Velocity-Time Graph of Motion

We obtain the Velocity-time graph by plotting values of velocities on the y-axis against different values of time (s) on the x-axis. This is shown in the figure below:

The slope, S, of the Vel-time graph (Fig 5.3.1) is:

S = \( \frac {Change \; in \; velocity}{Change \; in \; time} \)

S = \( \frac {V_2 \; – \; V_1}{t_2 \; – \; t_1} = \frac{ΔVel}{Δ time} \scriptsize \) = acceleration

The Slope of the graph represents the acceleration of the body.

The graph above (Fig 5.3.2) represents the uniform acceleration of a body.

The graph (Fig 5.3.3) represents the retardation or deceleration of a body.

The slope of Vel-time graph S is:

S = \( – \frac {Change \; in \; velocity}{Change \; in \; time} \)

S = \( -\frac{ΔVel}{Δ time} \scriptsize \) = retardation or deceleration

The slope of the graph represents the retardation of the body. It is negative because the graph descends from left to right.