AQA · GCSE · Physics

    Course version: 8463 · Version from Sept 2016

    Students should be able to draw velocity–time graphs from measurements and…

    Full specification wording

    Acceleration: Students should be able to draw velocity–time graphs from measurements and interpret lines and slopes to determine acceleration.

    A velocity–time graph plots velocity on the vertical axis against time on the horizontal axis.

    Checked against the AQA 8463 specification (opens in a new tab) on .

    • Point 18 of 23
    • 4 key terms

    Study notes

    From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    The idea

    A velocity–time graph plots velocity on the vertical axis against time on the horizontal axis. To draw one, record velocity at regular time intervals, choose sensible scales, plot each pair of values and join the points. The slope (gradient) gives acceleration: a = Δv ÷ t. A straight horizontal line means constant velocity; a straight sloping line means uniform acceleration. For example, if velocity rises from 0 m/s to 20 m/s in 5 s, a = 4 m/s². Always ensure axes are labelled with appropriate units.

    What earns the marks

    • Plot velocity on the vertical axis and time on the horizontal axis, with both axes labelled and units shown.
    • Choose appropriate linear scales that use more than half the graph paper and plot points accurately.
    • Select two points on a straight line and calculate gradient as change in velocity divided by change in time to find uniform acceleration.
    • (HT only) Draw a tangent to a curve at a specific time and calculate its gradient to find instantaneous acceleration.

    Common mistakes and how to put them right

    • Plotting time on the vertical axis.

      Put it right by placing velocity on the vertical axis and time on the horizontal axis.

    • Calculating gradient by dividing a single y-value by a single x-value rather than using the change in y over the change in x.

      Put it right by using Δv / Δt.

    • Applying HT-only tangent skills without checking tier requirements.

      Put it right: Only using tangents for curved graphs in Higher Tier contexts.

    Exam tips

    • Draw a large triangle when calculating gradients to improve accuracy and clearly show your working.
    • (HT only) Remember to draw a tangent when asked for acceleration on a curved graph.

    Try the lesson

    The start of the Acceleration: Students should be able to draw velocity–time graphs from measurements and interpret lines and slopes to determine acceleration. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    Have a go first

    A cyclist's velocity–time graph is a straight line rising from 0 m/s at 0 s to 8 m/s at 4 s. What does the slope of this line represent?

    Listen

    A velocity–time graph plots velocity on the vertical axis against time on the horizontal axis. To draw one, record velocity at regular time intervals, choose sensible scales, plot each pair of values and join the points. The slope (gradient) gives acceleration: a = Δv ÷ t. A straight horizontal line means constant velocity; a straight sloping line means uniform acceleration. For example, if velocity rises from 0 m/s to 20 m/s in 5 s, a = 4 m/s². Always ensure axes are labelled with appropriate units. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Plot velocity on the vertical axis and time on the horizontal axis, with both axes labelled and units shown. Choose appropriate linear scales that use more than half the graph paper and plot points accurately. Select two points on a straight line and calculate gradient as change in velocity divided by change in time to find uniform acceleration. HT only) Draw a tangent to a curve at a specific time and calculate its gradient to find instantaneous acceleration. A common slip: Plotting time on the vertical axis. Instead, placing velocity on the vertical axis and time on the horizontal axis. Exam tip: Draw a large triangle when calculating gradients to improve accuracy and clearly show your working.

    See it

    A top-down flowchart. The first node says record velocity at regular time intervals and leads to choose sensible scales. That leads to plot velocity on vertical axis, time on horizontal axis, which leads to label axes with units, then to plot each pair of values, then to join the points. From join the points, three branches appear. One goes to straight horizontal line: constant velocity. A second goes to straight sloping line: uniform acceleration, which leads to gradient = change in velocity ÷ change in time. A third goes to curved line (HT): draw tangent at a point, which leads to gradient of tangent: instantaneous acceleration.
    The steps for drawing a velocity–time graph and how the shape of the line gives constant velocity, uniform acceleration or, for Higher Tier, instantaneous acceleration from a tangent.

    Key words

    Say what each word means before you turn the card.

    Velocity–time graph

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Gradient

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Uniform acceleration

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    Tangent

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    See every definition
    Velocity–time graph
    A graph that plots velocity on the vertical axis against time on the horizontal axis.
    Gradient
    The slope of the line, calculated as change in velocity divided by change in time, which gives acceleration.
    Uniform acceleration
    The acceleration shown by a straight sloping line on a velocity–time graph.
    Tangent
    A line drawn to a curve at a specific time whose gradient gives instantaneous acceleration.

    Label the diagram

    Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.

    The diagram again, with 3 boxes numbered instead of named. A top-down flowchart. The first node says record velocity at regular time intervals and leads to choose sensible scales. That leads to plot velocity on vertical axis, time on horizontal axis, which leads to label axes with units, then to plot each pair of values, then to join the points. From join the points, three branches appear. One goes to straight horizontal line: constant velocity. A second goes to straight sloping line: uniform acceleration, which leads to gradient = change in velocity ÷ change in time. A third goes to curved line (HT): draw tangent at a point, which leads to gradient of tangent: instantaneous acceleration.

    • 1Box 1

    • 2Box 2

    • 3Box 3

    0 of 3 labelled

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