General Instructions for writing Lab Reports
Any lab reports has to contain the following parts: Design - D
Data Collection and Processing – DCP
Conclusion and Evaluation – CE
DESIGN:
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Research Question
Theory Background (not necessary but can be very useful)
Variables:
independent :the quantity that you change
dependent :the quantity that changes as the result of you changing the
independent variable
controlled: those what you keep constant for a certain experiment
Method: explain how you intend to measure the variables
Method: explain how you intend to control the controlled variables
Material: list of the needed objects you want to use to built the appropriate apparatus
Apparatus: good to have a picture of your constructed equipment
DATA COLLECTION and PROCESSING:
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Raw data tables: Consist the collected raw data with units and uncertainties:
e.g.: time:5,4(s)  0,1s
data is given with the no. of significant digits up to the significant of the
uncertainty; uncertainty is given with one significant figure
Collect significant amount data.
Data for the different measurements should be in different tables
clarifying the differences above the corresponding table.
E.g.: Table 1: length=5,00cm  0,05cm, diameter=0,70cm  0,05cm
Table 2: length= 7,50cm  0,05cm, diameter=7,00cm  0,05cm
Table 3: length=5,00cm  0,05cm, diameter=0,90cm  0,05cm
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Processed data tables: Consists all the data needed for representing in graphs, i.e the
data processed (calculated) from the raw data
Consists all the processed uncertainties
Before the processed data tables show the method how you
processed the data and the uncertainties.
e.g.: mass=3,5g  0,5g Force=mg=0,035N-  0,005N
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Graphs: Decide on the independent and dependent axes based on what do you need
from the graph.
Sketch the values from the data ( raw or processed) with error bars.
Draw the line of best fit, which goes through some data points and all error bars
Note: the line of best fit doesn’t mean a straight line. It can be a “curve of best
fit which usually has to be changed by changing one of the axes
( e.g.: if T2 ~ m, then the T versus m graph will be a curve, and the T versus
m1/2 or the T2 versus m graph will be a straight line)
Draw the two extreme lines(curves):
the higher extreme line starts from the lowest point of the error bar of the first
point and goes to the highest point of the error bar of the last point
the lower extreme line starts from the highest point of the error bar of the first
point and goes to the lowest point of the error bar of the last point
Calculate the needed quantity from your graph(s) as the gradient or area
Calculate the uncertainties of the required quantity by using the extreme lines.
CONCLUSION and EVALUATION:
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Comment on your results: realistic or unrealistic, surprising, answers your expectations,
Comparison to the literature values (if such exist)
Errors and sources of errors: List up all the possible occurred
-- systematic and
-- random errors
(at least two possible sources for systematic and two for random errors)
Improvements: How could you decrease the errors to get more precise and accurate
result(s)  corresponding to the listed errors