Question #9c6dd

1 Answer
Jan 3, 2018

When plotting a graph, the independent variable is plotted on the x axis while the dependent one on the y axis.

For instance, for plotting a current-voltage relationship, the voltage is the independent variable since you have control over it while current depends on the voltage and also on several factors. That's why the voltage is plotted ion the x axis while current on the y axis.

In most of the graphing work done in physics, we wish to study variations of various physical quantities with time and in that case time varies independently while the physical quantity varies with time and is hence dependent.
Then, time is plotted on the x axis.