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Why does a curve on a distance-time graph indicate acceleration?
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
The slope of a distance time graph is a measure of the rate of change in the distance of the object from a fixed reference point along the radial direction. If there were no acceleration in that direction then the radial velocity would be the same so that the graph would be a straight line. However, a curve indicates not only the the distance is changing with time, but that the rate of change is also changing. That is, the radial velocity is changing and that is indicative of radial acceleration.
The word "radial" appear many times in the above paragraph. This is to emphasise that distance time graphs look only at the motion of an object in the direction towards or away from the reference point. Any motion is a transverse direction is ignored. Thus, a line with a constant gradient (slope) does not indicate that there is no acceleration but that any acceleration is in the direction at right angles to the reference direction.
Wiki User
∙ 7y ago
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What does the slope of an acceleration time graph indicate?
The rate at which acceleration is changing.
What does the slope of a tangent to the curve of a velocity-time graph measure?
the slope of a tangent to the curve of a V vs T graph is acceleration at that point in time. the derivative of the function for the V vs T graph would be the function for acceleration at any given time
What does the slope of the tangent to the curve on a velocity-time graph measure?
it measures the magnitude of acceleration, but it can't tell you the direction of the acceleration.
On a speed time graph what measures acceleration?
deceleration can be measured from a velocity time graph by calculating the gradient of the velocity time graph if the V-t graph was linear. If the v-t graph was a curve then the differentiatial of the equation of the curve will give the deceleration variation with time.
When you graph acceleration vs time you get what shape?
An acceleration curve. Without knowing more details it's impossible to answer more precisely than that.
Why does a curve on a distanced graph indicate acceleration?
an increasing distance is traveled during each unit of time
What does the slope of an acceleration time graph indicate?
The rate at which acceleration is changing.
What is velocity-time curve?
The graph of velocity-time is the acceleration.
When the acceleration is not in a straight line on a graph what does this indicate?
That the force that causes the acceleration is not constant.
Why is the area under the curve for the force graph equal to the impulse?
It is not, if it is a graph of force against acceleration.
How can you find the retardation of a curve in a speed time graph?
Calculate the gradient of the curve which will give the acceleration. Change the sign of the answer to convert acceleration into retardation.
What does the slope of a tangent to the curve of a velocity-time graph measure?
the slope of a tangent to the curve of a V vs T graph is acceleration at that point in time. the derivative of the function for the V vs T graph would be the function for acceleration at any given time
What does the slope of the curve on a velocity time graph represent?
The rate of Change in acceleration.
What does the slope of a velocity time graph indicate?
Magnitude of acceleration (but conveys no informationregarding acceleration's direction).
What does a steep curve on a line graph indicate?
What does a steep looks like
What does slope of a speed time graph indicate?
it indicates the acceleration of the particle
What does the slope of an acceleration-position graph indicate?
Meters/seconds squared
