Acceleration & Speed-Time Graphs
Core Content • Section 1.2.4 • 4 Challenges
⚡ Challenge 1: The "Area Under the Curve"
A car accelerates uniformly from rest to 20 m/s in 10 seconds. Calculate the distance travelled during this acceleration.
💡 Hint: Distance = Area under speed-time graph
For a triangle: Area = ½ × base × height
📊 Challenge 2: Graph Interpretation
Which section of the graph shows deceleration?
🧮 Challenge 3: Acceleration Calculation
A car accelerates from rest (0 m/s) to 20 m/s in 4 seconds. Calculate the acceleration.
Initial Speed
0 m/s
Final Speed
20 m/s
Time
4 s
Formula Triangle:
a = (v - u) / t
⚠️ Challenge 4: Examiner's Trap
Look carefully at this speed-time graph:
⚡ Common Trap: Students confuse speed-time graphs with distance-time graphs!
True or False: "The object is stationary."
📋 Quiz Summary
✓ Challenge 1: Area under speed-time graph = distance travelled
✓ Challenge 2: Downward slope = deceleration (negative acceleration)
✓ Challenge 3: a = (v - u) / t [Remember units: m/s²]
✓ Challenge 4: Horizontal line on speed-time graph = constant speed, NOT stationary
Exam Technique: Always check axis labels and units before answering graph questions!
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