Physics Chapter 9 – Data Representation & Graphing

Fill-in-the-blank flashcards covering key points on data representation, types of graphs, graph-making guidelines, lines of best fit, gradients, and the straight-line equation.

In science, data is a collection of __ information gathered through observation and experimentation.

factual

We often use data __ tools, such as charts, graphs, and heat maps, to simplify large data sets.

visualising

The three broad categories of data‐visualising tools mentioned are __, graphs, and heat maps.

charts

Our main focus in this chapter is on __ as a data representation tool.

graphs

Graphs condense large amounts of information into an organized, easy-to-read manner and allow you to obtain __ you have not directly measured.

data

A __ graph is composed of discrete bars that represent different categories of data.

bar

The length or height of each bar in a bar graph is equal to the __ within that category.

quantity

A __ graph shows the relationship between an independent and a dependent variable.

line

Line graphs are especially useful for showing __ in data over time and for making predictions.

trends

To remember what you need to create a graph, use the acronym T.A.I.L.S., which stands for Title, Axis, Interval, __, Scale.

Labels

When making a graph, the first step after collecting data is to represent that data in a __ form.

table

The ‘T’ in T.A.I.L.S. reminds you to give your graph a __.

title

The ‘A’ in T.A.I.L.S. reminds you to identify both __ of the graph.

axes

The ‘I’ in T.A.I.L.S. represents choosing an appropriate __ between tick marks.

interval

Drawing a __ of best fit does not mean simply connecting dots with straight lines.

line

The __ (or slope) of a line indicates how fast the line rises or falls.

gradient

For a straight-line graph, the gradient can be found using the formula (y₂ − y₁) ÷ (x₂ − x₁); this is commonly written as __.

rise/run

When drawing a gradient triangle, the horizontal change is the ‘run’ and the vertical change is the __.

rise

A line sloping upward from left to right has a __ gradient.

positive

The general equation of a straight line is written as __, where m is the gradient and c is the y-intercept.

y = mx + c