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PRACTICE / Position-time graphs

A return trip separates displacement from distance

A position–time graph joins the points (0 s, 2 m), (2 s, 8 m), (5 s, −1 m) with straight segments.

Position (m)Time (s)025-1028
Position is the vertical coordinate. The direction reverses at 2 s; the endpoint at 5 s lies below the position origin.
Vertices of the position–time graph
Time (s)Position (m)
02
28
5−1

What is the average velocity from 0 s to 5 s?

Organize the givens & assumptions
  • Start: t = 0 s, x = 2 m
  • Turn: t = 2 s, x = 8 m
  • Finish: t = 5 s, x = −1 m

One-dimensional motion in one fixed frame; the straight segments describe uniform velocity on each interval.

  1. A3 m/s3\ \mathrm{m/s}
  2. B0 m/s0\ \mathrm{m/s}
  3. C−0.2 m/s-0.2\ \mathrm{m/s}
  4. D−0.6 m/s-0.6\ \mathrm{m/s}

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