How can velocity be represented on a graph?

Velocity can be represented on a graph by plotting time on the x-axis and displacement on the y-axis.

In more detail, a velocity-time graph is a graphical representation of an object's velocity over a specific period of time. The x-axis (horizontal axis) represents time, usually in seconds, while the y-axis (vertical axis) represents displacement, usually in metres. The slope of the line on the graph represents the velocity of the object.

If the line on the graph is straight and slopes upwards, this indicates a constant positive velocity. This means the object is moving in a positive direction at a constant speed. If the line slopes downwards, this indicates a constant negative velocity, meaning the object is moving in a negative direction at a constant speed.

A horizontal line on the graph indicates that the object is not changing its displacement, meaning it is at rest. A curved line, on the other hand, indicates that the object's velocity is changing, meaning it is accelerating or decelerating. The steeper the slope of the line, the greater the velocity of the object.

In addition to showing the velocity of an object, a velocity-time graph can also be used to calculate the distance travelled by the object. This is done by finding the area under the graph line.

Remember, velocity is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude (speed) and direction. Therefore, when interpreting a velocity-time graph, it's important to consider both the slope of the line (which represents speed) and the direction of the line (which represents direction of motion).