SciHawks

Physics- we analyzed a speed vs time graph, noting when acceleration was positive, negative, or zero (each acceleration was uniform, as indicated by the lines as opposed to curves on the graph). We then calculated the distance traveled for each separate segment of the graph, sometimes having to split the shape under the curve into a right triangle and a rectangle. For right triangle sections ONLY, be careful to always divide the base x height product by 2.

We then sketched the distance vs. time graph, noting that when speed vs. time is a straight, positively sloping line, the distance vs. time graph looks like half of a "smiling" PARABOLA. When the speed vs. time graph is a flat , zero slope line, the distance vs. time graph is a POSITIVELY sloping STRAIGHT line (assuming positive velocity).
Overall, the slope at any given point on the distance vs. time curve IS THE SPEED of the object at that point!
The slope at any given point on the speed vs. time curve is THE ACCELERATION of the object at that point.
We then started a motion problem in which we had two moving objects. We just wrote the truth: the distance = avg. speed x time for each train and added these distances to equal the total distance given.