Labs are the basis for our understanding key concepts in physics. A "quality" lab report clearly demonstrates comprehension of the concepts studied. Since labs are worth a significant part of your overall grade, you would do well to carefully read the following expectations.... please ask if you have questions.

First and foremost: STUDENT SAFETY IS NEVER COMPROMISED. At anytime during a lab, if student behavior is inappropriate or careless, that student is immediately dismissed (removed) from lab (earning a grade of zero).

1. All laboratory reports are to be clearly written in your lab book with copies made for each sheet. The copies (yellow sheets) are pulled out, sequentially stapled and turned in (no typed reports allowed); the originals (white sheets) are kept in your lab book. It will benefit you greatly if you invest time to develop a good lab plan; organize your lab manual for the work that will be done.

2. Your name, the name of the lab and the date the investigation was performed is to be written in the upper section of the first page of the report.

3. Lab printouts (.pdf files) are provided as reference material only; NEVER INCLUDE SHEETS FROM YOUR LAB PRINTOUTS IN YOUR FINAL WRITTEN LAB REPORT... THEY ARE FOR REFERENCE ONLY.

4. YOU ARE NEVER ALLOWED TO WRITE ANYTHING ON THE HANDOUTS/PRINTOUTS  DURING LAB- THEY ARE FOR REFERENCE ONLY; all work such as notes, data, calculations, drawings, go directly into your lab manual. You may include a "scratch pad page" for rough calculations, lab reminder notes, etc. at the end of your report. Basically, every time you lift your pen or pencil on lab day to record anything, make sure you enter it into your lab manual.

5. ALL mistakes are to be crossed out with ONE LINE ONLY; corrections are placed in proximity to the mistaken entry. DO NOT SCRIBBLE OUT INCORRECT ENTRIES! I must be able to clearly read ALL entries, correct and incorrect. "White-out" is absolutely forbidden in any scientific lab report.

6. Every lab report will consist of the following 6 sections (noted in Red); these sections must be clearly referenced by number and title:

 

   Pre-Lab Work:

The following 4 pre-lab sections must be completed (either typed or written in your lab book) before you walk into the lab:

1. Hypothesis

• This is a statement of the problem to be investigated and includes what your expectations are i.e. what specific results do you expect? It provides the overall direction for laboratory investigation and must be thoroughly addressed in your report. The hypothesis/purpose section is always stated in your own words.

2. Equipment

• A list of all laboratory equipment used in the investigation.
• A detailed and labeled diagram to illustrate the configuration of the apparatus.
• NOTE: For this section, you do not have to re-write the entire list of equipment if it is illustrated or listed in your printout; you need only reference the equipment list and setup EX: "I will use the equipment as illustrated (or listed) in the lab printout". However, read the equipment modification reference in section 4 carefully.

3. Procedure

• Describe the procedure you will be using.
• For this section, you do not have to re-write the entire step-by-step procedure if it is already given in the printout; you need only reference the procedure you will be following EX: "I will use the procedure as outlined in the lab printout on page(s) ... etc". However, read the procedure modification reference in section 4 carefully.
• All "student designed" or "inquiry based" labs must always include a detailed lab procedure.
• NOTE: Most college lab courses will require you to re-write the entire procedure for all labs in your notebook! Be forewarned.
• PROCEDURE WRITING EXAMPLES: click here (thanks to Peggy Bertrand, PhD. for sharing the file)

4. Data

• Create the necessary data tables or data collection space on the page for input of data on lab day. All data gets recorded directly into your lab manual.
• The units for physical measurements in a data table can be specified in the column heading.
• Significant figures are important.

   In-Lab Work:

• Includes data measured directly from the experiment (significant figures are critical).
• Input all data into the tables created in your pre-lab; always check that proper units are used.
• EQUIPMENT MODIFICATION: Revise all diagrams (if necessary) to reflect the actual equipment and configuration used. If no modifications were needed, state "no equipment modifications made". Include an equipment deviation statement in every report.
• PROCEDURE MODIFICATION: List all deviations to your pre-lab procedure. This part must reflect what you actually did in the lab. Someone who was not present during your lab should be able to understand how the experiment was performed and be able to reproduce the results by reading your procedural instructions and modifications. If no procedural modifications were needed, state "no procedure modifications made". Include a procedural modification statement in every report.

   Post-Lab Work:

Note: Lab comprehension is truly revealed in the following 2 sections. An accurate and exhaustive data analysis and lab summary (defending your hypothesis) represent the major part of your lab grade.

5. Data Analysis

This section can be free-form but must include the following:

CALCULATIONS (for applicable labs):

• All calculations must be shown. When numerous calculations are required using the exact same formula, you may simply show one sample calculation i.e. every calculation requiring a "new" formula must be shown at least once.
• All "calculations within calculations" must be shown.

EX: Suppose you are calculating Fc using this formula:  Fc = mv² / r 

but assume you first need to calculate the value of v using v = 2pr/T.

In these cases, you must show BOTH PARTS of the calculation.

GRAPHICAL ANALYSIS OF DATA (for applicable labs):

• Graphs help to visualize lab results and allow us to examine physical relationships through the calculation of slopes, areas under curves, and intercepts.
• All graphs must have a title, labeled coordinate axis and proper units designated.
ALWAYS DRAW THE LINE/CURVE OF BEST FIT. Use a straight-edge for linear relationships and a smoothed best-fit curve for exponential relationships. If you plan to use science graphing software (ex: Logger Pro by Vernier), copies are to be included as an insert or appendix to your report. Excel, Word, Power Point and other office/home software packages are NOT acceptable graphing software programs: these programs only create presentation style graphs and are not acceptable for lab applications and mathematical analysis.
• Always state the meaning of the slope of a linear relationship and discuss the significance of the x and/or y intercept when appropriate.

ERROR ANALYSIS (for applicable labs):

• When known accepted values exist, ALWAYS include a relative error calculation (see formula)
• Unusual results and/or trends must be noted.
• Discuss IN DETAIL all the possible sources of experimental error. "Human error" is not an acceptable answer; be specific.

LAB QUESTIONS:

• Answer ALL questions in the lab printout.
• For questions that require calculations, simply include those calculations as part of your answer in this section (that makes them easy to locate when reading your report).

6. Verification of Hypothesis Based on Collected Data

• Describe the "effectiveness" of your lab in testing the hypothesis set forth in your opening lab statement; if, in your opinion, the effectiveness was low, suggest procedural modifications that would enhance the investigation. Make sure all comments are defendable based on your collected results (data); statements such as "I really enjoyed this lab" or "I feel I was successful and I learned a lot" receive zero credit. You must use your lab data to substantiate any comment concerning the effectiveness of your original hypothesis statement.