Writing Static Equilibrium lab report
hamoor_5e00
report_instruction.docx
1. Abstract (1 points)
A brief statement summarizing what was done, why, and giving the principal results. It should be complete enough so that one need not read the paper to understand the abstract. Everything in the abstract is repeated, but with more elaboration, in the paper. The purpose of the abstract is to allow the reader to determine whether or not it will be worth the while to read the entire paper. All data result values may not be included in this section but some statement as to the conclusiveness of the data is required. It is best to write the abstract after the entire paper has been written. It is impossible to write this section before all analysis is completed.
2. Introduction (1 points)
The introduction provides the background and theory motivating the experiment as well as your hypothesis which likely results from such theory. Important physical principles that may be used later in the paper should be explained in a general way. Key derivations that lead to these results should be referenced and included as appendices. Equations used in the body of the report must be introduced in this section unless the equation is not part of the theory at hand, for example a geometrical equation used because of procedural steps. These types of equations should be included in the Results portion of the lab paper.
3. Description of the Experiment (2 points)
The experiment must be described thoroughly but concisely. The description should cover all apparatus used (diagrams of experimental arrangements, if helpful) and a short discussion of techniques and procedures. This latter discussion only needs to be sufficiently detailed to reveal both the strengths and weaknesses of the work. Do not copy bullet lists from the lab manual, this section must be your own work.
4. Results (These are results based on your experimental measurements, NOT on theoretical predictions) (3 points)
Present your experimentally gathered data and observations of that data in tabular and/or graphical form. Make sure to write about each graph or table directly after it has been introduced. Include a description of any mathematical manipulations of the data such as how the associated uncertainty was calculated for the measured values. Any sample calculations should be included in the Appendices; the results of these calculations should be included in the data table presentation beside the relevant data. After each data presentation, i.e. data table or graph, observations should be discussed. Data may not be simply stapled to the back of the lab paper but included within the body of the lab paper. If data is long, students may abbreviate the data to relevant columns but entire data sets must be referenced and included in an appendix unless otherwise noted by the lab instructor. If multiple data runs were acquired discussing of precision may appropriately be completed in this section.
5. Analysis (3 points)
Analysis of the experimental and predicted results should be presented here. Experimentally obtained graphs and tabular data comparison to theoretical curves belong here. Results stand or fall as supported by the data and analysis, irrespective of your opinion. Accuracy analysis belongs in this section because it compares experimental data to predicted results.
6. Closing Remarks(1 point)
Draw conclusions about the results. While speculations are sometimes appropriate in this section, opinion must be carefully distinguished from conclusions that are supported completely by evidence.
7. References (1 point)
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