Graphing Motion
 

Position - Time Graph

 
        Time is always on the X axis
            Considered independent variable

        Position is on the Y axis
            Distance  or Velocity
 

Position – Time Graph
 

    During the first 5 seconds,
    the line on the graph slopes up 10 m for every 1 second along the horizontal (time) axis.
     slope of the line is +10 meter/1 second.
     the slope of the line (10 m/s) is obviously equal to the velocity of the car.
 
 
 

    A car moving at a constant velocity of +5 m/s for 5 seconds,
    abruptly stopping, and then remaining at rest (v = 0 m/s) for 5 seconds.
 
 

Calculating Slope 

slope of a line is found by
determining the amount of rise of the line between any two points
divided by the amount of run of the line between the same two points.

 

Slope  = DY  = Y2 - Y1 = rise
                                                        DX     X2 - X1     run

Pick two points on the line and determine their coordinates.
Determine the difference in y-coordinates of these two points (rise).
Determine the difference in x-coordinates for these two points (run).
Divide the difference in y-coordinates by the difference in x-coordinates (rise/run or slope).
 

 
 
Check out this webpage for more information:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/physics/forces/speedvelocityaccelerationfhrev2.shtml