- #1
Jimmy87
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Homework Statement
Hi, we investigated how the length of a pendulum affects the time period of oscillation. We collected data by changing the length (l) of the pendulum and measuring the time period (T). We then squared the T value before plotting it on the y-axis and on the x-axis we just plotted 'l'. This gives a straight line graph.
Homework Equations
T = 2 pi sqrt (l/g)
The Attempt at a Solution
My problem is that in physics we get marked down if our data points do not occupy most of the graph paper. The problem I have is that my first value of T squared is quite far away from zero. This leaves a big gap for the first part of the graph. There seems to be two ways it suggests online to overcome this. Either put a break in the y-axis (a sort of squiggle) and then start close to the first value collected. The other method says to just start your graph not at zero but at a value close to your first reading. Is it ok to start a graph at somewhere other than zero? If so, what is the point in the method that uses a break in the axis? It seems like a waste of graph space if you can just start it at a non zero value. Is it ok to actually start the y-axis at the exact value of your first reading if it is a nice even number e.g. 6.0? Or is it better to start at say 5.0?
Thanks for any help!