S1-CA-PHY41 The graph below represents the motion of a car during a 3.0 s time interval. What is the total displacement
of the object at the end of 3.0s

The total displacement of the object is 20 m

Explanation:

Velocity vs Time Graph

It shows the behavior of the velocity as time increases. If the velocity increases, then the acceleration is positive, if the velocity decreases, the acceleration is negative, and if the velocity is constant, then the acceleration is zero.

The distance covered by the car can be calculated as the area behind the graph.

The total area can be calculated in two parts: One triangle from t=0 sec to t=2 sec, and one rectangle from t=2 sec to t=3 sec.

The area of a triangle is

A1= B*H/2, where B is the length of the base, and H is the length of the Height. The base is B=2 seconds, and the height is H = 10 m/s, thus:

A1= (2 sec)*(10 m/sec)/2=10 m

The area of a rectangle is

A2=W*L, where W is the width, L is the length. W=1 sec, L=10 m/s, thus:

A2=(1 sec)*(10 m/sec) = 10 m

Total displacement= 10 m + 10 m = 20 m

The total displacement of the object is 20 m