Analyzing Data

Velocity vs. Time

When your v vs. t data is linear (as in the ticker tape timer lab) the significance of the regression equation is easy to interpret.  As you know, a linear velocity plot indicates an object with a constant acceleration.

The linear equation:

y = ax + b

directly parallels the equation for the velocity of an object with a constant acceleration:

v = at + vi

Therefore, with the velocity on the y-axis and the time on the x-axis, the regression simply gives us the constants for the velocity equation.

The slope of the v vs. t line (the change in velocity over change in time) is the acceleration.  The intercept (the velocity at time zero) indicates the initial velocity or vi.
 
 

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