Honors Physics Lab Journals Graphing

Lab Journal Entries  Number pages in consecutive order  Date all entries  Title all activities and investigations  Identify group members  Identify independent and dependent variables  Identify control variables

Lab Journal Entries  Write a testable hypothesis or Statement of Problem  Write a procedure summary including a list of materials and equipment  Construct an appropriate data table.  Make detailed notes during the investigation  Record all observations  Note any occurrences that may have an effect on the investigation

Lab Journal Entries  Include all pertinent plots, graphs and diagrams  Summarize any other important information.  Record Preliminary Findings

Graphing  All scientific graphs must include the following information  Title clearly stating the purpose of the graph and the independent and dependent variables  Independent variable plotted on the horizontal axis  Dependent variable plotted on the vertical axis  Axes clearly labeled with appropriate variable named, units of measure and scale.  Best Fit line or curve that represents all of the data

Graphing with Microsoft Excel  Open a new document  In column A, type data for independent variable  In column B, type data for dependent variable

Graphing with Microsoft Excel  Click on the Chart button in the toolbar  Choose XY Scatter  Use the default type  Click NEXT  Type in the title for the graph and label the axes  Click FINISH

Graphing with Microsoft Excel  Choose the Chart drop-down menu –Choose Add Trendline  Choose the shape that resembles your graph  Click on the options tab –Choose automatic –Choose Display equation

Using Graphical Analysis  Open Graphical Analysis  Type in Data  X – independent variable  Y – dependent variable

Using Graphical Analysis  Title the Data Set  Choose Data drop-down menu –Choose Column Options  Title the Graph –Be sure the graph is selected  Choose Options drop-down menu –Choose Graph Options

Using Graphical Analysis  Analysis features  Choose the Analyze drop-down menu or Toolbar to find:  Slope  Draw the best fit line or curve  Retrieve the equation of the line or curve  Other functions are available