Motion of a Blinking Light on a Lab Cart

What does the displacement-time graph of a moving object represent?

A. Distance traveled by the object

B. Velocity of the object

C. Acceleration of the object

D. Time taken by the object

Answer:

The displacement-time graph of a moving object represents the distance traveled by the object.

When we analyze the displacement-time graph of a moving object, we are able to understand the distance covered by the object over a certain period of time. Displacement is a vector quantity that represents how far the object has moved in a specific direction. The graph shows the relationship between the displacement (y-axis) and time (x-axis).

The slope or gradient of the displacement-time graph provides us with information about the velocity of the object. A steeper slope indicates a higher velocity, while a gradual slope represents a slower velocity. By examining the graph, we can determine how fast the object is moving at different points in time.

It's important to note that the displacement-time graph does not directly provide information about the acceleration of the object. Acceleration can be derived from the graph by analyzing changes in the velocity of the object over time. If the graph shows a constant slope, the object is moving at a constant velocity with zero acceleration.

Overall, the displacement-time graph is a valuable tool for analyzing the motion of objects and understanding how distance changes with time during their movement.