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This lesson covers distance-time graphs and velocity-time graphs — as required by the Edexcel GCSE Physics specification (1PH0), Topic 2: Motion and Forces. You need to be able to interpret, draw and extract information from both types of graph, including calculating speed, acceleration and distance.
A distance-time graph plots the distance an object has travelled (y-axis) against the time taken (x-axis).
| Shape of Graph | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Horizontal line | The object is stationary (not moving) |
| Straight line going up | The object is moving at constant speed |
| Steep straight line | Moving at a higher constant speed |
| Shallow straight line | Moving at a lower constant speed |
| Curve getting steeper | The object is accelerating (speeding up) |
| Curve getting shallower | The object is decelerating (slowing down) |
The gradient (slope) of a distance-time graph gives the speed:
Speed = Distance ÷ Time = Gradient of the line
For a straight line: choose two points, calculate rise ÷ run.
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