Physics Lab Report Format
Fall 2010
You are expected to turn in a lab report summarizing your work within the due time
determined by your TA in the very 1st session of the labs. You may put your report in your TA’s
mailbox located in room 223 of the Physics Building.
You may work together with other members of your group or individually when completing
your lab report, but the reports themselves are individual. Though you may have the same data
and analysis, the abstract and conclusions should not be identical. EACH student will be asked
to turn in their own lab reports even if the student was part of a group.
Your laboratory report may be hand-written (legible: your TA can’t grade what they can’t read)
or word processed and should contain the following sections, in this order:

Cover Sheet

Abstract

Data Analysis, Results, and Error Analysis (laboratory pages)

Graphs (if appropriate)

Calculations (if appropriate)

Conclusion.
If your report lacks any section (e.g. cover sheet, abstract etc.) it will be considered incomplete
and points will be deducted accordingly.
Please attach a cover sheet to each of your lab reports containing following information:
Title of the Lab
Experimenter: (Your Full Name & Student ID)
Lab Partner(s): (*Their Full Name(s))
TA: (Your TA’s Name)
Course / Section: PHYS2750, Your lab section (e.g. PHYS 2750 AA)
Date: The date the experiment was performed
For more detailed information about all sections of the report pay attention to the following
considerations:
Abstract/Summary of Lab
Abstract is a brief (at most 1/2 page if single-spaced or 1 page if double-spaced) but detailed
description of the experiment. You are expected to provide the following information in your
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own words in a concise format:
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Brief explanation of the purpose/lab objectives
What quantities were measured and how.
Brief summary of findings/results
Very concise statement of conclusions
Although Abstract goes first in the report, it is better to write it after the experiment is
completed and better understanding of the lab is gained.
Data and Calculations
Gathering and processing data is the first stage in an experiment, so Data and Calculations will
be the section to start with. Most of this section will be completed on the pages provided in
your lab manual.
Make sure to record the results of all measurements, in a table, if appropriate. When doing
calculations show your work; specify the formula used for one sample calculation of each type
of calculations, and specify the units of all the results.
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To be filled out in your lab manual and turned in as proof of your participation therein.
Cut paper bits off, this is because it makes a mess otherwise.
Handwriting is acceptable, but must be LEGIBLE.
You MUST show the calculations required
Units are a MUST. Points will be taken off for missing units.
In some laboratory exercises, we will be estimating the accuracy of the results of the
experiment by analyzing the accuracy of each measurement and calculating the impact of
inaccuracies of individual measurements on the results (percentage error & propagation of
errors). (*Only when indicated in the lab report)
For other labs, you will be asked simply to identify the sources of error and discuss their
possible impact on the data and findings.
Graphs
This section contains all relevant graphs and diagrams. Each graph should be clearly labeled,
which means it should have title and both axes should be labeled, specifying also the units for
the quantities along the axes, and a legend (if more than one line graphed). If doing any fitting
procedures, make sure you print the graphs after the procedures are done, so that all fitting
parameters / equations are displayed on the graphs. Note: Even though your group may
construct the graph together, EACH member should have a copy of the graph(s).
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Conclusion
In Conclusion you are expected to:
 Summarize final important results, focusing on the stated purpose of the lab (e.g. did
you achieve the lab objectives )
 Discuss the consistency of your results with previous or accepted results, or with theory
in terms of error percentage.
 Take into account all possible sources of error and how those affect your results
(qualitative discussion).
 Avoid general statements, such as: “Our experiment was fun!”, “Our experiment was
very successful” (give numerical results), or “Our results were accurate” (how accurate?
state percent difference), etc. Otherwise points will be taken off.
 Suggest improvements to the experiment, particularly to reduce sources of error
(random or systematic)
Additional points:
1)
Make sure you know the full name of your partner(s) and their email addresses/phone
numbers before you leave the lab.
2)
Make sure you get all necessary data from your partner(s) to complete calculations at
home before you leave the lab.
3)
Make sure you log off the computer, turn off your camera and other lab equipment and
your table is neat before you leave the lab.
4)
1 point will be taken off for leave your workstation messy and disorganized.
5)
For many lab sessions you will tear out some from your lab manual and mostly the
information therein will cover Data Analysis, Results, & Error Analysis sections of your
lab report. So all you have to do is to attach your cover sheet, graph(s), abstract and
conclusion.
6)
Written responses must be legible, comprehensible, and as precise as possible in order
to receive credit.
7)
Staple all pages of your report in appropriate order e.g. Cover sheet, Abstract,
Data/Calculations/Results, Conclusion and Graph(s)
8)
In several places, you will be asked to make predictions regarding experiments. You will
not be graded on the accuracy of your predictions during each activity, so don’t be
concerned if your results don't confirm your predictions. However, you will be graded
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on your reasonable attempt to make the predictions and to answer the questions during
each activity.
9)
When graded lab reports are returned, pay attention to the feedback on your lab report
so that you do not lose points for the same things on future lab reports.
10)
YOU MUST INCLUDE ALL GRAPHS. Graphs must include title, experiment, axis labels,
appropriate scale, and other information. Therefore if you are measuring the discharge
of a .5mF capacitor, you should make sure to have all appropriate information (including
parameters) on the graph.
11)
You may make several printouts during each lab. In some cases, you will print copies of
graphs for each member of the group, and in other cases, you will make a single
printout for the entire group. Collect all group printouts together at the end of the lab
and attach them to one group member’s lab report. Circle on all reports the name of the
person to whose report these group printouts are attached. Individual printouts should
be attached to your own report.
12)
Late lab reports will have 1 point deducted for each day they are late past the due date.
Time Saving Tips
Often students still find it difficult to finish their work on time. Here are a few time-saving tips
to help you finish on time while still doing good work:
 Come prepared: Read the lab manual before-hand
 Read the entire lab including the procedure section.
 Review your class notes and understand the theory behind the lab.
 Share the workload with you lab partner(s): Dividing the lab into independent tasks is
usually not a good idea and will actually slow you down. Instead, discuss each separate
problem and cooperate.
 Write neat notes: This is important when you are pressed for time. Disorganized notes
will kill you!
 Use your time efficiently: Check iterative measurements as soon as possible. Very often,
students will try to take all the data then do all the calculations, and then find out that
they made a mistake. Instead take one measurement, do one calculation and check that
it makes sense before proceeding.
GOOD LUCK & HAVE FUN WITH PHYSICS!
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