Is a position time graph and a displacement time graph the same?

In summary, a position time graph and a displacement time graph are different in that the former shows an object's position at different points in time, while the latter shows the change in position over time. Both graphs use time on the x-axis and position or displacement on the y-axis. They cannot be used interchangeably as they represent different aspects of an object's motion. Displacement can be calculated by finding the change in position between two points on the graph, and the slope of a position time graph represents the velocity of an object.
  • #1
Yashaswi Joshi
1
0
Please tell ?
 
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  • #2
Displacement could be seen as absolute value.
Displacement probably has to start at zero, while position can start elsewhere.

It will depend on who uses those words in which way.
 
  • #3
No, they are not. For example, if an object is at rest in the reference frame, the displacement is a constant zero whereas the position can be any constant value.
Displacement represent the change in position so they are different thing, in principle. They may happen to look the same if the original position is the origin of the coordinate system.
 

Related to Is a position time graph and a displacement time graph the same?

1. What is the difference between a position time graph and a displacement time graph?

A position time graph shows the position of an object at different points in time, while a displacement time graph shows the change in position of an object over time.

2. Do both graphs use the same axes?

Yes, both graphs use time on the x-axis and position or displacement on the y-axis.

3. Can a position time graph and a displacement time graph be used interchangeably?

No, they cannot be used interchangeably. While they both show the relationship between time and position, they represent different aspects of an object's motion.

4. How do you calculate displacement from a position time graph?

Displacement can be calculated by finding the change in position between two points on the graph. This can be done by subtracting the initial position from the final position.

5. What does the slope of a position time graph represent?

The slope of a position time graph represents the velocity of an object. A steeper slope indicates a higher velocity, while a flatter slope indicates a lower velocity.

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