Conventions and Graphing =—eeee ee ew ae = > FUNDAMENTALS AND DERIVED UNITS > GRAPHING VARIABLES + SLOPE AND AREA > INTERPRETING GRAPHS nderstanding the measurement and unit conventions used in the SAT Subject Test in Physics and being able to identify and interpret graphs quickly will help solve many of the questions posed on the examination. The majority of the measurements and units on the ‘examination will employ the metric system, Graphs will be used to establish relations between dependent and independent variables as well as solve for quantities based on the slope of line or area under curve. This chapter will: 1 Review the fundamental metric units (SI units) and some of the derived metric units (SI units) used in physics. Determine the dependent and independent variables of a graph. 1 Explain the importance of slope and area to a graph. 1 Interpret the graphical representation of common physies equations. FUNDAMENTAL AND DERIVED UNITS The fundamental metric units (SI units) in physics cover the basic quantities measured, such as length, mass, and time. The units measure a quantity and are given a unit name and symbol. Table 1.1 lists the fundamental quantities along with the unit names and symbols, Table 1.1 Fundamental Quantities and Units Eien tien Soe Length (!) Meter m Mass (m) Kilogram kg Time (0 "Second s Electric eurrent (1) Ampere A ‘Temperature (1) Kelvin : k “Amount of substance (7) Mole mol ‘J CONVENTIONS AND GRAPHING 47a8 Derived units are combinations of one or more of the fundamental units. Table 1.2 lists common derived units used in physics. Table 1. ins i Teena sca) peed Area (A) ‘Area Volume (V) Volume m? Density (p) Density gi? Frequency (/) Hertz Hz Force (F) Newton N kg- m/s? Energy (E) Joule J Ne m=kg- m/s? Power (P) Watt w Pressure (P) Pascal Pa Electric charge (9) Coulomb Gl Electric potential (¥) Volt v ye Some questions on the SAT Subject Test in Physics may ask which units correctly belong, toa specific quantity. An easy way to do this is to write out the principal formula for the quantity and then replace each variable on the right side ofthe equation with its unit symbol. ‘There may be more than one correct answer including the unit symbol, other derived units, and fundamental units. For example, all ofthe following are correct ways to express units of energy: J, N+ m, and kg m/s —GSD- Derived Units ‘The unit of force is the newton. What are the fundamental units that make up the newton? Write down the foundational formula for force. Fema Replace the variable symbols with their matching units. Force is measured in rnewtons, N. Mass is measured in kilograms, kg. Acceleration is measured in meters per second squared, m/s?. gt m/s? SAT PHYSICSGRAPHING VARIABLES ‘The graphing techniques of mathematics are used in science to compare dependent and independent variables. In mathematics, you are familiar with the waditional x- and nce, the x-axis represents the independent variable and the y-axis le. The value of the dependent variable depends upon the te axes. In si y-coort represents the dependent v: independent variable, Graphs are always titled so that the dependent variable is listed first, and the independent variable is listed second. As an example, a position versus time graph would have position (dependent variable) plotted on the y-axis and time (independent variable) plotted on the avaxis SLOPE AND AREA Slope Slopes are very important and are often the key to answering many of the graphing questions ‘on the SAT Subject Test in Physics. Slope is determined by dividing the rise (j-value) by the run (x-value). The trick isto look at the units written on the axes of the graph. If you divide these units, you can easily identify the significance of the slope. Peston 10 Time (e) interval from 0 to (A) What is the value and significance of the slope in the tim 3 seconds? nar THE THIER) Determining the slope is simply a matter of dividing the rise (y-values) by the run (Gevalues). The significance of the slope Is determined by examining the resulting units. ope = 1ise , 15m= Om _ slope = Fine = “gr—gen = S m/s The resulting units, meters per second (m/s), are the units of velocity. Therefore, the slope of the position versus time graph is equal to velocity. During the first 3 seconds, the object has a velocity of 5 m/s. IF YOU SEE agraph title Plot the first variable listed fon the y-axis. This is the dependent variable, CONVENTIONS AND GRAPHING 49IF You SEE agraph yy Slope or area may be important. Include units incaleulations of slope and area to verity if they match the ‘quantity you are solving for. Gans Slope of a Graphed Function (continued) (@) What Is the value and significance of the slope in the time interval from 3 to 5 seconds? ‘The slope in the interval between 3 and 5 seconds is zero. rise | 1sm- 15m _ tig = SEES coms During this time interval, the object has a velocity of zero and it is not changing, ‘The object's position remains constant at a location 15 m from the origin. slope Area ‘The area formed by the boundary between the x-axis and the line ofa graph is also very useful. Areas are calculated by multiplying the height (y-axis) by the base (x-axis). In problems where the area forms a triangle, the area is found wi h height x base. In cases where the line of the graph is below the x-axis, the area is negative. See Figure 1.1 + Area Lheight x base Area =-height x base Area =height x base Area =4 Figure 1.1. Calculating area As with slope, you can easily determine the significance of the area. By multiplying the units written on the axes of the graph and then looking at the resulting units, you can quickly determine the significance of the area. SAT PHYSICS= Sa Area of a Graphed Function Time(s) ‘What is the value and significance of the area of the graph during the time Interval between 0 and 10 seconds? Determine the area, and examine the resulting units, ‘area = height x base = (10 m/s)(10 s) = 100 m Meters (m) are the units of displacement. The area under a speed versus time graph is therefore the displacement of the object during that time period. The object graphed above traveled 100 m in 10 seconds. INTERPRETING GRAPHS Consider the graph of velocity versus time in Figure 1. 30 Velocity 7° 7 (nls) | 0 i | ° 20 40 60 Time (8) Figure 1.2. Velocity versus time graph ‘The graph tells the story of an object, such as a car, as it moves over a 60-second period of time, At time zero, the object has a velocity of 0 meters per second and is therefore starting from rest. The y-intercept of a speed versus time graph is the initial velocity of the object, vy CONVENTIONS AND GRAPHING 5152 What the object is doing during the 60 seconds can be determined by analyzing the slope and area during the separate time intervals. Determine the significance of the slope by dividing the rise units (p-values) by the run units (x-values). riseunits _m/s rununits~ slope units =mist ‘The slope units, meters per second squared (m/s®), are the units of acceleration. Thus, the slope of speed versus time is acceleration. Determine the significance of the area between the graphed function and the x-axis by multiplying the units of the y-axis by the units of the rans area unit height units x base units = x s=m Meters (m) are the units of displacement. The area of a velocity versus time graph is displacement. To analyze the motion mathematically, divide the graph into a series of line segments and evaluate each section. The following chart shows the acceleration and displacement for the time intervals corresponding to the graphed line segments. i Toroao | 20mUS=10mS coven | SBmS10MS ye coos | 228300 mit | 2 coms +2008 sorooo | POMUS2OMIS — omis? (20 m/s)(10) = 200 m Graphs that Illustrate Physics Equations ‘The SAT Subject Test in Physics may ask you to identify which graph correctly matches a given equation. Equations in beginning physics typically take one of four possible forms: linear, quadratic, square root, and inverse. You can quickly deduce the shape of a graph by looking at the relationship between the dependent and independent variables as shown in Table 1.3. SAT PHYSICSTable 1.3 Identifying Graphs pein What's the Trick? I Graph How would, Solve for x (dependent variable). xsut xevt a appear on an Examine ¢ (independent variable) xversus¢ | ris norsquared, norunder a square root, raphe and norinverted. The graph must be linear (directly proportional). oo 7 How would Solve for x (dependent variable) zal at Lop zi ahat xehar appear on an Examine ¢ (independent variable), “rversus ¢ ts squared, The graph is quadratic graph? (aparabola). o 7 How would Solve for T (dependent variable). T=2nJUlg T=2nJhlg 7 appear on a Examine L (independent variable) T versus 1 Lis under a square root graph? oO appear on a Pversus V graph? Solve for P (dependent variable). 1 Penny Examine V independent variable). Vis inverted. The graph is a hyperbola (inversely proportional) CONVENTIONS AND GRAPHING 55SUMMARY 1. FUNDAMENTAL AND DERIVED UNITS. The fundamental metric units are for the basic units of measure, such as length, mass, and time. As formulas are created with these smaller units, derived units will result. You should know the fundamental unit components of derived units. You can do this by replacing quantity symbols in a physics formula with their fundamental units to determine the derived unit. 2. HOW A GRAPH IS PLOTTED AND TITLED. The dependent variable is plotted on the y-axis, and the independent variable is plotted on the x-axis. The title of ‘a graph always lists the dependent variable first and the independent variable second. 3. THE IMPORTANCE OF SLOPE. The slope of a line is determined by dividing the rise (y-value) by the run (x-value). Whenever you see a graph with units listed on its axes, you should immediately divide the units and see if thelr quotient is a unit with some significance, For example, the slope of a position (meters) versus time (seconds) graph will have units in meters per second. The slope Is therefore the velocity. 4, THE IMPORTANCE OF AREA. The area under a line segment can be determined by multiplying the rise (y-value) by the run (x-value). The areas encountered in beginning physics will be zero, rectangular, triangular and/or trapezoidal. Areas below the x-axis are negative. Multiplying the units listed on the axes will indicate thelr significance. For example, the area of a velocity (m/s) versus time (s) graph will have units in meters. This area repr ents displacement. ‘5. USING A GRAPH TO PREDICT THE FUNCTION THAT CREATED IT. Plotting a function based on a physics equation will produce one of four likely curves: Linear, quadratic, square root, and inverse. You should become familiar with the basic shapes of these four likely curves and then be able to associate them with physics equations. acne a Peace) Replace quantity symbols | Memorizing basic formulas will with fundamental units. | help. Replace quantity symbols with fundamental unit symbols to show derived units, A graph title Plot the first variable This first variable is the dependent listed on the y-axis. variable, Agraph Determine the slope Include units when calculating slope or area; they may be and area to verify if they match the important. quantity you are solving for. 54 SAT PHYSICSPRACTICE EXERCISES Questions 1-2 (A) kgs mis? (B) kg m2/s? © kg: mes? (D) kghm. s? (B) Avs Select the combination of fundamental units above that should be used to answer each of the following questions about derived units, 1. The formula for finding pressure is P= FIA. The derived unit for pressure is the pascal. Which combination of fundamental units is equivalent to a pascal? 2. ‘The formula for inding Kinetic energy (Xs K= 1 mv The derived uni for energy i the joule. Which combination of fundamental units is equivalent to a joule? Questions 3-4 refer to the following velocity-time graph. 30 Velocity 7° (mis) 10 ot}, o 1 2 3 4 5 ‘Time (3) 3, Determine the magnitude of acceleration of the object when time r= 4 seconds. () Ooms? (B) 2mis* (©) 5mis* (0) 10 mis? (©) 20 mis? 4, Determine the displacement (change in position), Ax, of the object during the 5-second time interval (4) 40m (8) 60m (© 80m (D) 100m (©) 120m CONVENTIONS AND GRAPHING5. Which graph best represents the equation, P= /?R? ee ® , © », o 7 ° 7 ° 7 oO >» © » Q 7 o 1 6. Which graph best represents the equation p= hi? Wp ® ») © » | cet { o Fi 0 2 o i © » © » Cra oy 7. Which graph best represents the equation F = kx? Woop ® , © ° Y 0 F o : One ® - o——— 0 ? 56 SAT PHYSICSANSWERS EXPLAINED 1. @) ramon Derived unit for pressure Retro P=FIA Reto Formulas are not provided on the examination ‘The formula was provided in this question for convenience. However, you should memorize formulas for such purposes as derived unit analysis. Replacing the symbols for force, F, and area, A, with their units would produce: pressure = N/m? Annewton, N, is also a ky + m/s? so the combined fundamental units for pressure would be kgimst, 2.) Derived unit for energy 1 iw? Ke pm Formulas are not provided on the examination. ‘The formula was provided in this question for convenience. However, you should memorize formulas for such purposes as derived unit analysis. Replacing symbols for mass, m, and velocity, v, with their units would produce: kinetic energy = Lapis? he resulting combination would be kg+m?/s2, The one-half has no effect on the unit combination, 3.) Velocity-time sgrapl acceleration Knowledge/ definitions or Test if units of slope or area match the units of acceleration ‘The units of slope match the units needed in the answer. The slope of velocity versus time is acceleration. The time given, ¢= 4 s, lies on a constantly sloping line between sand (=5s. acceleration om-20m “Ss-3s The question requires the magnitude (numerical value without direction) of acceleration, which is the absolute value of acceleration 4.) Velocity-time graph; displacement Knowledge/definitions or ‘Test if units of slope or area match the units of displacement ‘The units of area match the units needed in the answer. The area of velocity versus time is. displacement. Add the areas of the rectangle and triangle, bounded by the function and the seaxis, displacement = area = height x base displacement = area of rectangle + area for triangle (20 mis x35) +320 mis x28) =80m, CONVENTIONS AND GRAPHING 57Pence 5. €€) | Which graph; P=PR Retro Are the graphed variables squared, under a square root, or inverted? Rouen ‘The independent variable, J is squared. A squared value indicates a quadratic function, which will graph as a parabola, The independent variable, P, will increase by the square of the dependent variable, 1, This creates a parabola consistent with answer C. 6. ¢&) | Which graph; p=hih Are the graphed variables squared, under a square root, The independent variable, 2, is inverted. The dependent and independent variables are inversely proportional, and the resulting graph or inverted? isa hyperbola. Only one hyperbola is shown in the answers. 7. A) | Which graph; | Are the graphed ‘The equation contains no squared values, no Feke variables squared, under a square root, or inverted? square roots, and no inverted values. Thi linear equation in the following form: mx+b ‘There are two possible answers: A and B. Answer B includes a y-intercept. However, the equation F= kxis missing addition of a constant (such as F= kx+ b), The ytintercept must therefore be zero. So the answer is A se SAT PHYSICS