Determine Velocity using the Gradient of a Displacement-Time Graph

Rajesh Naik

Graphs give a visual representation of the manner in which one variable changes with another. Looking at motion graphs can help us to see what is happening over a period of time.

Displacement time graphs

Figure 3.1 shows the displacement of a body that increases uniformly with time. This shows constant velocity. The magnitude of the velocity is equal to the gradient of the graph.

$\displaystyle\ v = gradient = \frac{\Delta s}{\Delta t}$

Displacement $s / m s^ { -1}$