Description
Here’s how to write up your lab:
- Only the Team Leader submits the lab report online. (See this Example Lab PDF )
- Everyone should work on the report
- The report must have the following sections:
- Details (on 1st page)
- Include the name of the lab
- Include the date submitted
- Include your name
- Include your LAB PARTNERS’ Names
- Introduction (on 1st page)
- One or two paragraphs describing the
- the underlying principle of the experiment and
- the ultimate purpose of the experiment
(e.g. “Conservation of Momentum states that …… and we will test that assertion in this lab. We will see if the measured momentum of the cart is within error of the expected value.”)
- One or two paragraphs describing the
- Data & Calculations
- Tables:
Include tables to summarize all data. The tables will include:- raw data including uncertainties and units (such as t = 20.2s ± 0.1s ),
- calculated quantities including uncertainties and units,
- a name (such as Table 1: Raw Data)
- a caption to summarize the table
- Calculations
Describe every calculation you make and the equations you used. e.g. you measured time for 50 revolutions (t) so the angular frequency (?) would be calculated using ?=2?(?50)?=2?(t50). - Graphs:
If possible, graph your data. The graph(s) will include- Title
- Axis labels (including units)
- error bars (if needed)
- equations of a line if there is a best-fit line
- a caption to summarize the purpose of the graph
- Tables:
- Discussion & Conclusion (you MUST write this section yourself)
- State your results and whether or not hey are within experimental error of the expected value. (such as: “We calculated the acceleration due to gravity to be 9.75 m/s2 ± 0.08 m/s2which is within experimental error of the accepted value of 9.80 m/s2.”)
- Answer any questions posed in the lab write-up.
- Describe difficulties you had performing the experiment and how you overcame them.
- Make suggestions to improve the lab for the next time
- Details (on 1st page)