Question

The velocity-time graph of a body is given. What quantities are represented by (a) slope of the graph and (b) area under the graph?​

Answer 1

Answer:

a) acceleration

b) displacement

Explanation:

The velocity-time graph is a graph of velocity versus time. The velocity (m/s) would be on the Y-axis while time (s) would be on the X-axis.

a) The slope of a graph is given by: change in Y-axis/change in X-axis = ΔY/ΔX

In a velocity-time graph, ΔY = change in velocity and ΔX = change in time.

Hence, the slope of a velocity-time graph becomes: change in velocity/change in time.

Also, acceleration = change in velocity/change in time.

Hence, the slope of a velocity-time graph = acceleration.

b) Assuming that the area under a velocity-time graph is a rectangle, the area is given as:

Area of a rectangle = length x breadth

                                  = velocity x time (m/s x s)

Also, displacement = velocity x time (m)

Hence, the area under a velocity-time graph of a body would give the displacement of the body.