Distance-Time Graph

Key Stage 3

A distance time graph is a graph that shows how the distance of an object from the origin changes with time.

Distance-time graphs give information about the journey taken by an object.

On a distance time graph the distance is plotted on the y-axis and the time is plotted on the x-axis.

A distance time graph can be used to calculate the speed of an object.

Slow Speed	Medium Speed	High Speed

A constant speed is shown by a constant positive gradient.	A higher gradient means a higher speed.	The highest speed is shown by the steepest gradient.
Stationary	Accelerating	Decelerating

A gradient of zero shows the object is not moving.	Acceleration is shown by an increasing gradient.	Deceleration is shown by a decreasing gradient.

The speed can be calculated from a distance time graph by reading the graph and using the equation Speed=Distance/Time.


Calculate the speed of the object in this 80 second journey. distance = 400m time = 80s \[Speed = {\frac{distance}{time}} \] \[Speed = {\frac{400}{80}} \] \[Speed = 5m/s \]	Calculate the speed of the object in the first 20 seconds. distance = 400m time = 20s \[Speed = {\frac{distance}{time}} \] \[Speed = {\frac{400}{20}} \] \[Speed = 20m/s \]

Calculate the speed of the object between 20 and 80 seconds. distance = 100m time = 60s \[Speed = {\frac{distance}{time}} \] \[Speed = {\frac{100}{60}} \] \[Speed \approx 1.7m/s \]	Calculate the average speed of the object for its journey. distance = 500m time = 80s \[Speed = {\frac{distance}{time}} \] \[Speed = {\frac{500}{80}} \] \[Speed = 6.25m/s \]

A distance time graph is a graph that shows how the distance of an object from the origin changes with time.

Distance-time graphs give information about the journey taken by an object.

On a distance time graph the distance is plotted on the y-axis and the time is plotted on the x-axis.

A distance time graph can be used to calculate the speed of an object.

Slow Speed	Medium Speed	High Speed

A constant speed is shown by a constant positive gradient.	A higher gradient means a higher speed.	The highest speed is shown by the steepest gradient.
Stationary	Accelerating	Decelerating

A gradient of zero shows the object is not moving.	Acceleration is shown by an increasing gradient.	Deceleration is shown by a decreasing gradient.

The speed can be calculated from a distance time graph by reading the graph and using the equation Speed=Distance/Time.


Calculate the speed of the object in the first 10 seconds of the journey. distance = 200m time = 10s \[v= {\frac{distance}{time}} \] \[Speed = {\frac{200}{10}} \] \[Speed = 20m/s \]	Calculate the speed of the object in the first 10 seconds of the journey. distance = 70m time = 10s \[Speed = {\frac{distance}{time}} \] \[Speed = {\frac{70}{10}} \] \[Speed = 7m/s \]


Calculate the average speed of the object over the entire journey. distance = 400m time = 80s \[Speed= {\frac{distance}{time}} \] \[Speed = {\frac{400}{80}} \] \[Speed = 5m/s \]	Calculate the average speed of the object over the entire journey. distance = 500m time = 80s \[Speed = {\frac{distance}{time}} \] \[Speed = {\frac{500}{80}} \] \[Speed = 6.25m/s \]