Gr 12

Physical Science

Graph Interpretation
and Calculations

Compiled by Mr. M. Harneker

 Islamia College
Note to the Learner

• Graph type questions where the graph is a straight line can be asked under a variety of different topics.

• In all cases, the gradient of the graph represents a key piece of information. The y-intercept, if there
is one, is also important.

• You thus have to figure out what the gradient of the graph represents, as well as the y-intercept.

• If you do not know how to approach these types of questions, you will be bewildered and confused
which could lead to anxiety and stress.

• However, if you master the technique outlined below, you will easily and confidently be able to
tackle all graph type questions, in sha Allah.

• Method:

➢ Write down the formula: y = mx + c and highlight the variables and y and x in different colours.

➢ Based on the topic, write down the appropriate equation from the data sheet.

➢ Look at the given graph and note the labels that are on the y-axis and the x-axis.

➢ In the equation you have written from the data sheet, highlight the variable that is on the
y-axis in the same colour that you used for y, and highlight the variable that is on the x-axis
in the same colour that you used for x.

➢ Use your knowledge of Mathematics to manipulate the equation, so that the variable that is
on the y-axis is alone on the left side of the equation, and the variable that is on the x-axis
is the second variable on the right side of the equation. (Look at the examples given below
to make sense of this.)

➢ Once you have done this, you will clearly be able to see what the gradient and y-intercept
represent. The gradient will be the variable(s) before the ‘x’, and the y-intercept will
represent the variable after the plus sign.

• You will thereafter most likely be required to calculate the value of the gradient. When doing so,
∆y ∆(𝒗𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝒚−𝒂𝒙𝒊𝒔)
DO NOT write the formula as: m = ∆x. Instead you must write it as: 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 = ∆(𝒗𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝒙−𝒂𝒙𝒊𝒔).

• Note that the labels on the axes could have something like (× 𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟗 ) after the label. This must be
included in your substitution when calculating the gradient. Look at Example 3 as a worked example.

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Example 1: Electric Circuits

Therefore: gradient = -r
y-intercept = E

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Example 2: Photoelectric Effect Graph 1

Therefore: gradient = h
y-intercept = -W0

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Example 3: Photoelectric Effect Graph 2

𝟏
Therefore: gradient = 𝐦
𝟐

y-intercept = W0
Calculate the value of X
∆E
gradient = 2
∆vmax
1 ∆𝐸
𝑚= 2
2 ∆𝑣𝑚𝑎𝑥
1 11,98 × 10−19 − 7,48 × 10−19
(9,11 × 10−31 ) =
2 𝑋−0
𝑋 = 0,9868 × 1012 (𝑚2 . 𝑠 −2 )

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Exercise: Newton’s Second Law – Graph 1

• What does the gradient of the graph represent?

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Exercise: Newton’s Second Law – Graph 2

• What does the gradient of the graph represent?

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Exercise: Newton’s Law of Gravitation

• What does the gradient of the graph represent?

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Exercise: Doppler Effect – Graph 1

• What does the gradient of the graph represent?

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Exercise: Doppler Effect – Graph 2

• What does the gradient of the graph represent?

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Exercise: Electrostatics – Graph 1

• What does the gradient of the graph represent?

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Exercise: Electrostatics – Graph 2

• What does the gradient of the graph represent?

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Exercise: Electric Circuits – Graph 1

• What does the gradient of the graph represent?

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Exercise: Electric Circuits – Graph 2

• What does the gradient of the graph represent?

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Exercise: Electric Circuits – Graph 3

• What does the gradient of the graph represent?

• What does the y-intercept of the graph represent?

• Write down the emf of the battery.

• Calculate the internal resistance of the battery.

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Exercise: Electric Circuits – Graph 4

• What does the gradient of the graph represent?

• Write down the emf of the battery.

• Calculate the internal resistance of the battery.

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Exercise: Electric Circuits – Graph 5

• What does the gradient of the graph represent?

• What does the y-intercept of the graph represent?

• Calculate the emf of the battery.

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Exercise: Photoelectric Effect – Graph 1

• What does the gradient of the graph represent?

• What does the y-intercept of the graph represent?

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Exercise: Photoelectric Effect – Graph 2

• What does the gradient of the graph represent?

• What does the y-intercept of the graph represent?

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