I don't understand how to calculate average velocity from a position time graph
7 years ago
Answered By Vikrum R
When you have a position-time graph, it simply means that there is a total displacement and a total time given. Thus, the X-axis (which are the horizontal numbers) and the Y-axis (which has the vertical numbers) has final number and initial number given. Initial number being when it starts from, and final value being where it stops. "It" refers to the graph line on both the y- and the x-axis. Using this information, find the final and intial values from the graph for the position (position at final point - position at initial point) which is divided by (time at the highest value - time at the lowest value) . Just looking for the lowest and highest numbers on the graph for both the axis. After you substract and then divided the both axis values, you should get the average velocity. :)
Attached Graph:
7 years ago
Answered By Chris W
So the position time graph has time (seconds for example) on the x-axis and position (meters for example) on the y-axis.
Velocity is measured in units of distance over time (m/s, km/h, etc.) So we have this information available in the graph! You would divide the change in distance (change in the y-axis coordinates) by the change in time (change in th x-axis coordinates).
7 years ago
Answered By Vikrum R
When you have a position-time graph, it simply means that there is a total displacement and a total time given. Thus, the X-axis (which are the horizontal numbers) and the Y-axis (which has the vertical numbers) has final number and initial number given. Initial number being when it starts from, and final value being where it stops. "It" refers to the graph line on both the y- and the x-axis. Using this information, find the final and intial values from the graph for the position (position at final point - position at initial point) which is divided by (time at the highest value - time at the lowest value) . Just looking for the lowest and highest numbers on the graph for both the axis. After you substract and then divided the both axis values, you should get the average velocity. :)
Attached Graph:
7 years ago
Answered By Chris W
So the position time graph has time (seconds for example) on the x-axis and position (meters for example) on the y-axis.
Velocity is measured in units of distance over time (m/s, km/h, etc.) So we have this information available in the graph! You would divide the change in distance (change in the y-axis coordinates) by the change in time (change in th x-axis coordinates).