Motion Graph Practice
Label axes, include units, and describe each segment in words before calculating a gradient.
Learning objective
A printable worksheet for interpreting distance-time data, slope and changing motion.
Questions
1. A cyclist travels 0 m at 0 s, 20 m at 4 s and 40 m at 8 s. Find the average speed.
2. A distance-time graph is horizontal for 5 minutes. What does this show?
3. A runner covers 30 m in 6 s, rests for 4 s, then covers 20 m in 5 s. Find total distance and total time.
4. Why can a steeper distance-time segment represent faster motion?
Answer section
- 1. 5 m/s.
- 2. The object is stationary during that interval.
- 3. 50 m in 15 s; average speed is 3.33 m/s approximately.
- 4. A steeper gradient means more distance is covered per unit time.
Check your method: An answer is stronger when the working, unit, diagram or explanation makes the choice visible.