Yet another physics question...

[yiwonder]

Ok, what does the area under a position versus time graph curve represent?

I know that for a velocity versus time graph, the area under the curve is the displacement. Also, the area under an acceleration versus time graph represents the change in velocity from the intial velocity.

Edit: I think the answer is junk for the reasons listed below. Does someone think otherwise?

 

[Schlocemus]

The area under a D(istance) vs. T(time) graph is junk! Technically it is a meter*second which means nothing really...

You can PM if you want to discuss further. Of course I always could be wrong, but I don't think so...

 

[yiwonder]

Well, I couldn't figure it out. I know it would be a meter*second, and that is what I don't get what it could be. However, it is a question on my phsyics homework, so I guess there's got to be an answer...

Yes, other names for the same graph are distance versus time and displacement versus time.

 

[Schlocemus]

Distance is a scalar.
Displaement is a vector.


See for the V vs. T graph when you find the area under it, you are really doing this:

Displacement / Time (Y axis) * Time (X axis) and such you get Displacement as the answer.

For a D vs. T graph you do

Distance / 1 * Time and you basically get a meter * second with standard SI units which to me is junk...

Just my interpretation, I hope it helps....

Oh yeah....YGPM

 

[yiwonder]

<< Distance is a scalar.
Displaement is a vector. >>


Yes, but for some stupid reason I see them used fairly interchangably. I get caught up on the terminology since distance and displacement aren't the same thing too, but the teacher and a couple pysics books I've seen don't seem to care too much.

 

[GoldenBear]

Yes, m*s is nothing..

 

[Schlocemus]

Yea some physics books are stupid :disgust:

Anyway, I'll try to sum-up the different between the two.

Let's say you have a circle. For this demonstration I'll use a Smiley face!

Here we go:

Now, don't worry about anything except the outside of the circle. So you have a white inside and the definition of a circle. Now if you trace the circle from the top all the way around and end up where you began again, you're distance will be something, say x, while your displacement will be 0. Understand? Yes, I know this is very hard to explain and understand right now, but I think that it should be fairly simple. PM me to talk further.
And YGPM....

...frustrating...hehe

 

[yiwonder]

Oh, I understand the difference between displacement and distance. I just don't like when the terms are used interchangebly.

Edit: Thanks for your help.