Physics Insight

Question pattern · Knowledge card

Velocity/acceleration–time graph analysis

Use velocity–time gradient for acceleration and signed area for displacement; split the area at every zero crossing when distance is required.

Primary skill
Calculate & apply
Original practice questions
2

Connect the ideas

Key relationships and graph reading

  • a = velocity–time graph gradient
  • Displacement = signed area under a velocity–time graph
  • Δv = signed area under an acceleration–time graph

Check your method

Three common mistakes

  1. Using signed displacement when the question asks for distance.
  2. Reading area as acceleration rather than displacement.
  3. Assuming zero velocity always proves a reversal.

Original micro-example

Try the idea in miniature

Velocity falls uniformly from +6 m s⁻¹ to −2 m s⁻¹ over 4.0 s.

Show the short answer

a = (−2 − 6) / 4.0 = −2.0 m s⁻². The signed area is [(6 + −2) / 2] × 4.0 = +8 m.

Original practice questions

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The pattern describes the reasoning structure. Each link below opens a distinct original practice question.