The links listed below will guide you step-by-step through the listed processes for using Vernier's Graphical Analysis 2.0:

Changing the Graph Display

1. Open the tempchirp file you saved from the previous activity, so you can rescale your graph.

2. To change the scale of the x and y axis, click either axis label and a dialog box will appear.

3. You have three choices in setting up your graph:

  • Autoscale at 0-the program will automatically choose the axis scale and 0 will be included in the scaling.
  • Autoscale-the program will automatically calculate a scale for the graph.
  • Manual Scaling-you add a minimum and a maximum value in the Left Limit and Right Limit boxes.

You can also change the scale of the graph on the graph itself by clicking on the highest number on the scale and typing in a new value. (See image below)

4. To change the visual look of the graphically displayed data, double click on the graph and a Graph Options dialog box will appear.

5. The following options can be adding by placing a check in the box to the left of the option. Each option is shown in the images below. The options are:

  • Point Protectors-icons that make the data more visible.
  • Error Bars-marks that indicate uncertainty in the data.
  • Connecting Lines-straight line segments from point to point on the graph.
  • Bar Graph-the line graph is replaced with a bar graph.
  • Background Grid-a grid behind the graph line which is made up of a dot pattern.
  • Legend-a box which explains the meaning of the data points.
Point Protectors

Error Bars
Connecting Lines
Bar Graph
Background Grid and Legend
(point protectors added so you can see the the data)
Zooming in on a Graph

Zooming in on an area of a graph is often necessary to better visualize its location.

1. To zoom in, click on a specific area of the graph and select that area by holding down the left mouse key and dragging the mouse until the area is selected.

2. Once the area is selected, click on the magnifying glass with a + sign in the center to zoom in on the specific area.
3. Use the magnifying glass with the - sign in the center to zoom out when you have finished examining the specific area. You may have to zoom out several times to get the graph back to the normal size.

For additional help, review the skill development activities entitled, "Entering Data" or "Analyzing Data."

©2000-2002 April A Cleveland for Science Junction, NC State University.
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URL: http://www.ncsu.edu/sciencejunction/route/usetech/dataanalysis/pcdataanalysis/gaeditdata/index.html
Last updated 07/31/02

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