Physics lab Report
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FormalLabReportInfo-210LFall2018.docxHow to write a Formal Lab Report
The purpose of the formal lab report is to write a concise description of the experiment and the results. It should be detailed enough that anyone could pick up your formal lab report and understand the concepts enough to be able to reproduce your results without the lab manual.
Formal lab reports have the following format:
1) Title page (title of experiment, your name, your lab partner’s name, and an abstract.)
2) Introduction and theory section: Explain the purpose of the experiment and briefly outline the theory or physics behind the experiment. Include (and or derive) any relevant equations that are used in the lab, including equations for the propagation of errors if needed. All equation must be numbered throughout the report. All graphs and tables must be numbered throughout the report. Graphs are labeled as Figure 1, Figure 2, etc.
3) Description of the equipment: Give a brief description of the lab setup or include a diagram. Hand drawn pictures are fine. Give just enough information that someone could setup a similar experiment and reproduce your results. Do not copy every line of the lab manual and explain every step in minute detail. Go for broad strokes here, i.e. focus on the big picture. Remember to use the past tense when describing the experiment.
4) Data and Analysis: Include all necessary data tables and values that were measured in the lab. This is the one instance where you can not include lab manual sheets. You must recreate your data tables professionally. If the length of the glider was important, find a way to report it. All tables must be appropriately labeled with a title and all columns of data must be labeled with units. Linear regression data, if appropriate, should be included as a table. Also include all graphs (with titles and units). Be sure to number your tables and graphs. In your Results and Analysis section, you can refer to your data by referencing the appropriate table or graph, i.e. “as seen in Table 9”. This section should also include some sample calculations, including calculations for the uncertainty.
Additional Comments and Fun Facts:
1) There are many questions in the LR5-pages section of the lab manual. These are questions that are designed to point out keys ideas or calculations. The answers to these questions should be found somewhere in your lab report amidst your discussion of data or in the results sections. Weave the answers to these questions into your lab report. Example for Exp. 4: If the coordinate system that you chose was important, be sure to discuss this in the formal lab report.
2) There should be no personal pronouns (I, we, you) in your lab report. Restructure your sentence. For example: “We measured the velocity of the glider using the photogates.” Change this to: “The velocity of the glider was measured using the photogates.”
3) Always use the past tense in your formal lab report.
4) Don’t let tables or graphs continue onto the next page. The reader will have a very difficult time following the information on the table or graph.
5) Your formal lab report should be in your own words and should be your individual work. You may work with your lab partner for the analysis, tables, graphs, etc. But the sentences and paragraphs should not be similar.
6) Formal lab reports should be typed and double spaced.
7) ALL equations must be:
(a) Numbered for ease of referencing in text.
(b) Numbered sequentially as they appear (1., 2., …--not, e.g., 5.1., 5.2., …).
(c) Imbedded in the text where they should logically appear—not clumped in an appendix.
8) Tables and figures must be:
a) Mentioned in the text.
b) Numbered sequentially as they appear (1., 2., …--not, e.g., 5.1., 5.2., …).
c) Imbedded in the text where they should logically appear—not clumped in an appendix.
