The one that you're watching for changes in is called the dependent or responding variable, drawn on the y-axis. What you are changing is the independent or manipulated variable, drawn on the x-axis. When you do a lab, you are usually changing or letting something change at a regular rate, and watching for changes in something else.

As a rule of thumb, time almost always goes on the horizontal axis.

So, in the example of the first type of graph we will be studying, Displacement must be on the vertical axis, and Time on the horizontal.

The rule is “Vertical Axis” versus “Horizontal Axis”.

(vertical) and 'x' (horizontal) axis are.

The most common and recommended way to name your graph is to say what your 'y'.

Your title should be short, but still clearly tell what you have graphed.

Graphs you draw must have the following five basic characteristics: 1.

But first, we will discuss some basic rules for graphing.

We will be studying three main types of graphs:.

It’s usually best to look at an example of the graph, and then discuss the features of the graph one at a time.

Don’t let this discourage you, though, because as you become more comfortable with the following graphs you will actually be able to get more out of the rest of kinematics.

Graphing displacement, velocity, and acceleration stuff can be one of the harder things for students to figure out in this unit.

Positive physics graph problems