Motion 3.1 Velocity vs. Time graphs

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Motion 3.1 Velocity vs. Time graphs

General shape of graph: http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/1DKin/U1L4a.cfm

Motion comparison: http://tube.geogebra.org/student/m1392369

Velocity vs. Time graphs represent an object's velocity, which contains both magnitude and direction because it is a vector quantity. Velocity can be represented by both positive and negative direction on a velocity time graph, where when the line is in the positive, the object is traveling away from the origin and if the line is negative, it is traveling toward the origin.

You can tell if an object is moving at a constant velocity or if it is accelerating based on the object's slope. If the line is horizontal or has a slope of zero, it is moving at a constant velocity. If the line has a slope, then it is accelerating.

Positive Velocity Zero Acceleration	Positive Velocity Positive Acceleration