There are two important types of graph that we need to be familiar with, which are speed-time and distance-time graphs. In each of these, time is measured along the x-axis.

They can give us lots of useful information, particularly if we remember that the gradient of a distance time graph tells us the speed travelled, the gradient of a speed time graph tells us the acceleration and the area under a speed time graph tells us distance travelled. We must, of course, be careful with the units of measurement.

Let’s look at some to get the idea of the kind of information we can get from them:

Exercise

Let’s complete exercise 11C on pages 167 to 169 of the textbook:

Below are the answers: