How to Write a

Physics Lab Report

...and hopefully get an A+!!

General Guidelines
Dont make it dense
Main point is to communicate your results
Know what it is expected of you
Read the lab and do your pre-lab
Listen during lab talks!

Introduction
Section

Type of Report
Formal

Purpose*
Theory*
Method*
Apparatus
Procedure
Observations
Calculations & Errors
Graphs
Results
Discussion & Conclusion

Short

Prelab
Do it!
Written before attempting the experiment
Usually purpose and method sections
Sometimes theory
Good idea to prepare tables with headings (but
leave them open ended)

Purpose
The purpose of this slide is to clarify what the
purpose of your lab should contain.
The purpose is a clear statement of the
scientific objective of the experiment.
Usually just one sentence.
Be clear. Be direct.

Theory**
Background information
Theoretical justification of the experiment
In conjunction with the method section, it should
make the experiment comprehensible
A brief discussion of the physics of the
phenomenon leading to a statement of the
theoretical equation
The equation should be explained and all variables
should be defined

Method**
Done in conjunction with the theory
General terms without going into the procedure
How the experiment will be carried out
How the data will be analyzed
How the theoretical equations are manipulated
Variables in the equation are rewritten with
actual quantities which will be observed

Apparatus**
A diagram of the apparatus (sometimes - if it
improves clarity) with its essential features and
geometry
The serial number, size, or other identification of
the instruments
The range and precision of all measuring devices
All circuit diagrams (these also need to be
given in short reports!)

Procedure**
Past tense and passive voice of how you carried
out the experiment (no point form!)
Usually written up after the experiment
Details of what you actually did
Special precautions you took to deal with problems
of execution
Dont copy the lab manual!!
Also account of which quantities were read, which
points were redone and why

Observations
Copy down anything you see
Use TABLES when you can to keep your data
organized and easy to read!
Put headings in your table with the errors

Calculations
Calculations using your measurements
Use the formulas from your methods section to calculate the wanted value
using your measurements
Calculate the error on all your values
Ensure proper significant figures
Ensure proper units on all values
Average value calculations: Xavg= (x1 + x2 + xi./ number of x values)

Error Calculations
Random error:
Standard Deviation on a value (x)= [(Ni=1(xi-xavg)2)/(N-a)]1/2
68% of the occurrences of x (measured value) should fall within the range (x-,
x+)
The standard deviation can then be used to find the uncertainty on a MEAN X
value: x(avg)= (StD)/N
Above the x(avg) is the uncertainty on the average X value or Mean X, and
StD is the standard deviation on the x value.
You write this result as: X x(avg)

Analyzing Data
Analyzing your data:
Inefficient

Statistics:

H=maximum
L=minimum
N=number

ineff=(H-L)/ N

value

value

of values

to choose between the Standard Deviation of the Mean value StD vs.
Reading Error value (RE) when evaluating the experimental error on the
average of a set of data. Use this table as a guideline:
How

StD < 2 x RE

StD 2 x RE

Use RE

Use StD

Comparing Results
Consistency Test:

= |x2-x1| =(2 x1 + 2x2)

(/) 2 Consistent Results!

(/) 2 Inconsistent Results!

Results
Clear statement of the experimental results as they
satisfy the objectives stated in the purpose
Give the units of the results
Include the estimated errors
Use the correct number of sig figs

Discussion and
Conclusions
Critique of the experiment
Nothing new should be introduced in this section
Based on data and qualitative observations
Considerations growing out of the data analysis
Results should be compared with known values in the literature (when
possible)
Consistency should be compared and commented on
Changes which could improve precision of the procedure
Possible sources of error

Hints..
Talk to your TA - get to know them and their
preferences
Read their comments
Apply those to your next lab
Ask questions EARLY
Utilize your resources