Three graphs, one motion

Starts at x = 0 when t = 0 · positive is to the right · x = ut + ½at², v = u + at

Set the motion

Initial velocity u +4.0 m s⁻¹

Acceleration a −1.0 m s⁻²

Time t 0.0 s

The object on the track

Displacement x

Distance travelled

Velocity v

Acceleration a

x–t, v–t and a–t, sharing one time axis

Move a slider to begin. The tangent on the x–t graph has the same value as the v–t graph at that instant; the shaded area under v–t is the displacement.

Constant velocity: straight x–t, flat v–t
v = 0 while a ≠ 0
Displacement is not distance