Interpreting Graphs (Edexcel International A Level Physics)

Relationships between Variables

• Identifying the relationship between two variables shows how one variable changes with another

  • This is best figured out from an equation that links both variables together

• Two variables can be:

  • Directly proportional

  • Inversely proportional

• For two variables, y and x that are directly proportional, their relationship looks like:

y ∝ x

• This means that as y increases, x also increases at the same rate (and vice versa)

• An example of this is

F = ma

• Since m is a constant, F and a are directly proportional

  • If a is doubled, then so is F

• For two variables, y and x that are inversely proportional, this looks like:

y ∝ 

• This means that as y increases, x decreases at the same rate (or vice versa)

• An example of this is

R =

• If V is constant, then R and I are inversely proportional

  • If I is doubled, the R is halved

• It is important to note that in both of these examples, the remaining variable is constant, this is important to consider and check before stating the relationship between two variables

  • In F = ma, if m changed as well with a then F would not increase by the same amount as a (i.e. it would no longer be directly proportional)

• Therefore, the directly proportional relationship can be turned into an equation by replacing '∝' with an '=' sign, and adding a constant k

y = kx

• This now means that as y increases, x increases with the amount determined by the constant k

  • If k is 3 then y = 3x so the both increase by a factor of 3

• The same happens for an inversely proportional relationship

y = 

• This now means that as y increases, x increases with the amount determined by the constant k

  • If k is 3 then y =  so y decreases by a factor of 3

• Another common relationship is the inverse square law

• For two variables, y and x that are related by the inverse square law, this looks like:

y ∝ 

• This means that if x increases by a factor of 2, then y decreases by a factor of 2² = 4!

• An example of this is

F =

• If L is constant, then d and F are inversely proportional

  • If the distance d is 3 times larger, then the flux intensity, F is 3² = 9 times smaller

Determining Constants from Graphs

• Straight line graphs (linear relationships) are common in A-level physics

  • These graphs are useful because we can calculate a constant value from them

  • This is the gradient

• The gradient can be calculated by dividing the rise (change in y) by the run (change in x)

• The full calculation of the gradient needs to be shown in the working out, including the correct substitution of identified plotted points from the axes into the equation

• The triangle used to calculate the gradient should be drawn on the graph and it needs to be as large as possible

  • Small triangles are not acceptable for working out a gradient

• When using the results from a table of values, the triangle that is used to obtain the gradient can utilise points that lie on the line of best fit but not values that lie away from the line

  • Try to avoid using data points to calculate this where possible

• The units of the gradient will be the ratio of the units of the y variable and units of the x variable

  • E.g., For a graph for extension x (in m) against force F (in N) the units of the gradient would be N m^-1