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HowScienceWorks Graphs

This document provides teaching notes for a PowerPoint presentation introducing graphs to students. It explains the different types of graphs like line graphs, bar charts, and curved graphs. It provides examples of each type and gives steps for correctly drawing and interpreting graphs, including choosing appropriate scales, plotting points, and drawing lines of best fit. The goal is for students to understand how to draw and interpret various graph shapes that may appear in practical work.

Uploaded by

Reza Prawira Siahaan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
16 views

HowScienceWorks Graphs

This document provides teaching notes for a PowerPoint presentation introducing graphs to students. It explains the different types of graphs like line graphs, bar charts, and curved graphs. It provides examples of each type and gives steps for correctly drawing and interpreting graphs, including choosing appropriate scales, plotting points, and drawing lines of best fit. The goal is for students to understand how to draw and interpret various graph shapes that may appear in practical work.

Uploaded by

Reza Prawira Siahaan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Teachers Notes

This sequence of slides is designed to introduce, and explain,


the idea of Graphs in practical work, as explained on
pages 363-364 in New Physics for You, 2006 & 2011 editions or later.
Note : When you start this PowerPoint if you see a message about Read-only embedded fonts then you
are recommended to select Open Read-Only as this (i) gives a clearer font for those
at the back of the room and (ii) ensures that the text-highlighting of key words is correct.

On each slide the key points are revealed step by step,


at the click of your mouse (or the press of a key such as the space-bar).
Before making the next mouse-click you can ask questions of the class
or make statements about what is about to be revealed.
This should help students to become clearer about the ideas involved.
Naturally it pays to have quick practice-run first.
To start the slide-show, press function-key F5
(or right-click->Full Screen)
(to return to normal view press the <Esc> key).
For more (free) PowerPoint presentations, visit www.physics4u.co.uk

How Science works:

Graphs
New Physics for You, pages 363-4

Learning Objectives
You should learn :

About different types of graphs,


How to draw them when you
are doing your practical work,
How to interpret the different
shapes.

Drawing a graph
When
should
and
when
I drawI adraw a
should
bar-chart
? ?
line-graph

Drawing a graph
Look at the table of your results:

If this column has


only certain fixed values,
use a bar-chart:
a continuous range of
values,
use a line-graph:

Drawing a graph
What is the best
way to draw a
line-graph?

5 steps in drawing a graph


1. Choose simple scales.
For example:
1 large square = 1 newton (1 N)
or
1 large square = 2 N, or 5 N, or 10 N
But never choose an awkward scale,
like 1 square = 3 N or 7 N
Choose a scale that will make your
graph
use most of the sheet of paper.

5 steps in drawing a graph


1. Choose simple scales.
Put the dependent
variable on the y-axis

and
the independent variable on the xaxis

5 steps in drawing a graph


2. Plot the points neatly.
To mark the points we usually use an X
x
x
x

Usually you
need 5 or more
points for the
graph.

Re-check each one before your next


step.

5 steps in drawing a graph


3. If the points form a straight
line
draw the best straight line through
them

li n

f
o
e

s
be

t
fi
t

x
x

Check that it looks the best straight


line.

5 steps in drawing a graph


4. If the points form a curve
draw a free-hand curve of best fit

Do not join the points like a dot-todot.

5 steps in drawing a graph


5. If a point is not on the line
use your apparatus to check this
measurement again
x
x

This is called an
anomalous
point.

x
x
x

You can decide to ignore anomalous points.

5 steps in drawing a graph


In summary:
1. Choose good scales,
with the dependent variable on the yaxis
2. Plot the points carefully
3. Draw a line of best fit
using a ruler for a straight line graph,
4. or draw free-hand for a curved graph
5. Check anomalous points.

Types of graphs
Lets look at some examples of graphs

Types of graphs

length

length

A straight line
graph:

weigh
t
An example would be

the length of a
spring against the
weight on it.

weight

Types of graphs

A special case is when the


straight line goes through the
origin :

origin

In this case the


two quantities are
directly
proportional.
If one doubles,
then the other
one also doubles.
See page 390.

Types of graphs

If you think your graph should go through


the origin, then draw it exactly through
the origin.

Types of graphs

the extension of a
spring
against the weight on
it.

extension

Example
1:

weight

Types of graphs

the current in a
resistor
against the p.d.
across it.

current

Example
2:

voltag
e
This illustrates Ohms Law.

Types of graphs

A curved graph, rising :

The
dependent
variable rises
quickly at
first
Here are some
examples:

and then more slowly

Types of graphs

the velocity of a falling


object
against the time.

velocity

Example
1:

time
Eventually the object will reach its terminal velocity.

Types of graphs

the current in a filament


lamp
against the p.d.

current

Example
2:

voltag
e

Types of graphs

A curved graph, falling :


The
dependent
variable falls
quickly at
first
and then more slowly
Here are some
examples:

Types of graphs

the activity of a radioactive


source
against the time.

activity

Example
1:

tim
e
The time to fall to half is called the halflife.

acceleration

Types of graphs
Example
2:

the rate of change is shown


by
the gradient of the graph.

tim
e

This is discussed in the next PowerPoint.

Learning Outcomes
You should now:

Know how to draw a line-graph


correctly,
Be able to give examples of graphs
with different shapes,
Be able to interpret graphs with
different shapes.

For more details, see:


New Physics for You, page 364,
391

For more free PowerPoints, visit


the web-site at
www.physics4u.co.uk

If you are connected to the web at


the moment, click below to see
whats available:
http://www.physics4u.co.uk/

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