Graphing

Science is about identifying and explaining patterns. We use graphs to represent data because patterns are often easier to find and understand when we have a visual representation of the data. As such, we will work with graphs extensively in physics. This will include both making and interpreting graphs.

Making graphs

In order to make a graph, we typically follow roughly the same steps each time. Each time, we must answer the following questions:

• 1. What data will we graph?

  2. What are the independent and dependent variables?

  3. What type of graph will I make?

  4. What scale will I use?

1. What data will we graph?