Photo AI

Last Updated Sep 26, 2025

Drawing Travel Graphs Simplified Revision Notes

Revision notes with simplified explanations to understand Drawing Travel Graphs quickly and effectively.

user avatar
user avatar
user avatar
user avatar
user avatar

420+ students studying

2.1.3 Drawing Travel Graphs

Travel graphs, commonly referred to as displacement-time graphs, are essential tools in mechanics for visualising and analysing the motion of an object over time. These graphs show how the displacement of an object changes as time progresses. Below is a step-by-step guide to drawing and interpreting travel graphs.

1. Understanding the Basics

infoNote
  • Axes:
  • Time (tt) is plotted on the horizontal axis (xx-axis).
  • Displacement (ss) is plotted on the vertical axis (yy-axis).
  • Displacement:
  • Displacement is the distance from a reference point (often the origin) in a specific direction.
  • Types of Motion Represented:
  • Uniform motion (constant velocity).
  • Accelerated or decelerated motion (changing velocity).
  • Stationary (no change in displacement).

2. Steps to Draw a Travel Graph

infoNote
  1. Identify Key Points:
  • Determine the starting position (initial displacement).
  • Identify any changes in speed, direction, or when the object is stationary.
  1. Plotting the Graph:
  • Start from the Initial Displacement: Begin by plotting the initial displacement at t=0 t = 0 .
  • Draw the Line Segments: Depending on the motion, connect the points with straight or curved lines.
  • Label Important Points: Mark where the object changes speed or direction, stops, or turns around.
  1. Different Scenarios:
  • Constant Velocity:
  • Draw a straight line with a constant slope.
  • A positive slope indicates motion in the positive direction.
  • A negative slope indicates motion in the opposite direction.
  • Acceleration:
  • Draw a curve that becomes steeper over time.
  • Indicates increasing speed.
  • Deceleration:
  • Draw a curve that flattens out over time.
  • Indicates decreasing speed.
  • Stationary Object:
  • Draw a horizontal line, indicating no change in displacement.
  1. Check the Gradient:
  • The gradient (slope) of the graph represents the velocity of the object.
  • Ensure the graph's gradient matches the given or expected velocity at different intervals.

3. Example Scenarios

infoNote

Example : 5. Uniform Motion:

  • An object moves with a constant velocity of 44 m/sm/s for 55 secondsseconds.
  • Graph: Draw a straight line starting from the origin (0,0)(0,0) to (5,20)(5, 20), where s=20s = 20 metresmetres (calculated as velocity Ă— time).

  1. Acceleration:
  • An object starts from rest and accelerates uniformly over 44 secondsseconds.
  • Graph: Start at the origin. The curve should start shallow and get steeper as time progresses, indicating increasing displacement.

  1. Deceleration:
  • An object is moving at 1010 m/sm/s and slows down uniformly to stop in 55 secondsseconds.
  • Graph: Start from the initial displacement (e.g., at s=50s = 50 metresmetres if it's decelerating from 1010 m/sm/s over 55 secondsseconds) and draw a curve that flattens out as the object comes to a stop.

  1. Changing Direction:
  • An object moves 1010 metresmetres in the positive direction, stops for 22 secondsseconds, and then returns to the starting point.
  • Graph: Draw a straight line from the origin to (5,10)(5, 10), then a horizontal line (showing the stop), followed by a line with a negative slope back to the origin.

4. Interpreting the Graph

infoNote
  • Area Under the Graph:
  • The area under a displacement-time graph doesn't have a physical meaning like it does in velocity-time graphs, but the shape and gradient give insight into the motion.
  • Zero Slope:
  • A zero slope (horizontal line) indicates the object is stationary.
  • Crossing the Time Axis:
  • If the graph crosses the time axis (where displacement is zero), it indicates that the object has returned to its starting point.

5. Common Pitfalls

infoNote
  • Incorrect Scaling: Ensure that both time and displacement axes are correctly scaled to accurately represent the motion.
  • Mismatched Slopes: The slope must correctly reflect the given velocities. A steeper slope for higher velocity, and a flatter slope for lower velocity or stationary motion.

Summary

infoNote

Drawing travel graphs in A-Level Mechanics involves understanding the relationship between time and displacement, plotting key motion events, and correctly interpreting the slope of the graph. Practice with different scenarios—uniform motion, acceleration, deceleration, and changes in direction—will build your ability to accurately draw and analyse these graphs.

Books

Only available for registered users.

Sign up now to view the full note, or log in if you already have an account!

500K+ Students Use These Powerful Tools to Master Drawing Travel Graphs

Enhance your understanding with flashcards, quizzes, and exams—designed to help you grasp key concepts, reinforce learning, and master any topic with confidence!

40 flashcards

Flashcards on Drawing Travel Graphs

Revise key concepts with interactive flashcards.

Try Maths Mechanics Flashcards

4 quizzes

Quizzes on Drawing Travel Graphs

Test your knowledge with fun and engaging quizzes.

Try Maths Mechanics Quizzes

29 questions

Exam questions on Drawing Travel Graphs

Boost your confidence with real exam questions.

Try Maths Mechanics Questions

27 exams created

Exam Builder on Drawing Travel Graphs

Create custom exams across topics for better practice!

Try Maths Mechanics exam builder

12 papers

Past Papers on Drawing Travel Graphs

Practice past papers to reinforce exam experience.

Try Maths Mechanics Past Papers

Other Revision Notes related to Drawing Travel Graphs you should explore

Discover More Revision Notes Related to Drawing Travel Graphs to Deepen Your Understanding and Improve Your Mastery

96%

114 rated

Kinematics Graphs

Displacement-Time Graphs

user avatar
user avatar
user avatar
user avatar
user avatar

385+ studying

198KViews

96%

114 rated

Kinematics Graphs

Velocity-Time Graphs

user avatar
user avatar
user avatar
user avatar
user avatar

337+ studying

188KViews
Load more notes

Join 500,000+ A-Level students using SimpleStudy...

Join Thousands of A-Level Students Using SimpleStudy to Learn Smarter, Stay Organized, and Boost Their Grades with Confidence!

97% of Students

Report Improved Results

98% of Students

Recommend to friends

500,000+

Students Supported

50 Million+

Questions answered