GCSE Maths Ratio and Proportion Rates Of Change Speed Time
Speed Time Graph
Here we will learn about a speed-time graph including
drawing, and reading from speed-time graphs. We will also
learn about finding acceleration and distance travelled from a
speed-time graph.
There are also speed-time graph worksheets based on Edexcel,
AQA and OCR exam questions, along with further guidance on
where to go next if you’re still stuck.
What is a speed time graph?
A speed time graph is a graph that shows the motion of an
object against time.
They can also be referred to as velocity-time graphs.
The units of speed used for a speed-time graph can vary, but
the most common are kilometres per hour (km/h), metres per
second (m/s) and miles per hour (mph).
E.g.
This speed-time graph shows the speed of an object in metres
per second over a 10 second period.
The object accelerated from rest at a constant rate for 4
seconds until it reached a speed of 10 m/s. It then remained
travelling at 10 m/s for a further 5 seconds before then
decelerating to rest in 1 second. (Decelerating is when an
object slows down.)
The straight line numbered 1 shows a constant acceleration.
This acceleration can be calculated by finding the gradient of
the line.
Acceleration is the rate of change in speed over time. Here is
the formula
change in speed
Acceleration = change in time
The horizontal line numbered 2 shows the object moving at a
constant speed.
The straight line numbered 3 has a negative gradient,
therefore, shows a deceleration (the object is slowing down).
The total distance the object has moved can be found by
calculating the area under the speed-time graph.
The average speed can be calculated by dividing the total
distance travelled by the total time taken.
What is a speed time graph?
How to draw a speed time graph
In order to draw a speed time graph:
1 Draw a horizontal axis for the time and a vertical axis for
the speed.
2 Use the information about the speed of the object to plot
points on the graph.
3 Join the points with straight line segments.
Explain how to draw a speed time graph
Speed time graph worksheet
Get your free speed time graph worksheet of 20+ questions
and answers. Includes reasoning and applied questions.
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Related lessons on rates of change
Speed time graph is part of our series of lessons to support
revision on rates of change. You may find it helpful to start
with the main rate of change lesson for a summary of what to
expect, or use the step by step guides below for further detail
on individual topics. Other lessons in this series include:
Rate of change
Distance time graph
Speed time graph examples
Example 1: completing a speed-time graph
The speed-time graph shows the speed of a car for the first 10
seconds of a journey.
After the first 10 seconds the car maintains its speed for 20
seconds. It then decelerates at a constant rate and stops after a
further 15 seconds.
Complete the speed-time graph for the journey of the car.
1 Draw a horizontal axis for the time and a vertical axis for
the speed.
The graph already has axes drawn and labelled so go straight
to step 2. The first part of the journey has been drawn. We can
see that the car travelled for 10 seconds, starting from rest and
accelerating to a speed of 12 m/s.
2 Use the information about the speed of the object to plot
points on the graph.
The car maintains the speed for 20 seconds so we need to plot
a point at the same vertical height, 12 m/s, when the time is
30 seconds. We then must plot a point at 45 seconds with a
speed of 0 m/s (10 + 20 + 15 = 45).
3 Join the points with straight line segments.t.
Example 2: drawing a speed-time graph
An object accelerates from rest at a constant rate for 5 seconds
and reaches a speed of 8 m/s. The object maintains this speed
for a further 6 seconds.
Draw a speed-time graph for the motion of the object.
1 Draw a horizontal axis for the time and a vertical axis for
the speed.
Show step
2 Use the information about the speed of the object to
plot points on the graph.
Show step
3 Join the points with straight line segments.
Show step
Example 3: drawing a speed-time graph
At 12 : 00, a train is travelling at 60 km/h. It maintains this
speed for 15 minutes and then begins to decelerate at a
constant rate for 5 minutes until it reaches a speed of
30 km/h. It then maintains this speed for a further 20
minutes.
Draw a speed-time graph for the motion of the train.
1 Draw a horizontal axis for the time and a vertical axis for
the speed.
Show step
2 Use the information about the speed of the object to
plot points on the graph.
Show step
3 Join the points with straight line segments.
Show step
How to interpret a speed time graph
In order to interpret a speed time graph:
1 Locate any relevant points from the speed-time graph.
2 Check the information required.
3 Use the appropriate process for the following.
Period of constant speed – look for where the line is horizontal.
Acceleration – find the gradient of the line.
Distance travelled for a time period – find the area under the
graph.
Average speed – divide the total area by the total time.
Explain how to interpret a speed time
graph
Interpreting speed time graph examples
Example 4: finding the acceleration from a speed-
time graph
The speed-time graph shows the speed of an object over a 16
second period.
Find the acceleration of the object.
1 Locate any relevant points from the speed-time graph.
Show step
2 Check the information required.
Show step
3 Use the appropriate process for the following.
Show step
Example 5: finding a deceleration from a speed-
time graph
The speed-time graph shows the speed of a vehicle.
Find the deceleration of the vehicle in the last part of its
journey.
1 Locate any relevant points from the speed-time graph.
Show step
2 Check the information required.
Show step
3 Use the appropriate process for the following.
Show step
Example 6: finding the total distance and average
speed from a speed-time graph
The speed-time graph shows the motion of an object.
Find the total distance travelled and the average speed of the
object over its entire journey.
1 Locate any relevant points from the speed-time graph.
Show step
2 Check the information required.
Show step
3 Use the appropriate process for the following.
Show step
Common misconceptions
The distance travelled is just the speed multiplied by the
time
A common error when finding the distance travelled is to just
multiply the speed the object is travelling by the time taken.
This only works if the object has been moving at a constant
speed for that whole period of time.
It will not give the distance travelled if the object has been
accelerating during that time. It is important to find the area
under the graph to find the distance.
The time scale
Time is always on the horizontal axis, but care needs to be
taken with the scale used. Remember there are 60 seconds in
one minute and 60 minutes in one hour. This means that the
scale can be subdivided in many ways.
Practice speed time graph questions
1. What does a line with zero gradient represent on a speed-
time graph?
An object accelerating
An object moving with constant speed
An object decelerating
An object at instantaneous rest
2. To find the total distance travelled by an object using a
speed-time graph you must
Multiply the maximum speed by the total time
Find the gradient of the line
Find the area under the speed-time graph
Multiply the maximum speed by the time taken
to reach it
3. Which of the speed-time graphs shows an object
accelerating from rest and then maintaining a constant speed.
4. Find the acceleration from the speed-time graph.
10 m/s2
1 m/s2
0.5 m/s2
2 m/s2
5. Use the speed-time graph to find the acceleration of the
object in the final part of its journey.
80 km/h2
−80 km/h2
−40 km/h2
40 km/h2
6. Find the total distance travelled from the speed-time graph.
240 km
360 km
150 km
120 km
Speed time graph GCSE questions
1. The speed-time graph shows the first Show answer
part of a journey by a car.
(a) Write down the speed of the car at 3
seconds.
(b) Find the acceleration of the car for the
first part of its journey.
After the first 6 seconds of its journey, the
car maintains its speed for a further 8
seconds before then slowing down at a
constant rate of 5 m/s2 until stationary.
(c) Complete the speed-time graph for the
car.
(d) Find the total distance travelled by the
car.
(7 marks)
2. The speed-time graph shows the speed Show answer
of a train between 12 : 00 and 13 : 30.
(a) Find the total distance travelled by the
train in that time.
(b) Find the average speed of the train
between 12 : 00 and 13 : 30.
(5 marks)
3. The speed-time graph shows the speed Show answer
of an object over a period of T seconds.
If the total distance travelled by the object
is 154 metres. Find the value of T .
(3 marks)
Learning checklist
You have now learned how to:
Interpret the gradient of a straight line graph as a rate of change
Calculate gradients of graphs and areas under graphs, and interpret
results in cases such as speed-time graphs (velocity-time graphs)
The next lessons are
Conversion graphs
Units of measurement
Scale maths
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