College Physics

# 2.8Graphical Analysis of One-Dimensional Motion

College Physics2.8 Graphical Analysis of One-Dimensional Motion

A graph, like a picture, is worth a thousand words. Graphs not only contain numerical information; they also reveal relationships between physical quantities. This section uses graphs of position, velocity, and acceleration versus time to illustrate one-dimensional kinematics.

### Slopes and General Relationships

First note that graphs in this text have perpendicular axes, one horizontal and the other vertical. When two physical quantities are plotted against one another in such a graph, the horizontal axis is usually considered to be an independent variable and the vertical axis a dependent variable. If we call the horizontal axis the $xx size 12{x} {}$-axis and the vertical axis the $yy size 12{y} {}$-axis, as in Figure 2.46, a straight-line graph has the general form

$y=mx+b.y=mx+b. size 12{y= ital "mx"+b} {}$
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Here $mm size 12{m} {}$ is the slope, defined to be the rise divided by the run (as seen in the figure) of the straight line. The letter $bb size 12{b} {}$ is used for the y-intercept, which is the point at which the line crosses the vertical axis.

Figure 2.46 A straight-line graph. The equation for a straight line is $y = mx + b y = mx + b size 12{y= ital "mx"+b} {}$ .

### Graph of Position vs. Time (a = 0, so v is constant)

Time is usually an independent variable that other quantities, such as position, depend upon. A graph of position versus time would, thus, have $xx size 12{x} {}$ on the vertical axis and $tt size 12{t} {}$ on the horizontal axis. Figure 2.47 is just such a straight-line graph. It shows a graph of position versus time for a jet-powered car on a very flat dry lake bed in Nevada.

Figure 2.47 Graph of position versus time for a jet-powered car on the Bonneville Salt Flats.

Using the relationship between dependent and independent variables, we see that the slope in the graph above is average velocity $v-v- size 12{ { bar {v}}} {}$ and the intercept is position at time zero—that is, $x0x0 size 12{x rSub { size 8{0} } } {}$. Substituting these symbols into $y=mx+by=mx+b size 12{y= ital "mx"+b} {}$ gives

$x = v - t + x 0 x = v - t + x 0 size 12{x= { bar {v}}t+x rSub { size 8{0} } } {}$
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or

$x=x0+v-t.x=x0+v-t. size 12{x=x rSub { size 8{0} } + { bar {v}}t} {}$
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Thus a graph of position versus time gives a general relationship among displacement(change in position), velocity, and time, as well as giving detailed numerical information about a specific situation.

### The Slope of x vs. t

The slope of the graph of position $xx size 12{x} {}$ vs. time $tt size 12{t} {}$ is velocity $vv size 12{v} {}$.

$slope = Δ x Δt = v slope = Δ x Δt = v$
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Notice that this equation is the same as that derived algebraically from other motion equations in Motion Equations for Constant Acceleration in One Dimension.

From the figure we can see that the car has a position of 525 m at 0.50 s and 2000 m at 6.40 s. Its position at other times can be read from the graph; furthermore, information about its velocity and acceleration can also be obtained from the graph.

### Example 2.17Determining Average Velocity from a Graph of Position versus Time: Jet Car

Find the average velocity of the car whose position is graphed in Figure 2.47.

Strategy

The slope of a graph of $xx size 12{x} {}$ vs. $tt size 12{t} {}$ is average velocity, since slope equals rise over run. In this case, rise = change in position and run = change in time, so that

$slope = Δ x Δt = v- . slope = Δ x Δt = v- .$
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Since the slope is constant here, any two points on the graph can be used to find the slope. (Generally speaking, it is most accurate to use two widely separated points on the straight line. This is because any error in reading data from the graph is proportionally smaller if the interval is larger.)

Solution

1. Choose two points on the line. In this case, we choose the points labeled on the graph: (6.4 s, 2000 m) and (0.50 s, 525 m). (Note, however, that you could choose any two points.)

2. Substitute the $xx$ and $tt$ values of the chosen points into the equation. Remember in calculating change $(Δ)(Δ) size 12{ $$Δ$$ } {}$ we always use final value minus initial value.

$v-= Δx Δt =2000 m−525 m6.4 s−0.50 s,v-= Δx Δt =2000 m−525 m6.4 s−0.50 s, size 12{ { bar {v}}= { {Δx} over {Δt} } = { {"2000 m" - "525 m"} over {6 "." "4 s" - 0 "." "50 s"} } } {}$
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yielding

$v-=250 m/s.v-=250 m/s. size 12{ { bar {v}}="250 m/s"} {}$
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Discussion

This is an impressively large land speed (900 km/h, or about 560 mi/h): much greater than the typical highway speed limit of 60 mi/h (27 m/s or 96 km/h), but considerably shy of the record of 343 m/s (1234 km/h or 766 mi/h) set in 1997.

### Graphs of Motion when $aa size 12{a} {}$ is constant but $a≠0a≠0 size 12{a <> 0} {}$

The graphs in Figure 2.48 below represent the motion of the jet-powered car as it accelerates toward its top speed, but only during the time when its acceleration is constant. Time starts at zero for this motion (as if measured with a stopwatch), and the position and velocity are initially 200 m and 15 m/s, respectively.

Figure 2.48 Graphs of motion of a jet-powered car during the time span when its acceleration is constant. (a) The slope of an $xx size 12{x} {}$ vs. $tt size 12{t} {}$ graph is velocity. This is shown at two points, and the instantaneous velocities obtained are plotted in the next graph. Instantaneous velocity at any point is the slope of the tangent at that point. (b) The slope of the $vv size 12{v} {}$ vs. $tt size 12{t} {}$ graph is constant for this part of the motion, indicating constant acceleration. (c) Acceleration has the constant value of $5.0 m/s25.0 m/s2 size 12{5 "." "0 m/s" rSup { size 8{2} } } {}$ over the time interval plotted.
Figure 2.49 A U.S. Air Force jet car speeds down a track. (credit: Matt Trostle, Flickr)

The graph of position versus time in Figure 2.48(a) is a curve rather than a straight line. The slope of the curve becomes steeper as time progresses, showing that the velocity is increasing over time. The slope at any point on a position-versus-time graph is the instantaneous velocity at that point. It is found by drawing a straight line tangent to the curve at the point of interest and taking the slope of this straight line. Tangent lines are shown for two points in Figure 2.48(a). If this is done at every point on the curve and the values are plotted against time, then the graph of velocity versus time shown in Figure 2.48(b) is obtained. Furthermore, the slope of the graph of velocity versus time is acceleration, which is shown in Figure 2.48(c).

### Example 2.18Determining Instantaneous Velocity from the Slope at a Point: Jet Car

Calculate the velocity of the jet car at a time of 25 s by finding the slope of the $xx size 12{x} {}$ vs. $tt size 12{t} {}$ graph in the graph below.

Figure 2.50 The slope of an $xx size 12{x} {}$ vs. $tt size 12{t} {}$ graph is velocity. This is shown at two points. Instantaneous velocity at any point is the slope of the tangent at that point.

Strategy

The slope of a curve at a point is equal to the slope of a straight line tangent to the curve at that point. This principle is illustrated in Figure 2.50, where Q is the point at $t=25 st=25 s size 12{t="25"s} {}$.

Solution

1. Find the tangent line to the curve at $t=25 st=25 s size 12{t="25"s} {}$.

2. Determine the endpoints of the tangent. These correspond to a position of 1300 m at time 19 s and a position of 3120 m at time 32 s.

3. Plug these endpoints into the equation to solve for the slope, $vv size 12{v} {}$.

$slope = v Q = Δx Q Δt Q = 3120 m − 1300 m 32 s − 19 s slope = v Q = Δx Q Δt Q = 3120 m − 1300 m 32 s − 19 s size 12{"slope"=v rSub { size 8{Q} } = { {Δx rSub { size 8{Q} } } over {Δt rSub { size 8{Q} } } } = { { left ("3120"m - "1300"m right )} over { left ("32"s - "19"s right )} } } {}$
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Thus,

$v Q = 1820 m 13 s = 140 m/s. v Q = 1820 m 13 s = 140 m/s.$
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Discussion

This is the value given in this figure’s table for $vv size 12{v} {}$ at $t=25 st=25 s$. The value of 140 m/s for $vQvQ$ is plotted in Figure 2.50. The entire graph of $vv$ vs. $tt$ can be obtained in this fashion.

Carrying this one step further, we note that the slope of a velocity versus time graph is acceleration. Slope is rise divided by run; on a $vv size 12{v} {}$ vs. $tt$ graph, rise = change in velocity $ΔvΔv size 12{Dv} {}$ and run = change in time $ΔtΔt size 12{Dt} {}$.

### The Slope of v vs. t

The slope of a graph of velocity $vv size 12{v} {}$ vs. time $tt size 12{t} {}$ is acceleration $aa size 12{a} {}$.

$slope = Δv Δt = a slope = Δv Δt = a$
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Since the velocity versus time graph in Figure 2.48(b) is a straight line, its slope is the same everywhere, implying that acceleration is constant. Acceleration versus time is graphed in Figure 2.48(c).

Additional general information can be obtained from Figure 2.50 and the expression for a straight line, $y=mx+by=mx+b size 12{y= ital "mx"+b} {}$.

In this case, the vertical axis $yy size 12{y} {}$ is $VV size 12{V} {}$, the intercept $bb size 12{b} {}$ is $v0v0 size 12{v rSub { size 8{0} } } {}$, the slope $mm size 12{m} {}$ is $aa size 12{a} {}$, and the horizontal axis $xx size 12{x} {}$ is $tt size 12{t} {}$. Substituting these symbols yields

$v=v0+at.v=v0+at. size 12{v=v rSub { size 8{0} } + ital "at"} {}$
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A general relationship for velocity, acceleration, and time has again been obtained from a graph. Notice that this equation was also derived algebraically from other motion equations in Motion Equations for Constant Acceleration in One Dimension.

It is not accidental that the same equations are obtained by graphical analysis as by algebraic techniques. In fact, an important way to discover physical relationships is to measure various physical quantities and then make graphs of one quantity against another to see if they are correlated in any way. Correlations imply physical relationships and might be shown by smooth graphs such as those above. From such graphs, mathematical relationships can sometimes be postulated. Further experiments are then performed to determine the validity of the hypothesized relationships.

### Graphs of Motion Where Acceleration is Not Constant

Now consider the motion of the jet car as it goes from 165 m/s to its top velocity of 250 m/s, graphed in Figure 2.51. Time again starts at zero, and the initial position and velocity are 2900 m and 165 m/s, respectively. (These were the final position and velocity of the car in the motion graphed in Figure 2.48.) Acceleration gradually decreases from $5.0 m/s25.0 m/s2$ to zero when the car hits 250 m/s. The slope of the $xx$ vs. $tt$ graph increases until $t=55 st=55 s size 12{t="55"s} {}$, after which time the slope is constant. Similarly, velocity increases until 55 s and then becomes constant, since acceleration decreases to zero at 55 s and remains zero afterward.

Figure 2.51 Graphs of motion of a jet-powered car as it reaches its top velocity. This motion begins where the motion in Figure 2.48 ends. (a) The slope of this graph is velocity; it is plotted in the next graph. (b) The velocity gradually approaches its top value. The slope of this graph is acceleration; it is plotted in the final graph. (c) Acceleration gradually declines to zero when velocity becomes constant.

### Example 2.19Calculating Acceleration from a Graph of Velocity versus Time

Calculate the acceleration of the jet car at a time of 25 s by finding the slope of the $vv size 12{v} {}$ vs. $tt size 12{t} {}$ graph in Figure 2.51(b).

Strategy

The slope of the curve at $t=25 st=25 s size 12{t="25"s} {}$ is equal to the slope of the line tangent at that point, as illustrated in Figure 2.51(b).

Solution

Determine endpoints of the tangent line from the figure, and then plug them into the equation to solve for slope, $aa size 12{a} {}$.

$slope = Δv Δt = 260 m/s − 210 m/s 51 s − 1.0 s slope = Δv Δt = 260 m/s − 210 m/s 51 s − 1.0 s$
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$a=50 m/s50 s=1.0 m/s2.a=50 m/s50 s=1.0 m/s2.$
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Discussion

Note that this value for $aa$ is consistent with the value plotted in Figure 2.51(c) at $t=25 st=25 s size 12{t="25"s} {}$.

A graph of position versus time can be used to generate a graph of velocity versus time, and a graph of velocity versus time can be used to generate a graph of acceleration versus time. We do this by finding the slope of the graphs at every point. If the graph is linear (i.e., a line with a constant slope), it is easy to find the slope at any point and you have the slope for every point. Graphical analysis of motion can be used to describe both specific and general characteristics of kinematics. Graphs can also be used for other topics in physics. An important aspect of exploring physical relationships is to graph them and look for underlying relationships.