Graphing Problem: Rearrange to a Straight Line Graph

[dienamics]

Hi,
Was wondering if someone could help me out with this simple graphing problem.

Its a mass x acceleration graph. I have a constant force but an increasing mass e.g

When plotting this graph I end up with a negative curve, as the mass increases, the acceleration decreases.

I need to rearrange this to a straight line graph.

pls help!

Cheers.

 

[sylas]

Hi,
Was wondering if someone could help me out with this simple graphing problem.

Its a mass x acceleration graph. I have a constant force but an increasing mass e.g

When plotting this graph I end up with a negative curve, as the mass increases, the acceleration decreases.

I need to rearrange this to a straight line graph.

pls help!

Cheers.

A common approach is to plot logs. When you have a power law between two variables, this gives a straight line. Many plotting programs provide an option to make one or both axes a log-scale. The gradient of a log graph let's you know the power of the relationship.

\begin{align*}<br /> y &amp;= x^n \\<br /> \log y &amp;= n \log x<br /> \end{align*}​

Cheers -- sylas

 

[dienamics]

Hmm...

Not sure that's going to work, but thats. probably should have explained the question better.

Its not a negative curve, the curve represents deceleration in the positive direction (curve with decreasing gradient) and the force is not given. If worked out using F=ma the force varies.

Not sure how to go about this one. Have tired rearranging using a=f/m but don't seem to be having much luck...

probably something really simple I'm doing wrong

 

[dienamics]

Can anyone help me with this??