How do you find displacement when given a velocity/time graph?
I HATE PHYSICS
To find displacement when given a velocity/time graph, you can follow these steps:
1. Determine the area under the velocity/time graph: Displacement is equal to the area under the velocity/time graph. This means you need to find the geometric shapes that make up the graph and calculate their areas.
2. Identify the sections of the graph: Look for different sections of the graph where the velocity is constant or changing at a specific rate. These sections can be represented by horizontal, diagonal, or curved lines.
3. Calculate the area for each section: For sections with constant velocity, calculate the area of rectangles. Multiply the velocity by the time interval for each section to find the area.
4. For sections with changing velocity: In these cases, the graph may be represented by triangles or trapezoids. To find the area of a triangle, multiply the base (time interval) by the height (average velocity) and divide by 2. For a trapezoid, find the average of the two velocities at each end of the trapezoid and multiply it by the time interval.
5. Sum up the areas: Add up the areas obtained from each section of the graph to find the total displacement.
Note: Make sure to consider the direction of displacement (positive or negative) based on the positive direction of the graph.
By following these steps, you can find the displacement when given a velocity/time graph.