LabReportFormat

**__ The Formal Laboratory Report Format __** (dun...dun...dun) For this class you will be expected to write **__at least__** one formal laboratory report. Formal laboratory reports are worth 50-100 points. Depending on which section of Physics you are taking (Please refer to your class homepage) Writing a laboratory report is a skill that is pertinent to every scientist. Not only will the writing skills you have learned from Language Arts/English will be reflected in the formal laboratory report, but this knowledge will be extended through the use of a technological and scientific vocabulary. __**English Expectations**__ 1. Do not write in the first person (i.e. I, we, us) 2. Always use the past tense. 3. Pages must be numbered, however, there are no numbers on the Title page, Table of Contents, or Appendices 4. Label all equations, graphs and figures in order of relevance throughout the paper (i.e. Figure 1, Figure 2, etc.) <span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">5. Do not put raw data in the paper itself, that is what the appendix is for. <span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">6. Do not use specific names if you have a human test subject, instead use generic names (i.e. Subject 1, Male 1, Female 1, etc.) <span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 23px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">Other Tips: <span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 23px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">7. Do not wait until the day before the lab is due to complete it. It is difficult to complete a quality lab overnight. <span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 23px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">8. Make an outline! (This will help the flow of the lab report) <span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 23px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">9. Do the results section first and the abstract last.

<span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">**__Figure Expectations__**

<span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">1. Title at the top of the figure. <span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">2. Label the axes and be sure to include units! <span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">3. Use a legend only if necessary (a key to distinguish between different data sets). <span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">4. If there is a need for a legend color code it using either a colored printer or colored pencils. <span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;"> 5. Label the figure number at the bottom of the figure. 6. Center the figure in the report. 7. Make sure that your data is fit well to the graphing space. Extra space is unnecessary and unacceptable. <span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;"> 8. Indicate any major events on the graph with an arrow and/or text. 9. Do NOT use a colored background.10. If the figure is NOT yours, be sure to give it a proper citation.

<span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">** __Table Expectations__ **

<span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">1. Title at the top of the table. <span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">2. DO NOT put raw data in the lab report. <span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">3. Put all tables of raw data in the appendix section. <span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">4. Label the units ONE TIME in the description headline (ex. time(s), length (m), mass (kg)) <span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">5. ALWAYS use SI units (meters, kilograms, seconds) <span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">6. ALWAYS use scientific notation 1.0x10^-4 or 1.0e-4

<span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">** __Sections of the Laboratory Report__ **

<span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">__ **Section 1: Title Page** __- The title of the lab at the top <span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">- Your name, partner's names, class title (ex: AP Physics Period 1), and due date at the bottom

<span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;"> __ ** Section 2: Table of Contents ** __ - do not put a number on the title page  <span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">- use roman numerals for table of contents page and abstract  <span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">- start numbers at the introduction  <span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">- [|good example of first two sections given by University of Colorado] <span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">__ ** Section 3: Abstract ** __ - as mentioned earlier, this section should be completed last. This is what gets someone interested in reading the reportor attempting to recreate the results. <span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">- the abstract should answer the following questions: "What was the experiment?" "Why was the experiment done?""What were the major results of the experiment?" <span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">- the length of the abstract should NOT EXCEED A PARAGRAPH <span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">- the abstract should NOT include raw data or exact results. <span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">- [|good/bad comparison for abstract given by University of Colorado] <span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"> <span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;"> __ ** Section 4: Introduction ** __ - State the problem that you are trying to solve by doing this experiment. <span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">- Give any background information on the subject matter that may be relevant. <span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">- State your hypothesis (a statement of what you think the result will be). <span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">- Include in this section all assumption that are made prior to performing the lab. (REMEMBER: If you include it as an assumption, it may not be used as a reason for error!!!!!!) <span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">- If necessary, make a diagram to organize information (i.e. flow chart, free body diagram) <span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">**TIP**: Pretend that the person reading knows nothing about the subject at hand. Start from scratch, but don't overload the person reading it. Give the facts that are necessary to understand and move on.

<span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">__ **Section 5: Description of Apparatus** __ - this section is where all of the materials necessary are listed and diagrams for each material are shown and labeled. <span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">- include the make and model of all equipment and label number if possible <span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">- it is acceptable to have hand drawn or computer generated diagrams

<span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">__** Section 6: Procedure **__ - a description of all processes done during the experiment. <span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">- this should be written in a way in which it is possible for someone to regenerate your results exactly using nothing but the materials and procedure provided in the report

<span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">__ **Section 7: Results** __ <span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">**TIP**: At this point you should organize all data into the appendix and label all figures. Both parts should be ready to be inserted or referred to at any point in the data analysis. <span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">- in this section present the results of the experiment. <span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">- state what can be concluded- refer to data and insert figures that explain the data. <span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">- state at least two lines about every figure (i.e. what the figure shows, and what we can interpret from the figure).

<span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">__ **Section 8: Data Analysis** __ - restate your hypothesis. <span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">- explain how the results support or nullify your hypothesis. <span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">- calculate percent error and standard deviation <span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">- discuss possible reasons for error (be careful with this!!!!)- answer any questions given throughout the lab

<span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;">__ **Section 9: Conclusion** __ <span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">-This should mirror the abstract, which is why sometimes it is best to write the conclusion and the abstract at the same time. <span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">- However similar, the abstract and the conclusion should not be the same. <span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">- The conclusion should state ways in which the experiment might have room for improvement as well as ideas on how to collect more accurate data. <span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">- This is an appropriate place to state opinions about assumptions made, procedure steps, etc. <span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">__**Section 10: References**__ <span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">-either MLA/APA format is acceptable  <span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"> <span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">__**Section 11: Appendix**__ <span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">- list all tables of raw data - list any lengthy derivations <span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">- symbol definitions

<span style="color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 125%; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">**__Other Resources for Writing a Formal Laboratory Report__** <span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;"> <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Dodd, Janet S. __<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">The ACS (American Chemical Society) Style Guide: A Manual for Authors and Editors __. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">//Chapter 1: Writing a Scientific Paper//. Oxford University Press <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 125%;">[]

<span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;"> University of Minnesota: Department of Mechanical Engineering. // Guidelines for Formal Lab Report. // 2010 <span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 125%;">[]

<span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: Georgia,serif;"> Edwards, Matthew. //Aerospace Engineering: Written Laboratory Reports.// The Colorado University Engineering Fellows. April 20, 2006 <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 125%;">[]