

 

 = 1/2bh

 

 

= 1/2(6 sec)(70m/s)

 

 

= 210 m

 

Ex 1)

Speed (m/s)
Object's displacement from t = 1 sec to t = 3 sec?
Speed (m/s)

d= Area = base x height

= (2 sec)(10 m/s) = 20 m

 

Ex 2) Object's displacement from t = 6 sec to t = 8 sec ?

d = area of trapezoid

 

 

= 1/2 (h1 + h2) x base

 

• Answer
d =  (25 m/s + 10 m/s) (2 sec)
  2    

 

= 35 m

 

 

Displacement, V, t Graph - St. Mary's Physics