Log–Log Plots

Revealing hidden exponents

An interactive lesson with 6 steps, about 5 minutes: you predict, drag and solve, with instant feedback on every answer. It runs in your browser and needs JavaScript.

What you’ll learn

• A power law $y = Cx^k$ is a straight line on log–log axes.
• The slope is the exponent k.
• Kepler’s third law, metabolism and earthquake statistics follow power laws.

Steps

1. Straightening a power law
2. Fit the line
3. Reading the exponent
4. Power or exponential?
5. Reading a slope
6. Elephant and mouse