• A speed-time graph shows how the speed of a moving object varies with time

  • The red line represents an object with increasing speed

  • The green line represents an object with decreasing speed

    
    

Acceleration on a Speed-Time Graph

• Speed-time graphs also show the following information:

  • If the object is moving with a constant acceleration or deceleration

  • The magnitude of the acceleration or deceleration

  
  

• A straight line represents constant acceleration

• The slope of the line represents the magnitude of acceleration

  • A steep slope means large acceleration (or deceleration) - i.e. the object's speed changes very quickly

  • A gentle slope means small acceleration (or deceleration) - i.e. the object's speed changes very gradually

  • A flat line means the acceleration is zero - i.e. the object is moving with a constant speed

• The distance travelled by an object can be found by determining the area beneath the graph

The distance travelled can be found from the area beneath the graph