Motion graphs _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. The slope of a position-time graph

If you imagined these lines to be hills, you would say that the line from graph 2 is steeper than the line from graph 1. Line 2 has a greater slope than line 1.

The slope of a position-time graph gives information about an object's velocity.

For example, a small slope means a small velocity; a negative slope means a negative velocity; a constant slope (straight line) means a constant velocity; a changing slope (curved line) means a changing velocity.

Thus, the shape of the line on the graph (straight, curving, steeply sloped, mildly sloped, etc.) is descriptive of the object's motion.

Even more, the slope of the line on a position-time graph is equal to the velocity of the object.

If the object is moving with a velocity of +4 m/s, then the slope of the line will be +4 m/s.

If the object is moving with a velocity of -8 m/s, then the slope of the line will be -8 m/s.

If the object has a velocity of 0 m/s, then the slope of the line will be 0 m/s.

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L

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C