Understanding Periodic Motion Square Graphs

[kscribble]

I'm doing an experiment on periodic motion using a spring and a mass on the end.

My teacher wants us to graph T^2 and mass, but i don't understand we don't just graph T.

I hope someone understands what I mean

 

[tiny-tim]

Welcome to PF!

I'm doing an experiment on periodic motion using a spring and a mass on the end.

My teacher wants us to graph T^2 and mass, but i don't understand we don't just graph T.

I hope someone understands what I mean

Welcome to PF!

I think your teacher means that instead of marking the t-axis 1,2,3,4,5,… at equal intervals, you mark 1,4,9,16,25,… at equal intervals.

The idea is that if you use an ordinary t-axis, you get a parabola, and you need to find the "parameter" for that parabola, which is tricky …

but with a t²-axis, you get a straight line, and all you have to do is to measure the slope of it!

(also, your measurements won't be perfect , and it's much easier to draw a best-fit line that a best-fit parabola!)

 

[kscribble]

thank you!
i understand it now :)