Calculating journeys from linear speed-time graphs

I can deduce that the area under a speed-time graph gives the distance travelled and deduce how this may be calculated.

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Year 11

Higher

Calculating journeys from linear speed-time graphs

I can deduce that the area under a speed-time graph gives the distance travelled and deduce how this may be calculated.

Download all resources

Share activities with pupils

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Lesson details

Key learning points

Distance travelled is calculated by multiplying speed and time.
This is represented on a speed-time graph by the area bound by the graph and the x axis.
Calculating this area gives the total distance travelled.

Keywords

Compound shape - A compound shape is a shape created using two or more basic shapes.

Common misconception

Calculating area by counting squares rather than looking at the scales.

Remind pupils that often on speed-time graphs the scales on the axes will be different. Check the scales before calculating distance. Check the final answer is realistic in context.

In lesson 5 pupils sketch distance-time from speed-time graphs. Now they can find the distance travelled at any given time they could revisit drawing distance-time graphs from linear speed-time graphs.

Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).