1.7 Velocity-time graphs
Velocity-time graphs represent changing motion through line shape, gradient and horizontal sections, allowing acceleration and braking to be described visually.
- Syllabus
- 2024
- Objective
- 1.7
- Level
- —
Exam analysis
Chance of appearing14%of analysed past papers
Latest appearanceNovember 2025
Most common paperPaper1P
Typical marks2
Common command terms
- Draw
- Explain
- Sketch
- Identify
Scoring notes
- Common mistake
- Treating a curved velocity-time line as constant acceleration.
Recent exam appearances
November 2025Paper1P [] · TZ09(c)[ 2 ]1.7 Velocity-time graphs
November 2025Paper1P [] · TZ09(b)[ 1 ]1.7 Velocity-time graphs
May 2025Paper1PR [] · TZ06(c)[ 4 ]1.7 Velocity-time graphs
Jan 2021Paper1P [null] · TZ02(b)(i)[ 2 ]1.7 Velocity-time graphs
May 2020Paper1P [null] · TZ02(c)[ 2 ]1.7 Velocity-time graphs
Practice this objective
Coverage 2020–2025 · Updated 16 Jul 2026
1.7 Velocity-time graphs
Plot and explain velocity-time graphs
Concept essentials
- A horizontal velocity-time line represents constant velocity.
- The gradient of a velocity-time graph represents acceleration.
- A shallower braking line represents a smaller magnitude of deceleration.
- A curved velocity-time graph shows changing acceleration.
- Distance-time and velocity-time graphs use different shape meanings.