Name: ___________________________________________
LAB: Graph Analysis
INTRODUCTION: Constructing and interpreting graphs are integral parts of any Earth Science
course. This section presents a review of graphing with emphasis on the rate of change.
OBJECTIVE: You will review graph construction and interpretation, and understand how
graphing shows a change in rate.
VOCABULARY:
Rate of Change:
Direct Relationship:
Inverse Relationship:
Dynamic Equilibrium:
PROCEDURE:
1. Answer the following questions and write your answers on the Report Sheet. You must
show all calculations (3 step process) on the Calculation Sheet.
2. Be sure to label all answers whenever appropriate.
PART A: Base your answers to the following questions on Graph A which represents the flight
of two weather balloons that were released from different locations. Answer the questions on the
Report Sheet. Show calculations for the rate of change for questions #4, #5, #6, and #7 on the
Calculation Sheet:
R = ∆FV
T
1. Was the altitude of the balloons
increasing or decreasing as shown by
lines A and B?
2. During the first 4 minutes (time 0 and
time 4), how many meters did A rise?
3. During the first 4 minutes (time 0 and
time 4), how many meters did B rise?
4. During the first 4 minutes, what was the
rate increase for the balloon represented
by Line A?
5. During the first 4 minutes, what was the
rate of increase for the balloon
represented by Line B?
6. What was the rate of change along line A
from time 4 minutes to time 8 minutes
7. What was the rate of change of line B
from time 4 minutes to time 8 minutes
8. What type of relationship do lines A and
B show?
PART B: A cup of hot water was left standing on a lab table. Temperature was measured and
recorded at one minute intervals. Plot the given data on Graph B. Be sure to completely label
each axis. Answer the questions on the Report Sheet. Show calculations for #2 and #3 on the
calculation sheet.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Did the temperature increase or decrease with time?
Calculate the rate of temperature change from time 0 to time 4.
Calculate the rate of temperature change from time 4 to time 8.
What type of relationship does this graph show?
Name the independent and dependant variables.
PART C: Base your answers to the following questions on Graph C and your knowledge of
Density. Place all answers on your Report Sheet.
1. According to Graph C, what is the density of pyrite?
2. If a sample of pyrite has a volume of 50 cm3, what would be its mass?
3. The density of pyrite and the density of water (1.0 g/cm3) were plotted on the same graph.
Which diagram below best represents how the graph should appear?
4. A mineral expands (increasing its volume) when heated. Which graph best represents the
relationship between the change in density and the change in temperature when that
mineral is heated?
5. A student calculates the densities of five different pieces of aluminum, each having a
different volume. Which graph best represents this relationship?
REPORT SHEET
PART A:
PART B:
PART C:
1. ___________________
1. ___________________
1. ________________
2. ___________________
2. ___________________
2. ________________
3. ___________________
3. ___________________
3. ________________
4. ___________________
4. ___________________
4. ________________
5. ___________________
5. ___________________
5. ________________
6. ___________________
7. ___________________
8. ___________________
CALCULATIONS
PART A:
#4
PART B:
#2
#5
#6
#3
#7
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Answer using data from the lab and in complete thoughts.
1. In Part A, what happened to the rate of change along Line A from time 0 to time 8?
2. In Part B, what happened to the rate of change along Line B from time 0 to time 8?
3. Looking at Graph B, describe what is happening between time 12 and time 15, and what
is this condition called?
4. How do line graphs show a change in the rate?
CONCLUSION: Describe/list the 4 properties of change that line graphs show us.
Reading Comprehension: Read the portion of the article on Global Warming below
and answer the following questions based on the reading. Use complete sentences.
Science News
Linked To Global Warming In Simple Linear Relationship
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090610154453.htm
ScienceDaily (June 11, 2009) — Damon Matthews, a professor in Concordia University's Department of
Geography, Planning and the Environment has found a direct relationship between carbon dioxide
emissions and global warming. Matthews, together with colleagues from Victoria and the U.K., used a
combination of global climate models and historical climate data to show that there is a simple linear
relationship between total cumulative emissions and global temperature change.
These findings will be published in the next edition of Nature, to be released on June 11, 2009.
Until now, it has been difficult to estimate how much climate will warm in response to a given carbon
dioxide emissions scenario because of the complex interactions between human emissions, carbon sinks,
atmospheric concentrations and temperature change. Matthews and colleagues show that despite these
uncertainties, each emission of carbon dioxide results in the same global temperature increase, regardless of
when or over what period of time the emission occurs.
These findings mean that we can now say: if you emit that tonne of carbon dioxide, it will lead to
0.0000000000015 degrees of global temperature change. If we want to restrict global warming to no more
than 2 degrees, we must restrict total carbon emissions – from now until forever – to little more than half a
trillion tonnes of carbon, or about as much as we have emitted since the beginning of the industrial
revolution.
"Most people understand that carbon dioxide emissions lead to global warming," says Matthews, "but it is
much harder to grasp the complexities of what goes on in between these two end points. Our findings allow
people to make a robust estimate of their contribution to global warming based simply on total carbon
dioxide emissions."
In light of this study and other recent research, Matthews and a group of international climate scientists
have written an open letter calling on participants of December's Conference of the Parties to the U.N.
Framework Convention on Climate Change to acknowledge the need to limit cumulative emissions of
carbon dioxide so as to avoid dangerous climate change.
1. Sketch a graph that represents the relationship between CO2 emissions and global
temperature change.
2. Why is it difficult to estimate the warming of the climate using CO2emissions?
3. How could you reduce your CO2 emissions (name at least one thing)?