Graph Trends Worksheet
Graph Trends Analyzer
Scientific Data Analysis & Pattern Recognition
Name:
Date: Period:
Essential Trend Vocabulary
Increasing
As \(x\) rises, \(y\) overall rises.
Decreasing
As \(x\) rises, \(y\) overall falls.
Static (Constant)
As \(x\) rises, \(y\) stays constant.
Cyclic (Periodic)
Repeats peaks and troughs.
1 Trend Classification & Evidence
Select one trend & cite visual evidence from the axes.
1. Coffee Temperature in Room Thermal Lab
Temp (°C) Time (min)
Trend Type:
Increasing Decreasing Static Cyclic
Evidence:
2. Plant Height Over 30 Days Botany Study
Height (cm) Days
Trend Type:
Increasing Decreasing Static Cyclic
Evidence:
3. Density of Pure Gold Samples Chemistry Lab
Density (g/cm³) Sample Mass
Trend Type:
Increasing Decreasing Static Cyclic
Evidence:
4. Monthly Average Temperature Climatology
Temp (°C) Months (2 Yrs)
Trend Type:
Increasing Decreasing Static Cyclic
Evidence:
5. Remaining Battery Percentage Device Usage
Battery (%) Screen Time (hr)
Trend Type:
Increasing Decreasing Static Cyclic
Evidence:
6. Ocean Tide Height at Bay Wharf Marine Science
Tide (m) Time (hours)
Trend Type:
Increasing Decreasing Static Cyclic
Evidence:
Unit: Scientific Inquiries & Quantitative Models Page 1 of 2
Part 2 & 3
Application & Data Construction
Student Name:
2
Contextual Case Studies
Population (1000s) Years (1900–1950)
Case A: Isle Royale Hare & Lynx Dynamics
The graph displays recorded populations of snowshoe hares (solid line) and Canadian lynx (dashed line) over a half-century survey.
a. What overall trend pattern describes both wildlife populations?
b. Why is this pattern characteristic of predator-prey systems rather than a static or simple increasing trend?
Speed of Sound (m/s) Frequency (Hz)
Case B: Speed of Sound in Dry Air at 20°C
Physics students generated tones from 100 Hz to 10,000 Hz and timed how long the pulses took to travel a fixed distance.
a. Identify the trend of wave speed as pitch/frequency increases:
b. Explain what this trend reveals about the relationship between frequency and speed in a uniform medium:
3
Construct & Model Challenges
Draw realistic curves matching each scenario description.
Challenge A: Parachute Terminal Velocity Static After Drop
A skydiver deploys their canopy. Their falling speed rapidly drops, then reaches a steady constant terminal speed for the remainder of the descent.
Falling Speed (m/s)
Time elapsed → Canopy open
Identify the final trend segment:
Challenge B: Ferris Wheel Car Height Cyclic Pattern
A rider boards the bottom gondola of a continuous Ferris wheel rotating at constant speed. Sketch the rider's height above ground through two full rotations.
Height above ground (m)
Time (seconds) → 2 Revolutions
Identify the repeating feature (periodicity):
Critical Thinking Synthesis
A student observes that sales of hot chocolate increase in December and decrease in July every year. They claim the graph trend is "both increasing and decreasing." Correct their terminology using trend concepts:
Unit: Scientific Inquiries & Quantitative Models Page 2 of 2
