# A delivery van travels along a straight road from a depot to a warehouse. For the first 20 seconds the van accelerates uniformly from rest. It then travels at a constant velocity of 18 m/s for 60 seconds. Finally, the van decelerates uniformly and comes to rest after a further 12 seconds. Describe what a velocity-time graph of the entire journey would look like, and state what feature of the graph could be used to find the total distance travelled.

> Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Physics (4PH1) — 1.2 Movement and position · Describe · 4 marks

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. The first section of the graph is a straight line with a positive gradient (rising from zero to 18 m/s over 20 s), indicating uniform acceleration.
2. The second section is a horizontal straight line at 18 m/s for 60 seconds, indicating constant velocity.
3. The third section is a straight line with a negative gradient returning to zero (velocity decreasing uniformly from 18 m/s to 0 over 12 s), indicating uniform deceleration.
4. The total distance travelled is found from the area under the velocity-time graph.

## Key terms

- [velocity-time graph](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/velocity-time-graph)
- [constant velocity](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/constant-velocity)
- [distance](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/distance)

## Related

- [Revision notes for Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Physics (4PH1)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Describe" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/a-delivery-van-travels-along-a-6a26a257) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.