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GCSE Physics · key term
A graph showing how an object's total distance travelled changes with time.
Used by AQA, Edexcel and OCR
Specification 4.5.6.1.4 · Paper 2
Revise: The distance–time relationshipA distance–time graph shows how this running total changes. Put time on the horizontal axis and distance travelled on the vertical axis, and label each axis with its unit. For motion along a straight line, each plotted point tells you how far the object has travelled by that time.
Specification 2.7 · Paper 1
A graph showing how the distance travelled by an object changes with time, with time on the horizontal axis and distance on the vertical axis.
Revise: Distance/Time GraphsA distance–time graph turns a journey into a picture.
Specification P2.1b, P2.1e · Paper 1 (Foundation), Paper 3 (Higher)
A graph showing how the distance travelled by an object changes with time.
Revise: Calculating speedA distance–time graph represents the same measurements visually. Time is on the horizontal axis and distance travelled is on the vertical axis.
A graph showing how the total distance travelled changes with time.
Paper 1, Paper 2
A graph showing how the total distance travelled by an object changes with time.
Revise: Analyzing Motion with GraphsThe same-looking line can have a different meaning on a distance–time graph and a velocity–time graph.
A distance–time graph showing total distance travelled cannot slope downwards. A journey back towards the start still adds to the distance travelled.
A horizontal line has zero gradient, but its meaning depends on the graph: stationary on a distance–time graph; constant velocity on a velocity–time graph.
Do not use the area under a distance–time graph to find distance travelled.
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