Speed and distance-time graphs
A distance-time graph is a whole journey on one picture — including the bits where nothing happened.
Part of your national curriculum
- Physics: motion and forces: Understand the speed of moving objects and the representation of journeys on distance-time graphs
Lesson overview
What you'll learn in this lesson
Understand the speed of moving objects and the representation of journeys on distance-time graphs
Key learning points
- • Calculating speed
- • Reading the gradient
- • Average versus instantaneous
This lesson at a glance
- 28 minutes
- 17 parts to scroll through
- 3 quick checks
- Marked quiz at the end
- Gentle pace: short sittings with pauses
Words to know
Scroll down — the lesson carries on below
Watch & discover
Part 1 of 17
Visual introductionPicture this
Speed and distance-time graphs
A distance-time graph is a whole journey on one picture — including the bits where nothing happened.
In a nutshell
Understand the speed of moving objects and the representation of journeys on distance-time graphs
Learning cycle
Part 2 of 17
Learning cycle 1 of 2
Part 1 · Calculating speed
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 3 of 17
Learn
Calculating speed
Speed = distance ÷ time. Keep units consistent: metres and seconds give m/s, kilometres and hours give km/h. A cheetah at 30 m/s covers 108 km in an hour.
Reset break
Part 4 of 17
Pause
That's sitting 1 of 4 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Explore the idea
Part 5 of 17
Learn
Reading the gradient
On a distance-time graph the gradient is the speed. Steeper means faster; a horizontal line means stationary; a curve means the speed is changing.
Quick check
Part 6 of 17
Quick check
Part 7 of 17
Reset break
Part 8 of 17
Pause
That's sitting 2 of 4 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Learning cycle
Part 9 of 17
Learning cycle 2 of 2
Part 2 · Average versus instantaneous
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 10 of 17
Learn
Average versus instantaneous
Average speed uses the whole journey, including stops. Instantaneous speed is the gradient at a single moment, which is why a journey average is usually lower than the top speed reached.
Quick check
Part 11 of 17
Reset break
Part 12 of 17
Pause
That's sitting 3 of 4 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Challenge round
Part 13 of 17
Game · Sort it
Which of these are true?
Drag each card into the right column. Tap a card first if dragging is fiddly.
True
Not true
Challenge round
Part 14 of 17
Game · Fill the gaps
Finish the sentences
Choose the word that belongs in each gap.
On a ____ graph the gradient is the speed.
Challenge round
Part 15 of 17
Game · Recall cards
A cheetah covers 120 m in 4 s. Its speed is…
Card 1 of 4
Mastery quiz
Part 16 of 17
Marked quiz
End of lesson quiz: Speed and distance-time graphs
4 questions, marked with the reasoning shown. No timer.
1. A cheetah covers 120 m in 4 s. Its speed is…
2. A flat line on a distance–time graph means…
3. Reducing area with the same force…
4. An object travels 150 m in 30 s. Its speed is…
Lesson round-up
Part 17 of 17
Lesson round-up
Ready when you are
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Ask LunaPart 1 of 17 · Watch & discover
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Understand the speed of moving objects and the representation of journeys on distance-time graphs