The slope of the velocity-time graph in the given scenario equals which quantity?

• A. -5 m/s^2
• B. 5 m/s^2
• C. 0 m/s^2
• D. 10 m/s^2

Answer: (B)

The slope of a velocity-time graph is the acceleration, since acceleration is how velocity changes per unit time. If velocity increases by 5 m/s each second, the slope is Δv/Δt = 5 m/s ÷ 1 s = 5 m/s^2. The positive slope means velocity is increasing over time. So the acceleration here is 5 m/s^2. This also clarifies why other possibilities don’t fit: a zero slope would mean no change in velocity, a negative slope would indicate deceleration, and a value like 10 m/s^2 would require the velocity to change twice as fast in the same time interval.