WRITING A LABORATORY REPORT TO MAKE YOUR PHYSICS TEACHER HAPPY!
This report format will enable you to organize the information obtained from a laboratory activity in an acceptable manner.
The primary point of writing a report is to give you an opportunity to express your findings and conclusion in your own
words. Describing procedures, processes and conclusions in your own words enhances your comprehension. Secondly, the
report must provide sufficient information to permit the reader to duplicate your findings. Organization, clarity,
completeness and neatness are the hallmarks of a good report. Use the following headings to organize your report.
TITLE:
Every report must have a suitable title. A good title
provides information about the subject of the report. For
example, 'Verifying Newton's Second Law' is a more
informative title and is preferred over its abbreviated
cousin 'Second Law Lab'. Draft a title that states what the
report is about.
INTRODUCTION (PURPOSE):
The introduction of the report states the purpose of the
laboratory activity and outlines the method used and the
results obtained. Additional background information is
included to help the reader understand the reasons for
performing the activity. The introduction is written using
complete sentences and proper paragraph form. This
introduction is written entirely in your own words. Avoid
writing in the first or second person. Use the third person
passive voice.
Although the introduction must be placed at the beginning
of the report it is strongly recommended that you write it
last. It should be less than 1/4 page.
HYPOTHESIS: (PREDICTED RESULT)
Based on prior knowledge, make an educated guess at the
expected result providing reasons to support your claim.
APPARATUS AND MATERIALS:
The experimental equipment and materials used are
usually listed in the textbook or an instruction sheet. If
oral instructions were given, then provide a complete
listing of materials and equipment used. A properly
drawn and labelled diagram of the experimental set-up
may also be included.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS:
Note specific safety considerations mentioned by the
teacher or manual. These could range from warnings
about flammable or breakable materials to radiation or
sound.
PROCEDURE:
This is an ordered , numbered set of steps stating the
actions required to complete the lab activity successfully
without overburdening the student with fine details. It
normally contains from 10 to 15 steps.
Lab Report Format.doc
01/22/05
OBSERVATIONS:
The observations are your records of data obtained
through your senses. Observations can be qualitative or
quantitative. Organizing data in table form facilitates
comparison, making trends more evident.
Select titles for tables, graphs and diagrams and number
each if there is more than one. Diagrams and graphs
may be included here or in the Analysis.
Every measurement is a comparison with a standard;
whether electronic or physical. While gathering numeric
data you become aware of factors which may cast doubt
on the exactness of the readings you record. The reasons
why measurements are never exact are as numerous as
the devices and methods used.
A three column table stating these main sources of
uncertainty, a number assigned (absolute or relative) and
the rationale for selecting that number is essential.
Uncertainties provide insight into the reliability of the
data collected and determine the level of confidence
behind the analysis and conclusions drawn from that
data.
ANALYSIS:
The analysis gives you the opportunity to interpret and
give meaning to the data recorded in the observation
tables and graphs within the limitations of the data.
Write your answers in complete sentences. Answer the
problems and questions assigned.
Perform any
calculations or further analysis as required. Uncertainties
attached to numeric values provide insight into the
precision and accuracy.
CONCLUSIONS (SUMMARY):
In a short paragraph recapitulate the purpose of the
experiment and the results of your work. Briefly state the
general conclusion(s) that can be derived from the
laboratory activity. Discuss limitations, qualifications or
improvements here. The reader of your report reads the
introduction and summary before examining the details
of your work in the remainder of the report. If the
summary is placed at the beginning of the report, it is
called an abstract instead. You have the choice of
providing either an abstract or a summary.
Report Format Check List
Name _______________________
Title
 Informative
 Inadequate
Introduction:
 Purpose
 Hypothesis
 Background Information
Quality of the Introduction
 Inadequate
 Adequate
 Fair
 Good
 Very Good
 Superior
Apparatus and Materials
 Complete
 Incomplete
 Absent

Safety Precautions
Detailed Procedure
 Complete set of clear, numbered steps (uses proper terminology, flow is obvious)
 Complete, but lacking clarity and precision (terminology correct but lacking discretion)
 Incomplete and/or inadequate or incorrect level
 Missing
Observations
Graphs
title, labels, units, range, uncertainties plotted,
curve fit
 1
 2
 3
etc.
Analysis
Part A
 Complete
 Incomplete
Part B
 Complete
 Incomplete
Part C
 Complete
 Incomplete
Summary/Abstract
 Incomplete and Inadequate
 Adequate
 Fair
 Good
 Very Good
 Superior
Lab Report Format.doc
01/22/05
Quality of the Graphs
 Incomplete and Inadequate
 Adequate
 Fair
 Good
 Very Good
 Superior
Quality of the Analysis Answers
 Incomplete and Inadequate
 Adequate
 Fair
 Good
 Very Good
 Superior