Home   >  Worksheets   >  GCSE questions by topic   >  Velocity time graphs

Velocity time graphs

Free Printable Velocity time graphs PDF Worksheets, Revision Guide & GCSE Past Paper Questions (Grade 8+)

Download free velocity time graphs worksheets (PDF), GCSE maths past paper questions and worked solutions for Velocity time graphs (8G). This is a Grade 8+ algebra topic from the GCSE questions by topic collection for Foundation and Higher tier GCSE Maths (Edexcel, AQA, OCR and IGCSE).

The free PDF worksheets table below brings together printable question booklets (Qs) and worked answers or mark schemes (Ans) from Maths Genie, Corbett Maths, Maths Made Easy, Dr Frost, Naiker Maths, 1st Class Maths, Metatutor, Dr Austin, E Classroom and PMT, along with past paper question booklets.

Below the worksheet links you can read our velocity time graphs revision notes and worked examples with diagrams, try real GCSE past paper velocity time graphs questions with step-by-step solutions, or download a PDF of all velocity time graphs worksheet links.

Free Velocity time graphs PDF Worksheets & Answers

Grade 8+ • Topic 8G
Resource Questions Answers
GCSE past paper questions & solutions
Qs Ans
Graded exam questions & solutions
Qs Ans
Practice Questions & answers
Qs Ans
Textbook Exercise & answers
Qs Ans
MME worksheet & model answers
Qs Ans
GCSE worksheet & solutions
Qs Ans
Exam question booklet & solutions
Qs Ans
Edexcel exam questions & solutions
Qs Ans
AQA exam questions & solutions
Qs Ans
Topic worksheet & worked solutions
Qs Ans
Practice grid / worksheet & answers
Qs Ans
GCSE topic booklet & answers
Qs Ans
PMT (Edxl)
Edexcel GCSE topic questions & solutions
Qs Ans
PMT (AQA)
AQA GCSE topic questions & solutions
Qs Ans
PMT (IGCSE)
Edexcel IGCSE topic questions & solutions
Qs Ans
Interactive online lesson & practice
Page
GCSE Maths Grade 8+ Revision Notes & Method

Guide to Velocity time graphs: Explanation, Diagrams & Worked Examples

Download Printable One Page Guide (PDF)

Explanation:

On a velocity-time graph, the gradient represents acceleration (change in velocity ÷ time) and the area under the graph represents distance travelled. For straight-line graphs, split the region into triangles and trapeziums; for curved graphs, draw a tangent at the given point to estimate instantaneous acceleration.

To estimate the distance under a curve using strips of equal width, split the area into a triangle and trapeziums: if the curve is concave down, the chords lie below the curve so your answer is an underestimate; if concave up, it is an overestimate.

Example 1: A car accelerates uniformly from rest to 20 m/s in 8 s, travels at 20 m/s for 15 s, then decelerates to rest in 5 s. Find the deceleration and total distance.

0 20 v (m/s) 15 s 430 m 0 8 23 28 t (s)

Solution:

Deceleration = 205 = 4 m/s2 (gradient = −4 m/s2)
Total time = 8 + 15 + 5 = 28 s (top side = 15 s)
Area of trapezium = 15 + 282 × 20 = 430 m
Answer: 4 m/s2 and 430 m

Example 2: Velocity v (m/s) at t = 0, 2, 4, 6 s is 0, 5, 14, 27. Estimate the distance travelled in 6 s using 3 strips of equal width.

5 19 41 5 14 27 v (m/s) 0 2 4 6 t (s)

Solution:

Strip 1 (0 to 2): 12 × 2 × 5 = 5 m
Strip 2 (2 to 4): 5 + 142 × 2 = 19 m
Strip 3 (4 to 6): 14 + 272 × 2 = 41 m
Answer: 5 + 19 + 41 = 65 m
Scanned GCSE Exam Questions & Worked Solutions

GCSE Past Paper Velocity time graphs Questions & Answers

Past Paper Example 1 GCSE Jun 2019 2H Q14 4 marks
A car moves from rest.
The graph gives information about the speed, v metres per second, of the car t seconds after it starts to move.
510152025303540510152025OvtSpeed(m/s)Time (seconds)
(a) Calculate an estimate of the gradient of the graph at t = 15 [3 marks]
Describe what your answer to part (i) represents. [1 mark]
Worked Solution & Mark Scheme (4 marks)
Part (a) Solution:
(Average speed = distance ÷ time)
Tangent at t = 15 has gradient ≈ 7.5 ÷ 9 = 0.83 M2 A1
Answer (a): 0.83
Part Solution:
(Average speed = distance ÷ time) C1
Answer : The acceleration of the car (or rate of change of speed)
Past Paper Example 2 GCSE Nov 2017 3H Q18 4 marks
Here is a speed-time graph for a train.
0510152025510152025Time (s)Speed (m/s)
(a) Work out an estimate for the distance the train travelled in the first 20 seconds.
Use 4 strips of equal width.
[3 marks]
(b) Is your answer to (a) an underestimate or an overestimate of the actual distance the train travelled?
Give a reason for your answer.
[1 mark]
Worked Solution & Mark Scheme (4 marks)
Part (a) Solution:
(Average speed = distance ÷ time)
Strip width = 5 s M1
speeds at t = 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 are 0, 2, 5, 10, 18 m/s M1
Area = (0.5 × 5 × 2) + (0.5 × 5 × (2+5)) + (0.5 × 5 × (5+10)) + (0.5 × 5 × (10+18)) = 5 + 17.5 + 37.5 + 70 = 130 m A1
Answer (a): 130 m
Part (b) Solution:
(Average speed = distance ÷ time)
Overestimate since chords lie above the curve C1
Answer (b): Overestimate, because the tops of the trapeziums lie above the curve (the curve is convex)
Past Paper Example 3 GCSE Nov 2021 3H Q21 4 marks
Here is a speed-time graph showing the speed, in metres per second, of an object t seconds after it started to move from rest.
0123452468Time (t seconds)Speed(m/s)
(a) Using 3 trapeziums of equal width, work out an estimate for the area under the graph between t = 1 and t = 4 [3 marks]
(b) What does this area represent? [1 mark]
Worked Solution & Mark Scheme (4 marks)
Part (a) Solution:
(Average speed = distance ÷ time)
Ordinates at t = 1, 2, 3, 4 are 4, 6, 7.2, 7.8. Area = ½(1)(4 + 6) + ½(1)(6 + 7.2) + ½(1)(7.2 + 7.8) = 5 + 6.6 + 7.5 = 19.1 M2 A1
Answer (a): 19.1
Part (b) Solution:
(Average speed = distance ÷ time)
Distance travelled in metres B1
Answer (b): Distance travelled (between t = 1 and t = 4 seconds)

← 8F Quadratic sequences

Back to GCSE questions by topic

8H Circles and tangents →