GRAPHS PHYSICS - I A

* GRAPHS : Note :
The dependence of one quantity on another may The slope of a straight line in physics need not
be a dimensionless number . It can be a physical
be represented in three different ways.
quantity or constant with units.
i) Tabular form such as
c) Volume - temperature graph V = V0 a T
x Slope = V0 a
y v

V = V0 µ T
y
T
ii) Graphical form such as d) Voltage - current graph for ohmic conduc-
tors V = iR
x v
iii) Analytical form such as y = 3x2
Some practically useful graphs in physics slope=Resitance

1) Directly proportional i
y 2) Linear relation
y = mx + c
ya x
tan q = m ­ ­
q slope ; y - intercept
x
The graph is a straight line with +ve or –ve y –
y = mx intercept. Slope m may be +ve or – ve
The graph is a straight line passing through the y +ve slope
origin. The tangent of the angle q is equal to the slope
c q tan q = m +ve y - intercept
proportionality constant m i.e., tan q = m and is
= + ve
called the slope of the straight line
Applications : x
y -ve slope
a) Distplacement – time (S - t) graph for a body slope
tan q = - ve
moving with uniform velocity : S = vt +y intercept

s
q

y x
tan q = v +ve slope
q -ve y-intercept
t
Slope of s – t graph give velocity x
b) V - t graph for a body moving with uniform
v
-c
y
= slope=acceleration
tan q -ve slope
q -ve y- intercept
t
acceleration, starting from rest : v = at x
Slope of v - t graph gives acceleration
-c
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PHYSICS - I A GRAPHS

Applications : Application
a) V = at + u p
v u = initial velocity

q tan q = a v
u
1
a) P µ Boyle's law
t v
v = final velocity 1
b) l m µ Wein's displacement law
a = accleration T
t = time p
b) KE = hn - W ( Photo electric effect) lm
KE = Maximum energy of photoelectron
T
KE 4) Inverse square relation
1
tan q = h yµ
q x2
v y
y=
1
x2
1
1 y=
x
w

n = frequency of incident radiation x

h = Planck's constant 1
W = Work function of photo metal Gm1m2 1
a) F = Fµ
c) v = u – gt for body projected vertically upwards d2 d2
g = acceleration due to gravity
1 q1q 2 1
v b) F = 4p Î Fµ
0 d2 d2
u
td 5) Power function
ta t y = axn
y = ax,
a a
v = – gt + u y = ax2 , y = a x, y= , y=
x x
– ve slope, +ve y intercept 1 - 1
ta ® time of ascent n=1 n=2 n= n = -1 n=
2 2
td ® time of descent
i) If n = 0 y = a = constant The graph is
3) Inveresly proportional relation
y 1 a straight line parallel to x - axis
ya
x y

x a

The graph is a rectangular hyperbola x-axis x

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 GRAPHS PHYSICS - I A

Applications : The shape of a power function curve also de-

Velocity v = constant = V0 pends on whether n is even or odd
v y
y
v0 x - y2
Acceleraiton y=x2 y= x

a x
t
a0 x
a = Constant = a0
t y=x3
ii) n is a positive number ( n > 0)

y
n> 1
n=1

0< n< 1
Applications :
1
n>
1 2
x S= at
2
n = 1 y = ax is a straight line passing through s
the origin slope at the origin is zero

y Þ u= 0
n=1

t
V2
x
n > 1 The curve first goes below the straight
line i.e., V2 = 2as slope=2a
y
s
n>1
v

x
between x = 0 and x = 1 and above it for x > 1
n < 1 The curve first goes above the straight s
line i.e., iii) n is a negative number ( n < 0)
y
0< n< 1
y

x n> - 1
between x = 0 and x = 1 and then below it for n= -1
n< - 1
x>1 x

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PHYSICS - I A GRAPHS

6) Quadratic functions 7) Sine and Cosine functions

y=sinx
y = Ax + Bx 2
The graph is a parabola
1 3p
Applications : 2 3p
p 2p x
p 5p
1 2 2
a) S = ut + at -1 2
2
s
y=cosx

Slope at t = 0 is not equal to 1 5p

2
p
p 3p 2p 3p x
2
zero Þ u ¹ 0 t -1 2

8) Exponential functions y = ex
s

s0 y
1 2 -x y=e +x
b) S = S0 + ut + at y=e
2 y2
t
gx 2 1
c) y = x tan q -
2u 2 cos 2 q
( in case of projectile) -3 +3
Slope is exactly equal to its value
y = Ax - Bx 2 The graph is a parabola

y d x

dx
(e )= e x
A2
4B x2 x3
ex = 1 + x + + + ..........
2! 3!
A A x Applications : a) N = N0 e- l t (radioactivity)
2B B
N
dy
At ymax , = 0
dx N0
Þ A- 2Bx = 0
Þ A = 2Bx
A t
or x = N0 = Initial number of radioactive atoms
2B N = Radioactive atoms left after t seconds
A A2 A2 l = decay constant
y max = A - B. 2 =
2B 4B 4B b) i = i 0 e- l t (decay of current in L- R circuit)
i0 = Peak value of current
A
At xmax , y = 0 \ x max =
B

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 GRAPHS PHYSICS - I A

i III. Area under v - t graph gives displacement

(  S = vt or ds = vdt)
i0
IV. Area under a - t graph gives change in velocity
æ ö
çç a = v - y or dv = adt ÷÷
t çè t ø÷
i = instanteneous value of current after time t V. Area under force displacement graph gives
1 / l = L / R = time con stant
work.
9) Logarithmic functions y = log e x = ln x VI. Area under force- time graph gives impulse.
y=lnx VII. Area under pressure volume graph gives work.
2
1 DS
3) slope of chord AB = average speed in the
0 Dt
1 2 34 5 6 x
-1
time interval D t
-2
Note : s
B
dy y
1) If z = or then the value of z at any Ds
dx x
A
point on x – y graph can be obtained by the slope of Dt
q
the graph at that point i.e., the slope of the tangent to t t + Dt t
the curve at that point. ds
2) If z = xy or ydx or xdy then the value of z = tan q = slope of tangent at
dt
betw een x 1 and x2 or between y1 and y2 can be A = instantaneous speed at A
obtained by the area of graph between x1 and x2 or Dv
4) = slope of chord AB = average
y1 and y2 Dt
acceleration inthe time interval D t
y
= Slope xy = Area
x v
B
I. Slope of displacement time graph gives velocity
Dv
æ ö
çç v = ds or s ÷÷ slope of s - t graph at t = 0
çè dt t ø÷ A
Dt
q
gives initial velocity t t + Dt t
II. Slope of velocity - time graph gives acceleration dv
= tan q = slope of tangent at
æ ö dt
çç a = dv or v ÷÷
çè dt t ø÷ A = instantaneous acceleration at A
U

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