Draw a v–t graph, read the motion
"Draw a v–t graph, read the motion" is a free, interactive Class 11 Physics simulation for NEET and JEE, built on the NCERT section "Reading motion graphs" in Motion in a Straight Line. Drag the corners of a piecewise-linear v-t graph; the a-t graph (slopes) and x-t graph (running signed area) redraw live, with distance and displacement readouts. NEET has asked about this idea 3 times in 10 years of papers. JEE Main asked 30 questions from this chapter across the 42 shifts Lumi has analysed (2017–2026).
From the lesson Reading motion graphs in Motion in a Straight Line. Change the values and watch what happens.
What it shows
NCERT § Acceleration
Drag the corners of a piecewise-linear v-t graph; the a-t graph (slopes) and x-t graph (running signed area) redraw live, with distance and displacement readouts.
Controls
3 to try
- Drag4–6 v-t vertices (−10…10 m/s, 0–10 s)
- Toggleshow a-t / x-t
- Readoutdisplacement, distance
Try this
Shape a v-t graph in which the cart ends back at its start (displacement 0) after covering 40 m of distance.
Common mistake
Counting area below the time axis as positive displacement; thinking a-t must look like v-t.
In NEET
10 years of papers
Asked 3 times in 10 years of NEET.
See the past questions: Kinematics in 1D, Motion in a Straight Line (chapter)
In JEE Main
42 shifts analysed
30 questions from Motion in a Straight Line across the 42 JEE Main shifts Lumi has analysed (2017–2026).
The idea behind it
NCERT § "Acceleration"
- x-t graph: slope gives velocity. v-t graph: slope gives acceleration and area gives displacement. a-t graph: area gives change in velocity.
- To find distance from a v-t graph, add the magnitudes of the areas above and below the time axis; to find displacement, add them with their signs.
- A point where the v-t graph crosses the time axis is where the body momentarily stops and reverses direction.
- An x-t graph can never show two positions at the same instant, and a real v-t graph cannot jump suddenly, since that would need infinite acceleration.
- In NCERT's idealised graphs the sharp corners (instant changes in velocity) are a simplification; real motion rounds them off.
- When x is a polynomial in t, differentiate once for v and twice for a; if a depends on t, the kinematic equations of constant acceleration do not apply.
Questions
5 answers
- What does the "Draw a v–t graph, read the motion" simulation show?
- Drag the corners of a piecewise-linear v-t graph; the a-t graph (slopes) and x-t graph (running signed area) redraw live, with distance and displacement readouts.
- What mistake does the "Draw a v–t graph, read the motion" simulation fix?
- A common mistake it clears up: counting area below the time axis as positive displacement; thinking a-t must look like v-t.
- Has NEET asked about this idea?
- Yes. NEET has asked about this idea 3 times in 10 years of papers.
- Does JEE Main ask questions from Motion in a Straight Line?
- Yes. JEE Main asked 30 questions from this chapter across the 42 shifts Lumi has analysed (2017–2026).
- Is this simulation free?
- Yes. It is free and runs in the browser on a phone or a laptop. It belongs to the lesson "Reading motion graphs" in Motion in a Straight Line (Class 11 Physics).
Embed this simulation
Free, with a link back
Teaching this idea? Put the simulation on your own page or LMS with this code.