WAEC Physics 2024 Paper

Concept:Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity with respect to time.Explanation:The magnitude of acceleration is defined as the change in velocity divided by the time taken for that change.This is written as $a = \frac{\Delta v}{\Delta t}$.On a velocity-time graph, the velocity $v$ is plotted on the vertical axis and time $t$ is plotted on the horizontal axis.The gradient (slope) of a graph is calculated as the change in the vertical axis divided by the change in the horizontal axis.Therefore, the gradient of a velocity-time graph is $\frac{\Delta v}{\Delta t}$.This quantity is exactly equal to the acceleration of the moving object.The gradient of a displacement-time graph gives velocity.The area below a velocity-time graph gives displacement.The area below a force-time graph gives impulse or change in momentum.Hence, only the gradient of a velocity-time graph correctly represents acceleration.Answer:Option B: gradient of a velocity-time graph.