IB DP Physics lesson pack on graphical analysis of motion for Topic A.1 Kinematics, SL and HL, first assessment 2025: gradients, areas, tangents and chords on position-time, velocity-time and acceleration-time graphs. Editable worksheet, lesson deck, teacher key, worked solutions and a questions-only assessment, supplied as self-contained HTML plus colour and black-and-white PDF.
What students learn
- The gradient of a position-time graph is the velocity, and the gradient of a velocity-time graph is the acceleration. Intercepts, changes in gradient and the turning points where a body is momentarily at rest are all read off.
- Where a graph curves, the average velocity is the gradient of a chord and the instantaneous velocity is the gradient of a tangent.
- Displacement is the area under a velocity-time graph, with area below the axis negative, so displacement and distance come apart. The area under an acceleration-time graph is the change in velocity.
- Five explained multiple-choice questions, and a data question that puts logged velocity data with uncertainty bars on a graph: acceleration from the gradient of a best straight line, then the steepest and shallowest lines drawn through the bars.
IB skills (Tool 3: Mathematics):
- Interpret the features of a graph: gradient, changes in gradient, intercepts, maxima and minima, and area (taught).
- Sketch velocity-time and acceleration-time graphs with labelled but unscaled axes (practised).
- Construct the steepest and shallowest lines of gradient through the uncertainty bars on a best-fit graph (practised).
What’s included:
- Student Worksheet
- Teacher Key
- Worked Solutions
- Assessment
- Lesson deck
It builds on the speed, velocity and acceleration packs, and leaves the suvat equations to the follow-on packs. Worksheet and deck open in any modern browser with nothing to install, and the worksheet is fully editable. SI units, IB notation and IB command terms throughout. Suitable for grades 11-12 (ages 16-19) as a lesson, cover lesson, homework or revision.
Part of the A.1 Kinematics Complete Unit Bundle: every pack for the topic, 30% off buying them separately.
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£9.00