PHY 142Lab and PHY 162Lab
Instructor Dr. BALDUZ
Each lab report should consist of the following parts: introduction, data, analysis, conclusion, and any additional questions to be answered. Included below is a prescription for what should be included in each part, along with a typical breakdown of the lab grade in percentage of total points for each part.
1.
Introduction
(20%): This is the first part of the report. It should be a single page
containing the names (and signatures) of the students submitting the report,
the course name and semester (e.g., PHY 162Lab Spring 2008), the lab title, and
a brief description of the lab purpose or goals, and how these were pursued.
This should usually be one paragraph only and should state clearly but
concisely why we did the lab and how we did it. In some cases we are verifying
some equation or theory; in others we are studying the properties of some
object or material; in any case there is always a goal and the means to achieve
it. This should not include lengthy background material, or a detailed
description of the equipment, or a prescription of the lab procedure: It should
be brief and to the point. There should be ample “white space” remaining on the
page, so the instructor can write the grades on this first page.
2.
Data
(20%): Following the introduction, place any data tables and graphs from
the lab.
3.
Analysis
(40%): After the data, include a discussion of the results. This should be
fairly detailed, including numbers from the tables and graphs. There may be a
theoretical prediction, which needs to be checked against the data; so we might
calculate a percent difference %Diff(theory,
experiment) and use that to decide whether or not the lab confirms the equation
or theory. There may be numbers that we measure, that represent physical
properties of the materials at hand; so we might calculate a percent variation
%Var(property)
and use that to decide whether that property really is fixed by a single number
as expected. There is usually one or more measures of the uncertainty of the
lab measurements; so we calculate %Unc(measurements). All of these need to be quoted and compared,
so each part of the results can be judged. This should be a detailed analysis
that does not attempt to give the reader the “big picture,” but a certain
amount of discussion may be appropriate, to explain what the numbers mean and
what the results say about the procedure we used.
4.
Conclusions
(20%): After a description of the results in detail, there should be a
brief but comprehensive statement of what the lab achieved, usually no more
than one paragraph. This should relate specifically to the goals stated in the
introduction. Can we confirm the equation or theory, based on the detailed
results given above? Does the system or material really have a constant
property as expected? Did the lab equipment and procedure serve the purpose
well or not? Here is the place for global conclusions; the detailed numbers
have already been provided in the analysis portion of the report.
5. Questions (variable %): At the end of some lab instructions there is a list of additional questions. Your instructor may select some of these for you to answer and they should be at the end. Some questions should be answered with reference to your specific results, while others will be more general or theoretical…