APPENDIX A

 

SUGGESTIONS FOR WRITING LABORATORY REPORTS

1. At the beginning of each report give

a. Title of the exercise

b. Name (Yours)

c. Date

d. Laboratory partners names, if any.

2. Purpose

Summarize in your own words the purpose of the exercise, including any modifications as the exercise progressed.

3. References

If any references other than those that may be given in the exercise have been used, list them.  All exercises assume that your text is the reference of choice; you do NOT have to list them as references.

4. Procedures

Summarize in a few lines the basic procedures used.  If any substantial changes from the procedures suggested in the exercise guide were made, note them.

5. Data

a. Label all data

b. Give units for all data

c. List data in tabular form

d. If possible, take several readings for each data point and use the average value.

6. Graphs

a.  Plot each graph to as large a scale as is practical.

b.  Title each graph.

c.  Label the quantities plotted on each axis and label each curve if you have more than one.

d.  Give units on each axis.

e.  Where appropriate, draw a smooth curve or line through the data points.  DO NOT CONNECT THE POINTS IN A DOT-TO-DOT MANNER UNLESS SPECIFICALLY TOLD TO DO SO.  The actual data points do not have infinite accuracy, and thus may not lie exactly on the proper curve.  Draw a smooth curve such that positive and negative deviations are about equal and such that the curve matches the general trend of the data (this is called a "best fit curve").  This process averages the experimental fluctuations and the results deduced from the curve are usually more accurate than those deduced from individual measurements.

7. Calculations

a.  Give calculations in a logical order down the page.  Indicate the equation being used or the mathematical operation being done for each step.

b.  Give units in each step of a calculation.  Keeping close track of units of measure may often help you avoid errors.

c.  If one method of calculation is repeated several times for different values, give a sample calculation and tabulate the results of the repeated calculations.

d.  If a standard value is available for the quantity you have calculated, compare your experimental value to the standard and compute your percent of error.  The percent of error is given by

{(SV - EV)/SV} X 100 = Percent Error

            Note that this error in your derived value is not the "experimental error" which results from uncertainty in measurements.  Percent uncertainty or discrepancy between two values is calculated in a similar manner.

8. Conclusions

Give a brief statement of your conclusions and final results.

9. Discussion Questions

Answer all questions asked in the exercise guide, as well as any others your instructor presents, as concisely and completely as possible.  THINK before you write.