Graphing Practice - Lesson 7
For this activity, I'll start you with simple graphs. You'll graph some data, draw a line of best fit, determine the shape of the graph and the type of function it generates and IF IT IS LINEAR, calculate the slope. If it is not linear, you'll wait until we are in class for the lesson linearization.
You will turn these graphs in for a grade on the first day of class up to the Monday following the start of school.
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You can do the tedious data plotting, point by point, if you'd like. Or you can use technology to save you time. The Physics Aviary has a graphing program that's pretty stinking awesome. It's new to use in my AP Physics class this year. Go to:
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With the program, you enter the data, telling the generator what goes on the x and y, it generates a graph and you can do the analysis from there. The beauty of this program is that it will calculate the slope or constant for you. You can then click on the arrow to enlarge the graph and either use the clipping tool to copy and paste it into a word file or similar or print it from the web. HOWEVER, this does not negate the need to show all of your work.
If you want to use a paper grid, go here to download graph paper: graph paper for AP physics I recommend that you go ahead and print out 4 copies of this paper. It has room beneath the graph to do the analysis.
In AP physics, you must have a minimum of five data points and more is always better. In the lab, we often try for 8 data points.
Graph the data to the left on graph paper or using the Physics Aviary graphing tool. Label it as Graph Practice 1. Generate a line of best fit. Print the graph and show the full analysis. You will turn this one in, but you'll want to check your work to see that you understand. When it's done, go to: Mrs. D's graph 1 to see how you did. It's the pdf to the right.
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Did you get all the nuances of the graph?
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One thing to note is that we don't use data points to calculate the slope in AP physics. Instead, you draw the line of best fit and use the points from the graph, but this graph was so close, that I just used those anyway.
In Graph Practice 2 to the left, masses are hung on a spring and the change in length or stretch (elongation) is measured in meters.
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Graph it. Determine the generic and final equation and identify the slope value. The slope is known as the spring constant.
In Graph Practice 3 to the right, masses are accelerated along the floor using a spring scale to measure the force.
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Graph it. Determine the generic and final equation and identify the slope value. This graph illustrates Newton's Second Law of Motion (NSL).
In Graph Practice 4 to the left, the force between two masses is measured as the distance between them changes.
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Graph it. Determine the generic and final equation for this data. This graph illustrates the law of Universal Gravitation (UG). You will not find the slope of the line for this one. Only determine the generic and specific equation.
In Graph Practice 5 to the right, a toy rocket with combustible fuel is fired so that it travels horizontally along the floor.
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Graph it. Determine the generic and final equation. You will not find the slope of the line because it is NOT linear. Later, in class, I'll show you how to linearize the data.
