Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (9–1) · PHYSICS · Section
Area under a velocity-time graph gives distance travelled
16 practice questions
Practice questions
11–16 of 16
Question 11
3 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →The graph shows the motion of a car as it accelerates uniformly from rest to 18 m/s in 6 seconds.
Figure 2. Velocity-time graph for a car accelerating (a)[2 marks]Calculate the total distance the car travels in the first 6 seconds.
(b)[1 mark]State the shape formed under the graph and briefly describe how you found the distance.
Question 12
3 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →A runner moves at first with increasing speed, then at a steady speed, and finally slows to a stop. Describe how her velocity–time graph would look, and explain how you would calculate the total distance travelled from the graph.
Question 13
2 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →What does the area under a velocity–time graph represent? Give an example of how you could find it for an object moving at constant velocity.
Question 14
5 marks · Hard
Answer and see the solution →The velocity–time graph below shows the motion of an object moving in a straight line over 12 seconds.
Velocity–time graph for an object (a)[4 marks]Calculate the total distance travelled by the object during the 12 seconds. Show your working using the area under the graph.
(b)[1 mark]Explain why the total distance travelled and the displacement of the object are equal or not equal for this motion.
Question 15
4 marks · Hard
Answer and see the solution →A trolley starts from rest and accelerates steadily. After 2 s, its velocity is 4 m/s, and after a further 3 s, its velocity is 10 m/s.
(a)[2 marks]Sketch a velocity–time graph for the motion of the trolley for the first 5 seconds.
(b)[2 marks]Calculate the total distance travelled by the trolley in 5 seconds by finding the total area under the velocity–time graph.
Question 16
4 marks · Hard
Answer and see the solution →A go-kart travels with constant velocity for 2 seconds, then slows down uniformly to a stop in the next 3 seconds.
(a)[2 marks]The initial velocity is 8 m/s. Draw a labelled velocity–time graph for the go-kart’s motion over the 5 seconds.
(b)[2 marks]Using your graph, calculate the total distance travelled by the go-kart during the 5 seconds. Show your working.