gradient = \(\frac{change~in~y}{change~in~x} = \frac{change~in~speed}{change~in~time} = \) \( \frac{change~in~metres~per~second}{change~in~seconds}\) = metres per ...

One of the most basic things students do in a physics lab is to collect data and use that to build a model. Most of these models come in the form of a mathematical function. But here is the problem.

When a relationship between two variables is defined by a curve it means that the gradient, or rate of change, is always varying. An average speed for a journey can be found from a distance-time graph ...