Final answer:
To plot the velocity vs. time graph, plot points from the table and connect them. The slope of the graph represents acceleration, calculated as the change in velocity over change in time.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Velocity-Time Graphs and Acceleration
When plotting a velocity vs. time graph, each pair of values given in the table (velocity and corresponding time) should be plotted as a point on the graph. The first point would be at (0.0 s, 0.0 m/s), the second at (2.0 s, 2.5 m/s), and so on. Once all points are plotted, they should be connected to create the graph. It's important to ensure that the graph is scaled accurately to represent the time intervals and velocity measurements correctly.
The slope of the graph over the first 6.0 s can be determined by taking two points on the graph within that interval, such as (0.0 s, 0.0 m/s) and (6.0 s, 7.5 m/s). The slope (rise over run) is calculated as the change in velocity divided by the change in time, which represents the acceleration of the sprinter during that time interval.
The slope of the velocity-time graph is equivalent to the acceleration. In this case, since the graph shows a linear increase in velocity over time, the sprinter exhibits constant acceleration during this period.