Just a quick question (1 Viewer)

[VenomP]

Recently in a prac test we were instructed to use time squared instead of time on the x axis for a graph. Any idea why this might be?

Is it more accurate or something?

 

[lacklustre]

Recently in a prac test we were instructed to use time squared instead of time on the x axis for a graph. Any idea why this might be?

Is it more accurate or something?

Was this for the pendulum prac (determining the value of acceleration due to gravity)?

 

[VenomP]

Was this for the pendulum prac (determining the value of acceleration due to gravity)?

Something similar, I think. We were putting metal balls down a track, and recording their velocity, acceleration and all of that.

 

[Continuum]

Perhaps because accelerated is measured in ms^-2?

 

[vds700]

were u graphing displacement vs time squared??? This seems most likely to me as the gradient of this graph would give u the acceleration of the ball. This is because the units for acceleration are m/s^2, so it makes sense that the acceleration is the distance divided by the square of the time.

 

[VenomP]

Oh, right. That makes sense now, I think.

Thanks.

 

[me121]

Recently in a prac test we were instructed to use time squared instead of time on the x axis for a graph. Any idea why this might be?

Is it more accurate or something?

As vds700 said, it allows you to determine a certain relationship constant easier. I mean its easier to find the m in a y=mx graph, than an a in y=ax^2.