Should this be a linear function? No, our model for the acceleration does not ... distance should be proportional to time squared. Let's make another graph. First, I am going to put distance ...

and acceleration = velocity change ÷ time. To find the distance travelled, look at the area under the graph. In the first 10 seconds this is the area of the triangle, ½ × 10 s × 40 m/s = 200 m.

Save guides, add subjects and pick up where you left off with your BBC account. The gradient of a velocity-time graph at a particular time gives the acceleration of the object at that time.

Let me start with a graph. This shows the horizontal acceleration of the pod as a function of time. Here the pod accelerates at 9.8 m/s 2 for 2.6 minutes and then travels at a constant speed.