Pre-lab questions:
Question 1:The equation of a straight line is given by y = mx + b. Define what the four symbols in this equation represent.
Question 2: The following table of data shows a linear relationship between two variables, s and t. If you were to plot s vs. t, what would the slope be and what would the y-intercept be? (Note: You do not need to make a graph.)
|
s
|
t
|
|
7.0
|
0
|
|
7.5
|
2
|
|
8.0
|
4
|
|
8.5
|
6
|
|
9.0
|
8
|
|
9.5
|
10
|
|
10.0
|
12
|
|
10.5
|
14
|
|
11.0
|
16
|
|
11.5
|
18
|
|
12.0
|
20
|
Question 3: In the following mathematical relations, identify the slope and the y-intercept (symbolically) if the indicated variable are plotted:
(a) x = xi + vt; plot x vs. t
(b) v = vi + at; plot v vs. t
(c) τ = Iα; plot τ vs. α
(d) x = ½ at2 + xi ; plot x vs. t2
Objective:
To become familiar with the relationship between numerical data and graphical trends.
Analysis questions:
Question 1: What is the numerical value of the slope of this graph (including units)?
Question 2: What physical property of water does it (the slope) represent?
Question 3: What is the (approximate) numerical value of the y-intercept? Does this make sense? Why or why not?
Analysis questions:
Question 1: Based on your T2 vs. l graph, what is the (approximate) numerical value of the y-intercept? Does this make sense? Why or why not?
Question 2: What is the numerical value of the slope for the T2 vs. l plot?
Question 3: Later in the course, we will discuss what the slope physically means. For now, however, take the "accepted" value of the slope to be 4.02 s2/m and find the percent error of your calculated slope value. The formula to find percent error is:
% Error = |observed value - accepted value /accepted value| × 100.
What possible sources of error during the experiment could account for this percentage?