AP Physics Review‌

AP Physics 1: Mastering‌
‌Algebra-Based Graphing‌
‌Analysis‌
CHAT BLAST‌

Type your answer but don’t

‌press send until I say the
‌magic word! Today’s magic
‌word is LINEAR!
CHAT BLAST‌

What do you call it when

‌you’re going faster than the
‌speed limit?
CHAT BLAST‌

A vector, in physics and in

‌Despicable Me, has two
‌things, what are they?
CHAT BLAST‌

How do you find the area of

‌a square? What about a
‌triangle?
Lesson Objectives‌
At the end of this lesson you will be able to
analyze and manipulate graphs in AP Physics 1
to maximize the ability to use functions like
slope, area under the curve, linearization, and
lines of best fit to represent and understand
physics concepts‌
Introduction to‌
‌Physics Graphs‌
Physics
Purpose of graphing in AP Physics 1‌
Visualize relationships between variables‌
Identify patterns and trends‌
Extract physical constants‌
Make predictions
Communicate scientific findings effectively‌
Analyze experimental data‌
Support or disprove hypotheses‌
Essential components: axes, units, labels‌
Reading and interpreting graphs‌
Making predictions from graphs‌
Graph Basics‌
‌and Setup‌
and
Independent vs. dependent variables‌
Give me a‌ ‌if you know which goes where‌
Give me a‌ ‌if this confuses you‌
Prop‌e r axis labeling‌
S‌c ale selection‌
Units and dimensions‌
Title requirements‌
Understanding‌
‌Slope‌
Slope

Slope formula:m = Δy/Δx‌

m = y‌2 -y‌/x‌ -x‌
‌ 1‌ 2‌ 1‌
Physical meaning in different contexts‌
Depends on what the units of the‌
‌g raph are
Calculating slope from data points‌
Don’t use line of best fit‌
Position vs. Time Graphs‌
Slope = velocity‌
Interpreting motion:‌
Positive slope: positive velocity…..what does this mean? Let’s analyze!‌

Negative slope: negative velocity….what does this mean? You tell me!‌
Zero slope: at rest‌
Units: meters per second (m/s)‌
Velocity vs. Time Graphs‌
Slope = acceleration‌
Area = displacement‌
Co‌n stant velocity: horizontal line‌
Positive slope- let’s analyze it!‌
Negative slope- let’s analyze it!‌
Velocity vs. Time Graphs‌
Area = velocity change‌
Constant acceleration: horizontal line‌
Zero acceleration: along x-axis‌
Commo‌n examples:‌
Free fall‌
Objects on inclines‌
Force vs Distance Graphs‌
Area = work done‌
Work formula: W = Fd (constant force)‌

Example:‌
Spring force: Units: Joules (J)‌
F = -kx‌

f(x)‌ N*m‌
Force vs. Time Graphs‌
Area = impulse‌

Impulse-momentum Appl‌ications:‌
theorem: FΔt = mΔv‌ Collisions‌
Safety systems‌
Sports physics‌

Everyday
J = p‌ uses!‌
 Energy Graphs‌
Kinetic energy: KE = ½mv2‌
Gravitational potential energy:‌
‌P E = mgh‌
Energy conservation‌
Energy transformations‌ CHAT BLAST!!!!‌

Power: P = W/t‌ What do we know

out work and
ab o
energy?‌
Type your answer, but
don’t hit send yet!‌
Linearizing Data‌
Converting curved data to straight lines POLL: Is this a linear
equation?‌

Why we linearize
Makes complex relationships easier to
analyze KE=1/2mv‌ 2‌
Allows use of linear regression
Helps identify relationships between Thumbs up if yes,
variables thumbs down if no!‌

Easier to find physical constants

Better visualization of data patterns
Linearizing Data‌
Converting curved data to straight lines POLL: Is this a linear
equation?‌

Why we linearize
Makes complex relationships easier to
analyze KE=1/2mv‌ 2‌
Allows use of linear regression
Helps identify relationships between Thumbs up if yes,
variables thumbs down if no!‌

Easier to find physical constants

Better visualization of data patterns
Basic Linear
Relationships 1‌
Example: Hooke's
Law F = -kx‌
Direct proportion: y = mx‌
Already linear, plots as straight line‌

2‌ Slope = constant of
proportionality‌

3‌ No transformation
needed
Square Relationships
Original form: y = ax‌2‌
Plot y vs x‌2‌
New equation: y = ax‌2‌ becomes y = mx‌
Slope = a‌
Example: Free fall distance d = ½gt‌2‌
Where we might use this:
Kinetic Energy Problems
Plot KE vs. v²
Slope gives mass‌
Y-int‌e rcept can be‌
‌a dded in to initial‌
‌e quation (KE = ½mv2)‌
‌t o account for any initial‌
‌e nergy‌
Square Root Relationships‌
Original form: y = a√x‌
Square both sides: y‌2 ‌ = a‌2 ‌x‌
Plot y‌2 ‌vs x‌
Example: Pendulum period T = 2π√(L/g)‌
Inverse Relationships‌
Original form: y = a/x‌
Plo‌t y vs 1/x‌
New equation: y = mx‌
Slope = a‌
Example: Pressure vs. Volume in gases‌
Inverse Square
Relationships‌
Original form: y = a/x‌2 ‌
Plo‌t y vs 1/x‌2 ‌
New equation: y = mx‌
Example: Light intensity vs. distance‌
 Steps to Linearize
‌Data 1‌
Identify relationship
pattern‌

Always check your new result to see if it

‌is linear!

2‌ Choose appropriate
transformation‌

3‌ Create new
columns for
transformed data
and plot‌
 Line of Best Fit‌
CHAT BLAST!!!!‌

Write out your answer, but don’t

hit submit until I say LINEAR...‌

What is a line of
best fit and why
do you use it?‌
 Line of Best Fit‌
Purpose and methods‌
Purpose of best fit lines‌
S‌h ow overall trend in data‌
Account for experimental uncertainty‌
Minimize impact of random errors‌
Enable predictions‌
Find physical relationships‌
Determine physical constants‌
Drawing by eye method‌
Plot all data points clearly‌
Visualize line through points‌
Balance points above and below‌
Consider all data points‌
Avoid forcing through origin unless‌
‌p hysically justified‌
Line of Best Fit‌
Equal points method‌
Count points above and be‌low
‌line‌
Should be approximately equal‌
Consider distance from line‌
Weight ‌a ll points equally‌
Adjust line until balanced‌
Line should represent overall trend‌
Don't connect dots‌
Don't favor first/last points‌
Consider experimental uncertainty‌
Maintain consistent approach‌
Look for systematic errors‌
Interpreting Best‌
‌Fit Lines‌
Fit
Finding slope from best fit‌
Choose two widely separated points on line‌
Record coordinates: (x‌1, y‌)
‌ 1‌
and (x‌2 ,y‌
‌ 2‌
)‌
Use slope formula: slope = (y‌2 -y‌)/(x‌
‌ 1‌
-x‌)‌
2‌ 1‌
Include units‌
Round appropriately‌
Using y-intercept:‌ ‌
use one of the points and y = mx+b to solve for the y‌
‌intercept‌
that is your INITIAL condition.‌ ‌
Making predictions‌
Understanding limitations‌
Practice:‌ Graphs
‌Graphs‌

Let’s Practice!‌
Converting between:‌
Position‌ vs. time‌
Velocity vs. time‌
Acceleration vs. time
Force vs. distance‌
Work‌
Story problems‌
Multiple representations‌
 Position vs. Time‌
‌Graph Problems‌
Graph
Practice Problem 1‌
A runner moves at constant speed for 5 seconds, covering 20‌
meters‌

Draw t‌h e position-time graph‌

Calculate the velocity from the slope‌
What does a horizontal segment mean?‌

Sample Problem: A car travels 30 meters forward in 6 seconds,

stops for 2 seconds, then moves back 15 meters in 3 seconds.
Graph this motion.‌
 Velocity vs. Time‌
‌Graph Problems‌
Graph
Practice Problem 2‌

A car accelerates from rest to 12 m/s in 6 seconds‌

Draw t‌h e v-t graph‌
Find ‌a cceleration from slope‌
Calcul‌a te displacement from area‌
How far did the bike in the graph travel over‌
4‌ seconds? What was its acceleration in that‌
‌time?‌
time? Practice Problem 3‌

In the chat tell me:

can we use just
ONE shape to get
the area?‌
Acceleration vs. Time Graph Problems‌
Practice Problem 4‌
Find the velocity of‌ t‌h e object after 3 se‌c on‌d s:‌

What do we need
to do here?‌ ‌
Force vs. Distance Graph Problems‌
Practice Problem 5‌

A spring is stretched from 0 to 0.2

meters‌
Based on‌ t‌h e graph, and the spring‌
‌formula F=-kx, what is the spring‌
constant?‌
What is the work ‌d one on the‌
‌s pring?‌
 Wrapping It All Up‌
Check what a
graph’s basic
information can Use the units to
tell you‌ help you
Linearizing data
understand what
and using lines of
slope and area best fit can help us
can tell you‌ draw conclusions
from complex data
more easily‌
Questions?‌