Graphing Basics

Graphing is an essential skill for Physics. Although it is considered “easier” to plug information into graphing
software like EXCEL, there is much to be gained by being able to graph by hand. You MUST be able to follow
all of the rules of properly drawing a graph along with proper scaling, and also be able to do basic interpretation
of graphs.
When you are presented with a chart of numbers that you are going to graph, you should start by identifying
which variable is the independent or manipulated variable and which is the dependent variable.
 In a lab, you are usually watching an action happen while letting something such as time just plod away
in an expected manner.
 The action you are watching for changes in is called the dependent variable and is drawn on the y-axis.
 The action that is changing in a regular and expected pattern is the independent variable and drawn on
the x-axis.
 As a rule of thumb, time almost always goes on the x-axis.

Graphing Rules
Graphs you draw must have the following five basic characteristics. If you miss any part you will lose points.

Title
 The title should be short, but still clearly tell what you have graphed.
 The most common way and recommended way to name your graph is to use what your y-axis and x-
axis are.
Examples:
o “Y-axis” versus “X-axis”
o “Y-axis” as a function of “X-axis”

Labeled Axis
 Make sure to write out the full name of what you have graphed on each axis, along with the units
you used.
 If you are using any sort of scientific notation for the numbers, make sure you show it here also.

A Well-Chosen Scale
 The information you plot should always cover at least 75% of one axis at minimum.
o Start by looking at the maximum values you have for both the x and y axis.
o Next, check out how many major “ticks” you have on each axis of the actual graph.
o Based on the maximum values and the number of major “ticks” you have, choose intervals
that will make your graph to easily interpret such as 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, etc.
 For example, do not have each group of 10 squares represent 7 Newtons each. When
each division is a fraction, it is difficult to interpret. Try to choose values that make
sense.
o The key to a well-chosen scale is that the reader be able to easily and quickly interpret your
data.
Data Plotted Correctly
Make sure you are as careful as possible when marking your points on your graph. Don’t make your marks
for your points too big. When a sloppy job is done when plotting, it can be difficult to read and understand
a graph. Be neat.

Line of Best Fit

This step is sometimes optional depending on the desired outcome. Your data might not give you a graph
that has a straight line or linear relationship.
 If your graphed data looks like a curved exponential relationship, draw a smooth curved line through
your data points instead.
When drawing a line of best fit, do not “connect the dots.”
 Instead, you should draw a completely straight line (use a straight edge) that passes through or as
close to as many of your data points as possible.
 Try to get as many points above the line as below the line.
 This line is essentially an average of your data points. It is ok if none of your points are on the line
you draw. You want the line to be as close to all of your points as possible.
This is the line that you must calculate your slope from.
∆ ( )
 Use the formula 𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒 = = =( )
∆
 You must know this formula and how to use it!
 Do not use the data points you plotted! You must read two points from the line of best fit.
o Use points that are easy to determine their values graphically.
o Choose points that are far apart on the graph.

Example: Determine the slope of the following line of best fit.

Notice that on the graph there are two points marked off on
the line of best fit…
𝑥 ,𝑦 = (2.5,10)

(𝑥 , 𝑦 ) = (32.5,55)

Use these to calculate the slope.

∆𝑦
𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒 =
∆𝑥
𝑦 −𝑦
𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒 =
𝑥 −𝑥
55 − 10
𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒 =
32.5 − 2.5
𝑔𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑠
𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒 = 1.5 𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠
Be careful to give the final answer
 As a single value (not a fraction)
 Showing units based on the axis. The unit for the y-axis is gloves and the unit for the x-axis is sweaters
𝑔𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑠
which results in 𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠
Graph Problem Instructions: Create graphs for each of the following problems. Turn the graph paper
Landscape in order to utilize as much of the graph paper as possible. Each problem should be on its on page of
graph paper. Make sure to use as much of the graph paper as possible while still using a scale that is easy to
interpret. For each problem, you will need to graph the given sets of data points along with a line of best fit.
Make sure to include a title for each graph, labels and units for each axis. Mark the points you choose to
calculate the slope of the line with an X or a small circle. Make sure you do not use data points for your slope.
Pick points that are on your line of best fit. Do not show any work on the graph.
Insert enough space after each problem to show your calculations for the slope of your line of best fit. You will
insert your work step by step using an equation editor as explained in the lab guidelines document. No
handwritten work will be accepted. Final values should be in bold so they can be easily identified. Format your
document. Eliminate excess blank space. Some will be necessary to avoid splitting tables or your work. Make
your document easy to read.
The graph for each problem should be inserted after the corresponding problem. Insert a blank page after each
problem and add your image. Make sure to enlarge your image from the corners so that it takes up as much of
the page as possible without distortion. Make sure that your image is in focus, taken in good lighting and
oriented in the correct direction.
1. While doing a lab experiment, physics students experimentally gathered data in order to determine the
true resistance of a “50Ω” resistor. Create a graph showing the Voltage vs. Current. By using the slope,
determine the resistance of the resistor. Circle or box the resistance.
Current (amps) Voltage (V)
0.1 12
0.19 16
0.26 23.5
0.36 26
0.45 34
0.53 36
0.62 44
0.72 47

2. Scientists on Mars collected a selection of rocks. In order to determine what the rocks are made of, they
collected the mass and volumes of everything they collected. Knowing that 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 = ,
determine graphically what the density of that substance is. Circle or box the density of the substance.

Mass (kg) Volume (m3)

178 1.2
192 2.25
258 3.5
260 4.3
303 5.3
342 6.25
385 6.7
397 7.9
432 8.15
458 8.88
 3. Identify from the given list what that substance may be. ___________________________

Substance Density (𝑘𝑔 𝑚

)
Hoagium 14.8
Brodium 23.7
Sauronium 37.5
Unobtainium 4.6

Math Review Problems: There is a lot of Math in Physics. The problems in this section are parts of Algebra
that are seen in a lot of areas of Physics.
All work must be shown for each problem to receive credit. You will use the equation editor to show your work
by inserting your steps after each problem. Include ALL steps necessary to solve each problem. Make sure to
format your work so that it is easy to read. Your final answer should be in bold so that it is easy to find. Units
must be included in your final answer. Credit will not be given for handwritten work. You must use the
equation editor.
Unit Conversion. Show your conversions using fractions (Dimensional Analysis). Units must be included in
all steps in order to receive credit. Bold your final answer.
1. A bottle of wine known as a magnum contains a volume of 1.5 liters. A bottle known as a jeroboam
contains 0.792 U.S. gallons. How many magnums are there in one jeroboam?

2. A partly full paint can has 0.67 U.S. gallons of paint left in it. (a) What is the volume of the paint in
cubic meters? (b) If all the remaining paint is used to coat a wall evenly (wall area = 13 m 2), how thick
is the layer of wet paint? Give your answer in meters.

Literal Equations. Solve each equation for the indicated variable using the equation editor. Begin with the
original equation and then solve showing each step. All steps must be shown in order to receive credit. Clearly
indicate your final answer by using bold.

3. 𝑥 = 𝑎𝑦 + 𝑏𝑦 Solve for y.

4. 𝑇 = 2𝜋 Solve for m

Quadratic Equations. Solve each equation using the quadratic formula and the equation editor. Start with the
original equation and then solve. All steps must be shown in order to receive credit. Clearly indicate your final
answer by using bold.

5. 2𝑥 + 7𝑥 + 3 = 12

6. 2𝑥 + 80 = 26𝑥
Trigonometry. Solve the following problem using the equation editor. All steps must be shown in order to
receive credit. Clearly indicate your final answer by using bold.

7. The two hot-air balloons in the drawing are 48.2 and 61.0 m above the ground. A person in the left
balloon observes that the right balloon is 13.3° above the horizontal. What is the horizontal distance x
between the two balloons?

Systems of Equations. Solve the following system of equations for both variables. All steps must be shown in
order to receive credit. Use the equation editor. Clearly indicate your final answer by using bold.

−2𝑥 + 𝑦 = 12
8.
9𝑥 + 𝑦 = −26