Physics 119 Lab 0 Rubric
Commentary
A QUICK OVERVIEW OF LAB REPORT 0
GRADER COMMENTS
Most Common Errors
 Objectives
 Little to no motivation for the experiment
 Procedures
 No mention of why are we performing each step
 Data
 Figure/Table formatting
 Results
 No example calculations
 No mention of assumptions
 Conclusions
 No mention of validity
Little to no motivation for the experiment
 Some reports merely stated the purpose of the
experiment:

“To check the proper calibration of the Spectrometer 2000,
3000, and PWLB 1000.”
 Excellent reports answered: “Why do we need to do
this?”

“In any experiment that records data using sensitive, precise
instruments, it is essential that these instruments be in an
acceptable condition for use. If these instruments are not
working properly, incorrect data will be collected, which will
make the results of the experiment flawed and therefore
invalid.”
No mention of why we are performing each step
 Some reports listed the steps, or wrote out into
words a general walkthrough of the experiment’s
procedures.
 Excellent reports answered: “Why is each step being
performed?”

“During each test, only one filter was placed between the
PWLB 1000 and the spectrometer to either block one
wavelength or to allow only one wavelength through. This
makes the data easier to read and make sense of. Gaps or
changes should appear in the data at the precise number of
each filter used, meaning that the specified particles were
blocked and that the spectrometer is calibrated and ready for
future tests.”
Figure/Table Formatting
 Excellent Figures looked like:
Figure/Table Formatting
 Excellent Tables looked like:
Filter
# Unblocked Wavelength Count
# Blocked Wavelength Count
% Blocked
400 nm
1.00 E+24 Photons
8.00 E+22 Photons
92%
600 nm
1.00 E+24 Photons
5.00 E+22 Photons
95%
Table 1: Equation 0.1 Data and Results – The data found in this table was obtained in the
second part of the experiment which used the 400 nm and 600 nm blockers to test the calibration of
the Spectrometer 3000. The final column (% Blocked) was obtained by using Equation 0.1, which
gives a percentage of blocked photons to determine if the spectrometer has been properly calibrated.
No Example Calculations
 Some reports referenced Equation 0.1 or included it
in their papers.

Some advice: Try using MathType to insert equations which
look properly formatted if you don’t want to spend the time to
try formatting it yourself.
 Excellent reports also showed how the numbers fit
into the equation to ensure the reader could repeat
the test and calculations if necessary.
No mention of assumptions
 Excellent reports mentioned the assumptions made
in the experiment:


“For the purpose of this experiment, we assume there is little
to no interference from an outside light source.”
“Here, we assume that since we have tested two separate
wavelength blockers near different ends of the spectrum, that
the spectrometer is properly calibrated for all wavelengths in
the visible spectrum.”
No mention of validity
 Excellent reports mentioned the validity of the
experiment:


“However, because the Spectrometers could go out at any time,
it is important that they are tested regularly. But, at the time of
testing they were adjusted to perform in an accurate manner.”
“This experiment is relatively simple. There are few areas
where there is any allowance for human error, and there are
minimal chances for technological error; the consistency and
correctness of the experiment’s results show that no error was
made.”