Physics help (finding the units of the slope of the graph)

<p>Force (N) Acceleration (m/s2)</p>

<p>5.0 4.9
10.0 9.8
15.0 15.2
20.0 20.1
25.0 25.0
30.0 29.9</p>

<p>How would you find the units of the slope of the graph?</p>

<p>I’m assuming force (N) is on the x-axis?</p>

<p>PURE ALGEBRA METHOD:</p>

<p>general form of linear graph
y=mx+b</p>

<p>1 N = 1 kg*m/s2</p>

<p>plugging in units, and ignoring b (since it has no bearing on the slope)</p>

<p>m/s2 = (slope) * kg*m/s2</p>

<p>Then it’s just algebra, solve for slope.
Answer is 1/kg.</p>

<p>CONCEPTUAL/ALGEBRA COMBO METHOD:
Per Newton’s Second Law</p>

<p>F=ma,
where F = force (N), m = mass (kg), a = acceleration (m/s2)</p>

<p>b/c a is the dependent variable…
F/m = a</p>

<p>Thus 1/m is slope.</p>

<p>Thank you, wxmann!!!</p>

<p>An easy way to find the slope is from the generic definition of slope, aka rise/run or y/x. Just look at what your units on the y-axis are, then divide by the units on the x-axis. So if F was on the x-axis and a was on the y-axis, the slope units would be 1/kg or kg^-1. Similarly, if F was on the y-axis and a was on the x-axis, the units would be kg</p>