Name: _____Answer Key_____________
Force/Acceleration Graphing Exercise
Step 1: Compute the changes in acceleration (with a constant mass) using Newton’s second law
of motion (F=ma).
Force (N) Mass (kg) Acceleration
(m/s2)
0
10
0
20
10
2
50
10
5
75
10
7.5
90
10
9
100
10
10
Step 2: Plot Force vs. Acceleration on graph paper. Force is considered the independent variable
(the one we are controlling). Label the axes. Set your scale by looking at the lowest and highest
number for each axis. Make the scale fit the data.
Step 3: Connect your data points with a line.
Step 4: Answer this question: What does the line look like?
A straight line going up.
Step 5: Answer this question: What does that indicate about the relationship between
acceleration and force with a constant mass?
As force goes up, acceleration goes up.
Step 6: Using your graph, answer this question: What is the force required to produce an
acceleration of 6 m/s2?
60 N
Force vs. Acceleration
10
Acceleration (m/s2)
8
6
4
2
0
0
10
20
30
40
50
Force (N)
60
70
80
90
100
Mass/Acceleration Graphing Exercise
Step 1: Compute the changes in acceleration (with a constant force) using Newton’s second law
of motion (F=ma).
Force (N) Mass (kg) Acceleration
(m/s2)
50
1
50
50
3
16.7
50
10
5
50
12
4.2
50
20
2.5
50
25
2
Step 2: Plot Mass vs. Acceleration on graph paper. Mass is considered the independent variable.
Label the axes. Set your scale by looking at the lowest and highest number for each axis. Make
the scale fit the data.
Step 3: Connect your data points with a line.
Step 4: Answer this question: What does the line look like?
A line curving down to the right.
Step 5: Answer this question: What does that indicate about the relationship between
acceleration and force with a constant mass?
As mass goes up, acceleration goes down.
Step 6: Using your graph, answer this question: What is the acceleration produced with a mass of
18 kg?
~3 m/s2
Mass vs. Acceleration
50
45
Acceleration (m/s2)
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
0
5
10
15
Mass (kg)
20
25
Momentum Graphing Exercise
Step 1: Compute the changes in momentum (with a constant velocity) for objects of different
masses using the equation p=mv (where p is momentum, m is mass, and v is velocity).
Mass (kg)
Velocity
(m/s)
Momentum
(kg∙m/s)
0
5
0
3
5
15
5
5
25
8
5
40
15
5
75
30
5
150
Step 2: Plot Mass vs. Momentum on graph paper. Mass is considered the independent variable.
Label the axes. Set your scale by looking at the lowest and highest number for each axis. Make
the scale fit the data.
Step 3: Connect your data points with a line.
Step 4: Answer this question: What does the line look like?
A straight line going up.
Step 5: Answer this question: What does that indicate about the relationship between momentum
and mass with a constant velocity?
As mass goes up, momentum goes up.
Step 6: Using your graph, answer this question: What momentum is produced with a mass of 22
kg?
110 kg∙m/s
Mass vs. Momentum
150
140
130
120
Momentum (kg m/s)
110
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0
5
10
15
Mass (kg)
20
25
30