In a displacement-time graph, the slope of the tangent drawn at a specific point on the curve indicates the object's
Correct answer: B. Instantaneous velocity at that point
- A. Average velocity over entire graph
- B. Instantaneous velocity at that point
- C. Instantaneous velocity at the starting point
- D. Instantaneous velocity at the final point
Explanation
The slope of the tangent at a point on a displacement time graph gives the instantaneous velocity at that point. The average velocity over the whole motion is the slope of the line joining the start and end points, not of a tangent.
This question appeared on the UHS MDCAT 2026 paper, which you can sit online with every answer explained.
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About Displacement and Velocity
Displacement is the directed change in position, while velocity is the rate of change of displacement and includes both magnitude and direction. The topic connects position-time and velocity-time graphs with average and instantaneous values, and distinguishes displacement from distance and velocity from speed.
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