Graphs of Motion
Uniform velocity
Motion at a constant speed in a fixed direction, shown as a straight line on a distance–time graph.
| English | Uniform velocity |
|---|---|
| Bahasa Melayu | Halaju seragam |
| 中文 | 匀速 |
How it is used
A car travelling at a steady 8 m/s in a straight line has uniform velocity. On a distance–time graph this is a straight sloping line, and in 10 s it covers 8 × 10 = 80 m.
Where it shows up in SPM
In Graphs of Motion (Form 5). It shows as a straight line on a distance–time graph, or a flat horizontal line on a speed–time graph.
Paper 2 questions ask you to identify the stage of uniform velocity and confirm the acceleration there is zero.
Don't confuse it with
Open the chapter: Graphs of Motion →
Frequently asked questions
How do I spot uniform velocity on a graph?
On a distance–time graph, look for a straight sloping line, a constant gradient means a constant speed. On a speed–time graph, look for a flat horizontal line, showing the speed stays fixed while time passes.
Is uniform velocity the same as uniform speed?
In SPM motion-graph work they are treated the same: a constant speed along a straight path. Strictly, velocity also fixes the direction, but the graphs you meet here move in one straight line, so a steady gradient captures both.