Area under a Velocity-Time Graph
- Velocity-time graphs show the speed and direction of an object in motion over a specific period of time
- The area under a velocity-time graph is equal to the displacement of a moving object
displacement = area under a velocity-time graph
Worked example
The velocity-time graph of a vehicle travelling with uniform acceleration is shown in the diagram below.
Calculate the displacement of the vehicle at 40 s.
Exam Tip
Always check the values given on the y-axis of a motion graph - students often confuse displacement-time graphs and velocity-time graphs.The area under the graph can often be broken down into triangles, squares and rectangles, so make sure you are comfortable with calculating area!
