Drawing travel graphs
To draw a travel graph, you must read the information given carefully and construct the line one section at a time.
Question
A cyclist leaves home at 19:00 and cycles at a constant speed for 10 miles, reaching his destination at 20:15. He stays there for half an hour and returns home cycling at a constant speed at 21:30. Draw a travel graph to represent this journey.
- He is at home at 19:00. Mark a point at 0 miles, 19:00
- He reaches his destination that is 10 miles away at 20:15. Mark a point at 10 miles, 20:15. (Notice that each hour is split into 4 squares – each square representing 15 minutes)
- Draw a straight line between these two points
- He is stationary for 30 minutes. Draw a horizontal line two boxes long
- He returns home at 21:30. Mark a point at 0 miles, 21:30
- Complete the graph with a final straight line
Question
A bus is making a 90 km journey back to Swansea. For the first hour and a half it travels at a constant speed of 40 km/h. One of its tyres gets a puncture so they have to stop for an hour. After repairing the puncture, the bus continues on its journey at a reduced speed of 20 km/h. Draw a travel graph to represent this journey.
- Plot a point at 0 hours, 90 km
- Travelling at 40 km/h, after one hour they will have travelled 40 km so they will be 90 km – 40 km = 50 km from Swansea. Plot a point at 1 hour, 50 km
- Draw a line between these two points and extend it to finish in line with 1.5 hours
- Draw a horizontal line lasting 1 hour to indicate the stationary period
- From 30 km away, travelling at 20 km/h, they will be 10 km away after one hour. Plot a point at 3.5 hours, 10 km
- Draw a straight line through these two points and continue to finish at 0 km after 4 hours
