David explains how to read an acceleration vs. time graph. He then shows how the area under the curve gives the change in velocity and does a few examples.

An acceleration vs. time graph represents the acceleration of an object as a function of time. For example, if you read the y ‍ -value of the graph below at a particular time (in seconds), you will get the acceleration of the object (in meters per second squared) at that instant.

The slope of the graph is negative, which means the acceleration is negative. But the velocity at t = 4 s ‍ is positive. Since the acceleration and the velocity have opposite signs, the object must be slowing down.

Let's explore when work is positive & negative. Let's explore when work is positive & negative. Skip to main content. If you're seeing this message, it means we're having trouble loading external resources on our website. If you're behind a web filter, please make sure that the domains *.kastatic.org and *.kasandbox.org are unblocked.

If one is positive, velocity is positive. Acceleration is also positive, but if your object is slowing down, if it's decelerating, that's when acceleration would be in the opposite direction of the velocity. They would have opposite signs. If velocity is positive, acceleration becomes negative. and again, let's just confirm that with an animation.

If the slope of the graph is positive (tilted up), the object had positive velocity at that time. At any time the position and velocity may both be positive, both be negative, or have different signs.

If the slope of the graph is positive (tilted up), the object had positive velocity at that time. At any time the position and velocity may both be positive, both be negative, or have different signs.

The slope of the graph is negative, which means the acceleration is negative. But the velocity at is positive. Since the acceleration and the velocity have opposite signs, the object must be slowing down.

Learn how to interpret the motion of an object represented on an acceleration vs. time graph.

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