GRAPHICAL ANALYSIS

INTRODUCTION

In most physics experiments, the results can be interpreted graphically. Using

graphical method, the average value for a set of readings can be determined and the
relationship between the quantities in the y-axis and x-axis is clearly showed.

Generally, a graph has two variables: dependent variables and independent variables.
The independent variable is plotted on the x-axis while the dependent is plotted on the
y-axis. Using a graph, prediction of missing values as well as verification of expected
result can be made.

A graph should have the following:

a) Graph title
b) Appropriate scale
c) Vertical and horizontal axis with
chosen unit at each axis
d) Even distribution of data points

Figure A: A proper graph

ERROR IN GRAPH

In most physics experiments, a straight line graph is drawn and calculation on the
slope will give the relationship between the quantities at both axes. To determine
errors in a graph, the following method can be used:

1. Calculate the centroid value from the raw data; centroid is the average value of
quantity in the x-axis and the y-axis.


N
x
x i 1 i
(1)
N

N
yi
y i 1

N (2)

xxii
2. Draw the best straight line; a line that passes through most of the points
plotted and passes through centroid with its slope as m.

3. Draw two other straight lines that pass through centroid with the maximum
slope, m1 and minimum slope m2 as shown in Figure A.

1
4. Error from the graph can be calculated as m  (m1  m2 ) . Therefore, slope
2
of the graph is written as m  m .

5. Slope has unit that is equivalent to the unit for quantity in the y-axis divided
by the unit for quantity in the x-axis.

Example 1:

The readings below are the results from an experiment using a pendulum.

Reading 1: Initially, the length L of the string is kept constant at 55.5 cm and the
period was measured three times for each of the several values of the separation, s.
Data for log T is written based on 3 significant figures of T. The readings are
tabulated below.

Table A: Experimental data 1

s No.of Time 0.1s Time for Log T Log s

0.1cm swings 1 2 3 Mean 1 swing
T(s)
40.0 30 32.2 32.6 32.4 32.4 1.08 0.0334 1.602
33.0 25 32.6 32.8 32.8 32.7 1.31 0.1173 1.519
29.0 20 29.8 30.0 29.8 29.9 1.50 0.1761 1.462
25.0 15 26.4 26.2 26.0 26.2 1.75 0.2430 1.398
22.0 15 29.4 29.8 29.4 29.5 1.97 0.2945 1.342
20.0 15 32.4 32.8 32.6 32.6 2.17 0.3365 1.301
*tabulated data based on number of decimal places and not significant figures

These readings are plotted in the graph of Figure B from which the slope is seen to be
0.220
m  1.01 .
0.218

xxiii
 Log T versus Log s

Figure B: Graph of log T versus log s Figure C: Graph of log T versus log L

Accuracy 1: Since the points lie accurately on the straight line, the only error that can
occur is from reading the length AC and BC on the graph. The reading error is about
1mm in 110mm on the paper for each variable; i.e, about 1% , hence the slope is in
error by a possible 2% . Hence m  1.01  0.02

Reading 2: With the value of s fixed at 20.0 cm, the period was measured three times
for each of the several values of length of supporting thread L. The readings are
tabulated below:

Table B: Experimental data 2

L No. of Time 0.1s Time for Log T Log L

0.1cm swings 1 2 3 Mean 1 swing
T(s)
12.1 40 27.2 27.4 27.8 27.5 0.688 1.0793 -0.162
20.2 35 31.0 31.2 31.2 31.1 0.889 1.3054 -0.051
30.1 30 32.2 32.2 32.4 32.3 1.076 1.4786 0.033
42.4 25 32.2 32.6 32.4 32.4 1.296 1.6274 0.111
55.5 20 29.8 30.0 29.8 29.9 1.495 1.7443 0.176
Total 7.2350 0.108
Centroid value 1.4470 0.022

These readings are plotted in the graph of Figure C and the position of centroid point
is calculated. The best line passed through the centroid point is drawn in solid straight
line.

From the graph, the gradient or slope is obtained by:

BC 0.18  (0.16) 0.34

slope n     0.515
AC 1.74  1.08 0.66

xxiv
Accuracy 2: The two (reasonable) positions for maximum and minimum slope
through the centroid have been drawn. These lines have slopes of 0.523 and 0.496.
The possible error can be calculated as
1
m  (m1  m2 )
2

1
 (0.523  0.496)  0.014
2

Thus, the slope of Figure C is written as n  0.515  0.014 .

𝑛
(𝑥 + 𝑎)𝑛 = ∑ (𝑛𝑘)𝑥 𝑘 𝑎𝑛−𝑘
𝑘=0

Results

As a result of this experiment, it would appear that the period of the pendulum is
given by T  Ks m Ln where m and n are the values of slopes from the graph.

Rounding off the value of m and n, it is more likely that

1
T  Ks 1L 2
k2 L
[A full theoretical treatment leads to the expression, T  4  ].
g s2

xxv