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Displaying Data

Physics: Cambridge International A Level, topic 1.2.7

Displaying Data in Tables & Graphs

We need to make sure that any data we collect is able to be understood by those who have not taken the measurements.

Tables and graphs

Tables and graphs

  • Tables and graphs should have a title that concisely describes what is being shown.
  • To label table columns or graph axes, we write the symbol of the physical quantity we have measured, followed by a forward slash, and then its units.
Physical quantities and units

Physical quantities and units

  • The numbers in the table and on the axes should be written without any units.
  • Physical quantities consist of a number multiplied by its unit, so you can think of the graph heading as being the quantity divided by the unit, leaving the number on its own.
Labelling tables

Labelling tables

  • When recording the speeds of objects, the speed column should have the heading v/ms−1v/ms^{-1}.
  • The numbers in the table should be written without any units.
Labelling graphs

Labelling graphs

  • The axes of a graph should be labelled in the same way as table columns.
  • The numbers that form the scale of the axes should be written without any units.
Scale

Scale

  • If the data points are very large or very small, it can be useful to divide by a common power of 10 from all of the values in order to display them in a table or on a graph.
  • You must include the factor in the units on the column heading or axes label.
  • For example, if you were to measure speeds of 300, 500, and 600, you could write them in a table as 3, 5, and 6, with a label of v / 102ms−1v\,/\,10^2ms^{-1}.

Test yourself on Displaying Data

  • Which of the following should you NOT include in a table of data?

  • A graph of distance travelled against time taken of twenty cars is plot. What should the distance axis be labelled with?

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