Accelaration due to Gravity

Formal Lab Report The formal lab report is intended to assess your proper use of the terminology of physics, your understanding of physical concepts, relationships, and principles, and your ability to investigate the behavior of a physical system experimentally. During the lab period, your ability to work cooperatively with your lab group will also be assessed. The formal lab report should be typed, with either computer-generated or neat hand-written graphs, diagrams, and equations. You must use complete sentences. (Occasionally, lists may be appropriate in the methods section). The report should contain the following sections

I. Heading a. Title. The title should be brief and describe the purpose of the experiment b. Authors. The report author should be indicated as well as laboratory partners c. Date

II. Abstract. The abstract should briefly describe the purpose of the experiment, how it was carried out, and the main results. It should be a single paragraph.

III. Introduction. State the physical law to be tested and describe the strategy used to test the law.

IV. Methods a. Experimental Setup. Describe the apparatus and how it was set up. Include a

clearly labeled diagram of the apparatus. b. Procedure. Describe how the experiment was carried out. Additional diagrams may

be helpful here. V. Data. Make a data table to record your experimental measurements. The table may be

computer generated or neatly hand drawn. This table should include all measurements made in the experiment. Be sure to indicate the units of measured quantities. If you made qualitative (non-numeric) observations, these should be recorded here as well. (In some cases, these observations could include figures). If your professor requires it, also include uncertainty estimates for each of your measurements, and the justification for those estimates. DO NOT include any calculations: this section should be for things you observed ONLY!

VI. Analysis. Present the analysis required by the lab manual in this section. a. Calculations: For each calculation you make, state the equation you used, using the

correct variables (NOT the values) and EXPLAIN the rationale for using the equation. Unit conversions do not need to be presented or explained in the report.

b. Graphs: Graphs should be computer generated with axes labels. DO NOT connect data points with lines! When appropriate, you may add a best fit line to the graph and display the equation of the best fit line on the graph.

c. Uncertainty propagation: If your professor requires it, determine the uncertainty of your calculated values using the methods of uncertainty propagation described by your professor and in your lab manual.

d. Discussion: Discuss whether your results confirmed or disagreed with the theoretical model’s prediction. This discussion must include a comparison of experimental uncertainty to the discrepancy between the experimental result and the theoretical prediction. (Saying something like “the results are reasonably close” is not good enough)! If the experiment did not agree with the model’s prediction, discuss possible invalid assumptions made by the model or possible sources of experimental error. Finally, explain what the experiment shows (or does not show) about the laws that govern the physical world.

In the formal lab report 9as described above) your grades will depend on how well you demonstrate: 1: Know the vocabulary of physics Including proper use of physical terminology and Proper use of units 2: Understand the concepts, relationships among concepts, and the principles used in physics 4. Investigate the behavior of physical systems experimentally Performance of physical experimentation, Data analysis using mathematical techniques and technology, Interpretation of experimental results considering error and uncertainty. 4. Work cooperatively as part of a team on problem solving and as a partner in a laboratory group Performance of physical experimentation