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Tuesday, 24 March 2015

Understanding Velocity-Time graphs



Velocity-Time graph of various types of motion of a body:
In velocity –time graphs the interpretation is based on acceleration of the object. It is because acceleration is defined as





Case-1: The graph is as given below:

Understanding Graph: In the graph the line OA is a straight line and is parallel to time axis. So object is moving with constant velocity.So change in velocity is “Zero”


Interpretation: The slope of this graph (representing the instantaneous acceleration) is zero, i.e., acceleration is zero.






Case-2: The graph is as given below:


Understanding Graph: The velocity-time graph is an oblique Straight line, passing through origin. So the body is moving with a constant acceleration and its initial velocity is zero,

Interpretation: Slope of graph represents acceleration, which is positive. Thus greater will be the slope of straight line OA, greater will be the instantaneous acceleration.






Case-3: The graph is as given below:

Understanding Graph: When a body is moving with a constant acceleration and its initial velocity is not zero, the velocity- time graph is an oblique straight line AB not passing through origin. So body is moving with a constant acceleration and its initial velocity is not zero.

Interpretation:  OA represents the initial velocity of the body and the area enclosed by the velocity-time graph with time axis represents the distance traveled by the body in a given time.






Case-4: The graph is as given below:

Understanding Graph: In the velocity- time graph is an oblique straight line AB, not passing through origin. Shows that a body is moving with a constant retardation and its initial velocity is not zero.
Interpretation: 
 












Case-5: The graph is as given below:

Understanding Graph: The velocity- time graph is a curve with bend upwards. Which means the body is moving with increasing acceleration.

Interpretation: The slope of velocity-time graph (i.e. instantaneous acceleration) increases with time, i.e., acceleration is increasing with time.










Case-6: The graph is as given below:

Understanding Graph: The velocity- time graph is a curve with bend downwards. Which means the body is moving with negative acceleration.

Interpretation: The slope of velocity-time graph (i.e. instantaneous acceleration) decreases with time, i.e., acceleration is negative.


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