PART I LABORATORY REPORT
By
[student name] (…….@soton.ac.uk)
Student no: …….
Title of laboratory assigned: ………
Date on which laboratory was completed: ………..
Length of Laboratory report: ……. pages (maximum length 8 pages (eight
including this front cover)
Text in blue font indicates text that is part of the report. Text is black is commentary on how to
write the report.
Example Laboratory Report
1. Introduction and Theory (assessment weighting 24%)
The object of the introduction and theory section is to introduce the reader to the scientific
background/theory which is being tested in the laboratory you are reporting on.
The theory should be described in a step by step fashion, first stated, then utilized and discussed. The
section should include:
 Explanations of the relevant scientific principles and laws being tested in the lab.
 Any fundamental assumptions made should be stated.
 The expected relationships, the theoretical results you would expect to observe.
 References to the literature.
2. Aim and objectives (assessment weighting 8%)

Describe in your own words the aims and objectives of the laboratory. The aim should be
succinct (maximum two lines). The objectives should also be short.
Describe in your own words the aim of the aim of the laboratory, followed by some objectives. Note
that the objectives can number up to three, but if the laboratory is not long then fewer objectives are
acceptable. Aims are general statements concerning the overall goal of the experiment. Objectives
are the individual stages that are completed in order to reach this goal.
An example of an aim is:
The aim of the experiment is to investigate conservation of momentum by the investigation of a
water jet impinging on different shaped targets.
Examples of objectives are:
1. To take experimental data for calculations of the rocket's performance.
2. To visualise shock waves inside an exhaust plume.
3. To calculate the theoretical performance of a rocket engine and to compare to experimental
results.
The length of this section should be limited to half a page.
3. Experimental Procedure (assessment weighting 20%)

Succinctly describe the experimental procedure.
The section contains information on the physical nature of the experiment, such as the type of
instrumentation used, the variables controlled and those that are not controlled, and any other
relevant conditions (for example the ambient pressure or temperature, or whether there was an
equipment malfunction). Images/photos or illustration (captioned) of the equipment are extremely
helpful to support any description. Here is an example of a section of that type;
The experiment was carried out with a Nicolet Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer. The
resolution of the spectrometer was set at 1 cm-1 for all spectra. The experiment involved the
accumulation of a background spectrum that was subtracted from the spectrum of the sample to
provide the response of the sample. The detector was a nitrogen-cooled cadmium-telluride
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detector. Each experiment resulted from the average of 64 transient responses, with the
background spectrum being the accumulation of 64 spectra without the sample present. The data
were analysed by Fourier transformation using the software of the instrument. The data was
subsequently analysed with Microsoft EXCEL. Theoretical values of the parameters were predicted
by computation with the program GAUSSIAN, and a comparison of the experimental and
theoretical values made.
The section should include everything about the experimental setup that the author thinks is
important and would allow someone else to recreate your experiment. Include details of the
equipment used, the particular experiments completed, the type of data collected, the units and any
equations used in determining the results. Equations should be numbered, and any parameters used
within the equation stated. Note that parameters stated within text should be in italics. Note that any
parameters calculated should be stated with their units, generally in the International System of Units
(SI). Exceptions to this are when convention/common sense states that other units are more suitable
(i.e. wavelength of visible light in nanometres).
One might include such things as instrumental calibration, precision and accuracy. In addition, in some
cases it is appropriate to discuss other parameters that may affect the results (for example the
temperature, pressure, defective equipment, or other pertinent experimental details). Anything
important in defining the experimental conditions should be stated.
4. Results (assessment weighting 28%)
Within this section the obtained, and where applicable, theoretical results should be presented in
tables and the data plotted in graphical form. Consideration should be undertaken as to the nature of
the data presented in the tables and figures, with consideration given as at the best way to present
data, be it in the collected form or in a processed (average, standard deviation). What presentation
would provide the best representation of the data and support the visualisation of the trends to
support the subsequent data discussion should be considered. The trends in the data should be
described and where possible quantitative or statistical comparisons made between data sets or
variables.
The table should have a caption, and columns should be labelled, and include units if applicable. A
suitable number of significant figures should be used for the data in the table.
An example Table is;
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Note that you do not have to copy exactly the format of the table, but it should be clear, and contain
all the information to make it useful to the reader.
The results from the laboratory should also be plotted in a figure, with close attention being paid to
the formatting of the figure. Points to consider include;
o
o
o
o
o
Figures should include a caption (which describes the figure, not the conclusions from
it), and labelled axis including units if necessary.
Data series should not be joined together with a line unless there is a clear trend to
be illustrated.
Trend lines can be included if they illustrate a point. Best-fit equations can be included
(with R-squared values), or they can be included within the caption of the figure.
A legend should be included if necessary (i.e. more than one data set, or a trend line
is included).
Do not include extraneous figures. i.e. do not plot out all data if it does not illustrate
a new point for discussion or conclusion.
An example figure is;
Figure 1. Trends in expenditure per pupil in public elementary and secondary schools 1961-62 to
2001-2.
Note that in this case neither the y- nor x-axis have units – you should include units if it is relevant.
Note that you do not have to copy exactly the format of the figure above, but it should be clear, and
contain all the information to make it useful to the reader.
5. Discussion (assessment weighting 10%)
The discussion should succinctly compare the obtained data to the theoretical results, the discussion
should provide an explanation as to the level of agreement of the obtained data to the theory and any
explanation or reasoning for any deviation.
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Some error analysis should be included. This can simply be an estimate of the errors in the
measurement based upon the perceived accuracies of the equipment, or a standard deviation if
possible, or even utilizing an error propagation method. If quantification of errors is not possible then
a brief discussion of the types of errors and relative magnitude can be given.
6. Conclusions (assessment weighting 10%)
Suitable, succinct conclusions should be drawn from the experimental and theoretical work completed
in the laboratory and as part of this write-up. A main conclusion should be drawn, and any relevant
secondary conclusions that may be of interest should be expressed. There is no need to list all
conclusions possible from the work.
It is also required to (within the constraints of the experiment completed) put the specific experiment
in the context of real-world engineering problem. When would the experimental equipment and the
findings be useful, or is indeed used in the real world? How do the findings found relate to the real
world?
An example of a conclusion could be;
In conclusion, the thruster performed better with higher propellant flow rates and higher
powers, achieving a greater efficiency. Compared to the theoretical values, the thruster’s
experimental performance was lower. This seems likely due to the assumptions made in the
theory as stated earlier.
For a small satellite, conceptually this thruster is well suited, however, its low efficiencies limit
its practical use. If these issues could be resolved, the largest being the plume divergence, the
popularity of this thruster for small scale purposes could see a significant rise.
In comparison to pulsed plasma thruster which operate at similar power requirements, their
efficiency is greater but offer less thrust. So only in applications where extremely low thrust is
required would the thruster investigated here be applicable.
References
References should utilize a standard format, for example an American Physical Society (APS) format.
The main point of a reference is to allow the reader to find the cited work, hence the reference should
contain all the necessary information to allow the reader to themselves read it. Some examples of
referencing styles;
Journal Articles;
1. Villalobos AR, Parmelee JT, Renfro JL. Choline uptake across the ventricular membrane of
neonate rat choroid plexus. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 276: C1288-C1296, 1999.
Book References;
2. Ausubel FM, Brent R, Kingston RE, Moore DD, Seidman JG, Smith JA, Struhl K. Current Protocols
in Molecular Biology. New York: Wiley, 1995, p. 25-26.
Internet based publications;
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3. Friedman N, Linial M, Nachman I, Peter D. Using Bayesian networks to analyze expression data
[Online]. Stanford University. http://robotics.stanford.edu/people/nir/Abstracts/FLNP1Full.html
[2000].
Note that many other referencing styles are also possible.
7. Appendices
An Appendix usually contains supporting information that is not essential to the understanding of the
main report. This may include full(raw) data sets that might have been presented in an
abridged/shortened form the report, additional experimental procedure images, additional but not
essential theory etc.
Any data appended should again be formatted in the same way as in the main body of the report, and
should be completed to the same high standard as the rest of the report.
Further notes
Further notes about laboratory report to consider;
1. The font size should at least be size 11.
2. Be consistent about the style of capitalization of titles of figures, tables, and sections of a
report.
3. Do not use jargon or shortened forms of words in a formal report. Words like “lab” should not
appear in a report.
4. If you use abbreviations or acronyms you must use the full word the first time, followed by
the abbreviation or acronym in parentheses.
5. Do not “overwrite”. State results simply, in words the meanings of which you understand
clearly.
6. Uncertainty is a part of the report of any measurement or calculation. Determine the
uncertainty and report it as part of any parameter.
7. Number figures and tables consecutively through the report.
8. Tables and figures should be placed adjacent to the place of first mention. However, they may
be moved a slight distance away if that keeps one from wasting space at the bottom of a page.
9. All units should be written in a table as part of the title of a column.
10. Data in tables should be expressed as simple numbers (1.732) or in scientific notation (1.732
× 1016), not in calculator notation (1.732E16).
11. Report data only to the appropriate number of significant figures, depending on your data.
12. Check for “widows,” lines such as titles that stand alone at the bottom of a page, and
“orphans”, a single line of a paragraph that stands alone at the top of a page. Rearrange your
report to make sure you have no widows or orphans.
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