Final answer:
Instantaneous velocity is determined by finding the slope of the tangent line to the curve at a specific point on a displacement-time graph. This calculation gives the change in displacement over time, which is the instantaneous velocity at that moment.
Step-by-step explanation:
To get instantaneous velocity from a displacement-time graph, you must find the slope of the tangent to the curve at the specific point in time for which you are calculating the velocity. Here's the procedure:
- Identify the point on the curve of the displacement-time graph where you want to find the instantaneous velocity.
- Draw a straight line that just touches the curve at that point (a tangent line).
- Calculate the slope of this tangent line (rise over run), which is the change in displacement over the change in time.
- The slope you've calculated is the instantaneous velocity at that point in time.
- If your graph is not a curve but a straight line, then the slope at any point is the same, and this slope is the object's constant velocity.
To derive a velocity vs. time graph from a position vs. time graph, plot the slope (instantaneous velocity) at various times to create the new graph.