What is the most misleading aspect of this graph that might lead one to the wrong conclusion?

connecting the data points with a line

scale of the y-axis

scale of the x-axis

spacing of the grid

(graph attached)

Question

What is the most misleading aspect of this graph that might lead one to the wrong conclusion?


 connecting the data points with a line

       scale of the y-axis

       scale of the x-axis

       spacing of the grid

(graph attached)

anonymous · Answer

attachment

anonymous · Answer

I'm not sure what it means by "scale of the y-axis," but it's a little confusing that it starts off at .45 seconds instead of zero.  So in that, I would select spacing of the grid.  Don't take my word for it; it is between B and D.

anonymous · Answer

thanks :)

blues · Answer

It is quite confusing that the Y axis starts at some number other than zero. Without a couple dashes in it drawing attention to the discontinuity.

anonymous · Answer

hm i'm not sure

shane_b · Answer

I personally would go with "connecting the data points with a line" and I'll explain why:

Four discrete points are plotted which implies that measurements were only taken at those points.  Adding lines to this graph implies that many more measurements were taken which contradicts the fact that only 4 measurements were taken.

anonymous · Answer

thank you so much :) can you help me with one more i'm posting now?

blues · Answer

I am not in love with connecting the data points either - but I thought they might be OK in this case because measurements are on the same spring. Presumably the spring stretches through all the intermediate points (i.e., the ones on the line) to reach the conformations it's in when it's measured.

shane_b · Answer

I guess that could be true but the restoring force of a string is not linear:$$F=-kx^2$$

shane_b · Answer

err *spring

shane_b · Answer

Ooops...that should have been: $$F=\frac{1}{2}kx^2$$ :)

anonymous · Answer

so is that answer correct?

blues · Answer

**Agrees** No professional person in their right mind would draw lines through those data points. But the labeling on the Y axis is also lousy. I guess the bottom line is there is much wrong with this picture and it's a subjective decision what's worst.

anonymous · Answer

thank you :) i see now

shane_b · Answer

One sec...let me explain that a bit better.

|dw:1358133711277:dw|
Drawing the lines in the first graph implies that if you take any point on the line that's where the displacement will be given a pendulum with that period.  Now look at the second graph...which could just as easily be the true graph of some spring.  Clearly using the graph with the lines is going to be misleading.