Drawing Travel Graphs (Edexcel International A Level (IAL) Maths: Mechanics 1): Revision Note

Drawing Travel Graphs

How do I draw a displacement-time graph or a velocity-time graph?

• You may be asked to draw a displacement-time graph or a velocity-time graph

• You will be given information about different sections of a journey and must draw each section and label the points on the axes

• Remember that time will always be on the x-axis

• Always remember to include units when you label the axis

• Use appropriate facts about the gradient and area under the graph to work backwards and find relevant or missing information

  • The gradient of a displacement-time graph is the velocity and the gradient of a velocity-time graph is the acceleration

  • The area between a velocity-time graph and the x-axis is the displacement

How do I draw an acceleration-time graph?

• Most of the time the acceleration will be constant so you have to draw horizontal lines

• There will be discontinuities in the graph if the object instantaneously changes from acceleration at a constant rate to moving with constant velocity

• The area between an acceleration-time graph and the x-axis is the change in velocity

• You might not be given the acceleration but instead expected to calculate it

  • Remember acceleration is the rate of change of velocity

  • If acceleration is constant then:

    •