GraphingDistance-Time Graphs
(Calculating Speed and Average Speed)
Important Graphing Information
1. Draw your axes2. Label your axes (x is independent; y is dependent)
3. Choose your intervals4. Choose appropriate spacing between intervals.
7. Give your graph a title
5. Plot your data6. Connect data points
8. Design a key if more than 1 set of data is used
Practice Graphing
Distance Time0 meters 0 seconds5 meters 10 seconds
10 meters 20 seconds10 meters 50 seconds15 meters 60 seconds
How does the time affect the distance a person traveled? Graph the information below.
• What would your x and y axes be?
• What intervals would you choose?
• Based off your graph paper how manty lines would you skip between intervals?
What does the line represent in a distance – time graph?
•SPEEDTwo types of lines used in a distance – time
graph.
1. STRAIGHT LINE
2. CURVED LINE
A straight, diagonal line indicates…• Constant Speed
Why is the line in a constant speed graph straight and diagonal?
•The object is traveling the same distance in the same amount of time.
A curved line indicates…• Changing Speed
Distance-Time Graph and Changing Speed
What do the different lines indicate when an object is changing speed?
Downward Curve Horizontal Line Upward Curve• Slowing down • Stopping • Speeding Up
How to determine total average speed by looking at a line graph
1. Find total distance (ending distance)
2. Divide by total time (ending time)
Comparing speeds on a Distance – Time Graph
1. Find the average speed of each line.
Faster Speeds
2. Compare the steepness of each line.
The steeper line indicates:
Create a graph using the following data:
Distance (m)
Time (s)
0 010 120 220 330 440 550 6
Your graph should look like this.• Calculate the average speed.• How long did the car stop for?
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 70
10
20
30
40
50
60
Distance vs. Time
Series1
Time (seconds)
Dist
ance
(met
ers)
On the same graph, but in a new color fill in the following information.
Distance (m)
Time (s)
0 020 120 230 340 440 560 6
• Calculate the average speed.• Which had a greater average speed?• How long did the second car stop for?
40
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 70
10
20
30
40
50
60
70Distance vs. Time
Series1Series3
Time (seconds)
Dist
ance
(met
ers)
Practice Constant Speed
Practice Changing Speed
AB
C
AB
CD
E
Practice Average Speed
The distance-time graph shows the distance that eight different objects cover in 120 seconds or less. Each letter corresponds to a specific object. Figure out the correct average speed for each object.
B. Airplane
C. Car
D. Racehorse
E. Bike Rider