When analyzing the motion of a rock tossed from a cliff, we typically depict its trajectory on a graph where the horizontal and vertical axes represent different quantities.
1. Horizontal Axis:
- Quantity Represented: Time
- Unit of Measure: Seconds
- Explanation: The horizontal axis is usually used to track the passage of time in problems involving projectile motion. Time is a key variable in determining how the rock's position changes as it travels through the air. In this scenario, we measure the duration from the moment the rock is tossed until it hits the ground, which is given as 4.5 seconds.
2. Vertical Axis:
- Quantity Represented: Height
- Unit of Measure: Meters
- Explanation: The vertical axis represents the height of the rock relative to some reference point, in this case, the ground. Height is essential to understanding the vertical displacement of the rock during its flight. The problem specifies the initial height of the cliff (32 meters) and the maximum height reached by the rock (43 meters), both of which are measured in meters.
So, for this problem, the horizontal axis should be labeled in seconds, and the vertical axis should be labeled in meters.
