A position-time graph, is one in which position is plotted on the y-axis and the time is on the x-axis. A position-time graph is similar to a distance-time graph, but direction of motion in the y-axis.

Although these forms of graphs can show similar graphs, this is not always the case. Lets assume you went for a walk to the near by store (10 km north) and back to your original reference point, this would mean your total travelled distance is 20 km (10km to the store, and 10km back). This distance-time graph would look like the following:

But if this were a positional-time graph, then it would look like the following:

The graph looks different because your position changed when you turned back from the store back to your original reference point.

What does the sloep of a position-time graph mean? If calculated properly, it can show the velocity of them motion. You may refer to the distance-time graph page, on intructions on how to calculate slope.

Continue to the next lesson: ::Velocity-Time Graphs::