Why is potential energy vs kinetic energy linear instead of parabolic?

[Physlearner34]

What should a graph of potential energy versus kinetic energy look like. My graph is linear but I'm pretty sure it should look like a parabola.

 

[rcgldr]

Assuming no losses, then total energy is a constant, and

potential_energy + kinetic_energy = total_energy

So the graph of potential versus kinetic energy is a linear graph with a downwards slope of 45 degrees.

 

[Physlearner34]

What does it mean if my graph is going up instead of down?

 

[rcgldr]

What does it mean if my graph is going up instead of down?

Most likely that you've assigned the wrong direction to potential energy. Assume some object is in a vacuum, motionless, at some height "h". The potential energy = m g h. If you let the object fall, potential energy decreases, and kinetic energy increases.

 

[Physlearner34]

My graph is going upward with a large slope. Am I suppose to include the negative gravity in my calculations for potential energy?