Lesson 5 of 12 · Kinematics
Lesson⭐ 30 XPVelocity-Time Graphs and the Area Underneath
Kinematics.
🎯 Your mission
Learn the rule. Then catch nature using it.
⚡ The twist
Nature loves to surprise the careful watcher.
Mind = Blown
🔬 The more you look, the more nature shows you.
Make a hypothesis first
Before you start: write down what you think will happen, and why.
What You'll Learn
On a velocity-time graph the gradient gives acceleration and the area under the line gives displacement. A trapezium under the line is often the quickest way to find how far something travelled while speeding up.
Key Words
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Steps
Read the explanation above and note the two key terms before you start.
Sketch a velocity-time graph for a bus that accelerates from rest to 12 m/s in 6 s, holds that speed for 10 s, then brakes to rest in 4 s. Find the displacement by splitting the area into a triangle, a rectangle and a triangle, and check your total against the trapezium rule.
Record what actually happened, including anything that did not match what you expected.
Write a conclusion that answers the question this lesson opened with, and state your uncertainty.
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
1 of 2On a velocity-time graph, the area under the line gives:
Where you see this in real life
This shows up in your everyday life more than you'd think.
Stretch Challenge
Try this in real life this week.
Try one experiment in real life this week — even a tiny one.
For the dinner table
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Velocity-Time Graphs and the Area Underneath
Learn the rule. Then catch nature using it.
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