CK-12-Physics - Intermediate

http://www.ck12.org Chapter 2. One-Dimensional Motion

FIGURE 2.4

Graph 1. This graph shows what the

odometer would display: Mr. Jones trav-

eled four miles. What it does not display

is the current location of Mr. Jones’ car.

FIGURE 2.5

Graph 2. This graph shows the location

of the car. You can tell from reading the

graph that the car has returned to where

it started. However, determining the dis-

tance the car traveled from this graph is

not that obvious.

of time. After ten minutes, the car has traveled four miles (Graph 1 inFigure2.4), and it is back where it started
(Graph 2 inFigure2.5).

Using Graph 2 inFigure2.5, the total distance the car traveled can be found by adding up the segments of its motion,
while the final position of the car can immediately be read from the graph. Using Graph 1 inFigure2.4, the total
distance the car traveled can immediately be read from the graph, but there is no way to determine the car’s final
position. Graph 2 inFigure2.5, the position versus time graph, is more useful.

Check Your Understanding

1. Under what condition will the numerical values of distance and displacement be equal?