GCSE Physics Revision — Velocity-Time Graphs
Revise Velocity-Time Graphs for GCSE Physics with a topic explanation, worked example and common mistakes. Check the board notes for specification differences.
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What is Velocity-Time Graphs?
A velocity-time graph plots the velocity of an object against time. The gradient of the line represents acceleration, and the area under the graph represents the displacement (distance travelled in a given direction). A horizontal line indicates constant velocity, a straight, sloping line shows constant acceleration, and a curved line means the acceleration is changing.
Board notes: Covered by all major boards (AQA, Edexcel, OCR). Higher Tier questions often involve more complex graphs and calculations of area.
Step-by-step explanationWorked examples
Worked example
A car accelerates uniformly from rest to 15 m/s in 5 seconds. What is its acceleration and how far did it travel? Solution: Acceleration is the gradient: a = (15-0)/5 = 3 m/s². The distance is the area under the graph (a triangle): Area = 1/2 x base x height = 0.5 x 5s x 15 m/s = 37.5m.
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Start with low-focus cards for Velocity-Time Graphs, then move into full exam-style practice when you want the heavier session.
Common mistakes
- 1Confusing a velocity-time graph with a distance-time graph. On a velocity-time graph, a horizontal line means constant velocity, not stationary.
- 2Forgetting that the area under the graph represents displacement. This is a key feature and is often tested.
- 3Calculating the area of a trapezium incorrectly when finding the distance travelled for a period of constant acceleration.
Velocity-Time Graphs exam questions
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Frequently asked questions
What does the gradient of a velocity-time graph represent?
The gradient (rise/run) of a velocity-time graph represents the acceleration of the object. A positive gradient is acceleration, a negative gradient is deceleration, and a zero gradient (horizontal line) is constant velocity.
How do you calculate the distance travelled from a velocity-time graph?
The distance travelled is equal to the area under the velocity-time graph. You may need to divide the area into rectangles and triangles to calculate it.