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Constant acceleration
Constant acceleration means a straight velocity–time line. Every suvat equation is just a different way of measuring that line — its gradient, its area, or the two combined. Nothing here needs memorising.
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The gradient
The line climbs from to over a time . Its gradient is the acceleration, so , which rearranges to the first equation.
The area
The area under a velocity–time graph is the displacement. This area is a trapezium: two parallel sides and , a width .
Cut it in two
Slice the trapezium along the line . Below sits a rectangle ; above it a triangle of base and height , so area . Measuring down from the top instead gives .
The fifth
The last equation is the only one with no picture of its own. Take the first two and eliminate — the difference of two squares does the rest.
Chapter 2
Choosing between them, multi-stage journeys, vertical motion under gravity, and twelve graded exam questions with full worked solutions are waiting.