Physics

Motion graph segment

Analyse a velocity–time or position–time segment.

Your measurements

Number formats & units

Use decimal dots in datasets. Single values also accept decimal commas and scientific notation such as 1.2e-3 or 1.2 × 10⁻³.

Calculated locally. No account or uploads.

Example

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a=\frac{\Delta v}{\Delta t}

\Delta x=\frac{v_1+v_2}{2}\Delta t\quad\text{(straight velocity–time segment)}

v_{\mathrm{avg}}=\frac{\Delta x}{\Delta t}\quad\text{(straight position–time segment)}

What the variables mean

Symbol	Meaning
$\Delta t$	Elapsed time t₂ − t₁.
$a$	Acceleration from the gradient of a velocity–time graph.
$\Delta x$	Signed displacement from the area under v–t.

a = 2 m/s²

Follow the example steps

Acceleration is the gradient of a velocity–time graph.

v₁ = 2, v₂ = 6 m/s, Δt = 2 s: a = 6 m/s²

a = (6 − 2)/2 = 2 m/s²

More checks before you submit

Do not use graph height alone as acceleration.
A position–time graph area has no standard displacement meaning; use its gradient for velocity.
Ensure t₂ is later than t₁.

Method notes

Use this for one straight graph segment. Curved graphs need a tangent for instantaneous gradient or numerical/graphical area methods.

Signed area below the time axis gives negative displacement. Distance travelled is not always the same as displacement.