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What do the shapes of the graphs in Question 3 tell you about the relationship between distance and displacement for an object traveling at constant acceleration?

a) Linear Relationship
b) Proportional Relationship
c) Nonlinear Relationship
d) Directly Proportional Relationship

User Lamar
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1 Answer

3 votes

Final answer:

The graph shape indicates a nonlinear, specifically quadratic, relationship between distance and displacement when an object is traveling at constant acceleration, as the displacement versus time graph is a curved line.Option C is the correct answer.

Step-by-step explanation:

The shapes of the graphs in Question 3 suggest a nonlinear relationship between distance and displacement for an object traveling at constant acceleration. In physics, when an object travels at constant acceleration, the displacement versus time graph is a curved line, indicating a quadratic relationship.

This is because the displacement (x) can be represented by the equation x = x0 + v0t + ½at2, where x0 is the initial displacement, v0 is the initial velocity, a is the acceleration, and t is the time. Since time (t) is squared in this equation, the relationship between distance and time is quadratic, which is a type of nonlinear relationship. An important aspect of graphs in physics is to identify graphs of motion. A linear graph would represent a constant velocity, while a quadratic graph implies a constant acceleration. The True or False statement correctly indicates that the plot of displacement versus time squared for an object moving at a constant acceleration is a straight line.

User Drew
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