Graphing

Introductory Physics reviewed the features of a quality line graph and how to use that graph to extract important information. All graphs should have a full-phrase title, correctly labeled axes (with appropriate units), be clean and easy to read and have the best-fit line drawn through the points. Don't connect the points, label each data point or force the line through the origin if that's not where it is actually headed. You should be able to quickly sketch a graph, calculate the slope, identify the nature and units of the slope(does it represent speed in m/s or mass in kg), write an equation of the line and use that equation to make predictions about unmeasured values. Your homework problem has you practice all of that, so do your best.

Physics B reviewed their labs and then moved on to the review for the Chapter 1 exam. Physics A had that review yesterday and worked today on their Making Cents of Math lab. That lab is not due until Monday, so read back through previous blog entries for hints and tips for doing a good job on the write up.

Honors Physics moved into the area of acceleration today (rate of change of velocity) and realized that accelerations means rate of change of direction as much as it means rate of change of speed of the motion. You were introduced to the basic kinematics equations that are very helpful in analyzing motion, since they permit you to solve for displacement, time of travel, initial velocity, final velocity or acceleration for any motion. The homework problems are due on Monday and the lab on which you will work tomorrow, which is an intense analysis of motion graphs for a cart moving up and down an incline, won't be due until Tuesday.