Container Filling Graphs (Water Problems)
This deep dive covers Container Filling Graphs (Water Problems) within Real-Life Graphs for GCSE Mathematics. Revise Real-Life Graphs in Graphs for GCSE Mathematics with 14 exam-style questions and 12 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 4 of 10 in this topic. Use this deep dive to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Topic position
Section 4 of 10
Practice
14 questions
Recall
12 flashcards
Container Filling Graphs (Water Problems)
When water fills a container at a constant rate, the shape of the container determines the shape of the graph of depth against time.
- Cylinder (uniform width): straight line — depth increases at a constant rate
- Wider at the top: graph curves and becomes less steep as water spreads over a larger area
- Narrower at the top: graph curves and becomes steeper as the same flow fills a smaller cross-section faster
- Vase shape (wide-narrow-wide): graph is steep, then shallow, then steep again
Tip to remember: Imagine pouring water in. If the container gets wider, the depth rises more slowly (shallower gradient). If it gets narrower, depth rises faster (steeper gradient).
Keep building this topic
Read this section alongside the surrounding pages in Real-Life Graphs. That gives you the full topic sequence instead of a single isolated revision point.
Practice Questions for Real-Life Graphs
On a distance-time graph, what does a horizontal (flat) section represent?
A distance-time graph shows a section with a negative gradient. Explain what a negative gradient means in the context of a distance-time graph.
Quick Recall Flashcards
14 questions on Real-Life Graphs — practise free
Instant marking, adaptive difficulty, and 12 spaced repetition flashcards. Free until your GCSEs.
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