THE PHYSICS LAB REPORT
(AKA YOUR BRIGHT COLORED PLR HANDOUT)
P200 Series
(Revised 8/12)
In this lab we will have a variety of different kinds of experiments and exercises. Since different kinds of
experiments require different kinds of lab reports, there will be a variety of different kinds of reports. We
now describe these in detail. Please bring this document to lab each time because you will need to refer
to it when writing your report. Also, please bring your lab manual to lab each week--or risk losing 10
points.
COMPUTER EXERCISES
Some of our lab exercises will involve little or no data taking. Instead you will be asked to do work on the
computer. For some of these exercises there will be no write-up at all. Instead, you will simply get a
result on the computer screen and call me over to approve your work and give you credit. Other times I
may ask you to print out a simple spreadsheet or MATHCAD worksheet. In either case I will give you
simple, specific instructions as to what is required at the time.
MINI AND STANDARD REPORTS
These kinds of reports are associated with the traditional physics experiments where you gather data
using an apparatus and then process the data to get some quantity. Here are a few more details.
A. MINI-REPORTS (About 65 points)
For some experiments you shall gather data with one or two lab partners and then write one short lab
report in class with all your names on it. The report will be hand-written, and you will turn it in before you
leave for the day.
B. STANDARD REPORTS (About 100 points)
For some experiments you will need to write a more detailed lab report which will be turned in one week
after the experiment is performed. This standard report will be due at the beginning of the lab session.
Late reports will lose points at the rate of 10% per day. These reports must be typed and usually the
spreadsheet will be the best tool.
UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE, ALL MINI AND STANDARD REPORTS MUST HAVE THE
FOLLOWING FEATURES. (Some of these features will also apply to the COMPUTER EXERCISES.
I'll tell you which apply when we do the COMPUTER EXERCISES).
1. A cover page that includes-(a) Title
(b) Authors--these are the people that worked together on the experiment and who will get credit for it.
(c) Course name and time; for example, P201 Mon at 7:00 PM
(d) Date the experiment was performed.
2. All data and all calculations must be preceded by a clear and informative statement telling the reader
what you are about to do. For example, first make a statement like: "Temperature vs Time Data from
Part I", or "Calculation of projectile speed using Eq 5 in the Manual". Then present the data or
calculation. Again, First tell the reader what you are about to do and then do it. Repeat this
procedure every time that you do something new.
3. The report must look professional. This means--(a) Neat and user-friendly; Easy to follow and read.
(b) Good grammar, spelling and punctuation
(c) Logical order of presentation
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(d) White out or cleanly erase; Never scratch stuff out.
(e) Spread your report out.
4. Data and Results MUST have Reasonable Significant Figures and Correct Units
This applies whether you are presenting numbers by hand, with a spreadsheet or with MCAD.
5. Any time that you do a calculation BY HAND, you must-(a) Write the equation first in symbols
(b) Substitute numbers including units.
(c) Write the numerical result with correct significant figures and units.
If the spreadsheet or MATHCAD does the calculation using a built in formula then this does NOT apply.
6. You MUST Catch and Fix Mistakes in your data and calculations Before turning in the Report.
Make especially sure that you NEVER turn in absurd, unphysical results because this greatly degrades
the quality and score of your report. Also, to help catch and fix mistakes in your data, keep your
apparatus set up and process your data in the lab before you leave. If your graphs or other results look
bad then at least the apparatus is still set up and you can usually retake the data quickly and have a
successful lab session.
7. Some reports will include graphs. Graphs have the following features:
(a) Large—usually it is best to devote an entire page to the graph.
(b) Title
(c) Axes must have titles and units
(d) Information must be formatted and presented in an easy to understand way.
8. There will often be a short section that includes such things as error analysis, conclusions, answers to
questions, etc. For each experiment I will tell you what is needed. However, certain principles always
apply when you are doing an error analysis or answering questions. Here are some of them-Your statements must be specific, detailed, thoughtful and convincing; never vague. Phrases such as
"timing errors", "length measurement errors" and "friction" must be explained in detail. For example,
friction might be important in more than one way, and it might be static and or kinetic friction--explain.
Avoid catch-all phrases such as "human errors". Some sources of error are more important than others-make sure that you distinguish the important ones from the unimportant ones in your analysis.
9. Your lab reports do NOT need the following things:
(a) Abstract
(b) Procedure
(c) List of Apparatus
(d) Table of Contents
And no extra points will be given for doing these things.
10. DO YOU WANT TO KNOW IF YOU WILL GET A GOOD GRADE ON YOUR LAB REPORT? HERE
IS YOUR ANSWER-IF YOU FOLLOWED ALL OF THE STEPS IN THE LAB MANUAL FOR GATHERING AND
PROCESSING DATA, AND IF YOU FOLLOWED ALL OF THE STEPS IN THIS DOCUMENT THAT
APPLY FOR WRITING YOUR LAB REPORT, THEN YOU WILL GET A VERY GOOD GRADE.
OTHERWISE, DON'T RAISE YOUR HOPES.
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