Name: ______Date: ______
Honors Physics Formal Lab Report: Constant and Changing Speed
In this lab you will take measurements for 2 real world phenomena (one object you believe moves at a constant velocity and another that accelerates). Use graphs and calculations to help with the analysis. The app DataAnalysis on your iPad will be used to make the graphs.
Below you will find a guide for writing this lab report. There is also a rubric on the class website that will tell you approximately how many points each section is worth. The analysis is always worth far more than any other section.
The bold words on this page are the “headings” which should be used in your report. A description of each is given.
Objective:
Introduction: Discuss the physics background information that a reader would need to know to understand this experiment. Include any formulas and information on graphs that the reader should know.
Materials: list your materials here
Procedure:
-Your lab report should have a numbered step by stepprocedure. It should be written as though you were giving your parents instructions on how to do every step of the experiment. If you don’t mention all of your materials here then there is not enough detail.
-Include a picture or diagram of your experimental setup. Label all parts.
Data: Create a data table, units can be labeled using parentheses at the top of each column.
Include calculated values in the data table if applicable.
Analysis:
Include various models to represent your observations. (mathematical, graphical, motion maps, verbal)
Motion Maps: Draw a motion map for each object that labels the position, time, and velocity of the object at each second.
Mathematical: Show one example calculation for each type of calculation you do. You must do all calculations for one trial. Show givens, equations, etc.
Graphs: x vs. t, v vs. t, a vs. t for each phenomena: Make all graphs using DataAnalysis.
Verbal (Discussion): This should be written in paragraph form. Discuss patterns you see in the data and graphs. Answer questions like “How do your data, calculations, and graphs relate to the physics concepts used in this lab?” Discuss what the data and graphs reveal. Think about the objective and try to relate the data to it.
Conclusion: This should be in paragraph form. Always restate the objective and address it. State your results. Do not restate your data. Provide at least 2 sources of error. (Sources of error do not include “rounding error”, “calculated wrong”, “measured wrong”, or other things that are mistakes on your part. They are things that cannot be helped due to the equipment you used or the procedure itself.)
General things that should be included in any formal lab report:
-A title page with the name of the experiment, your name, the names of your group members, the date of the experiment, the date the lab is due. This should be a separate page from the rest of the lab report.
-The report should be written in the 3rd person only. Do not write “I,” “we,” or “you.”
-The report should be typed and free of spelling and grammatical errors. This includes typed data tables and calculations. Points will be taken off if it is not typed.
-Everything should be listed in the order seen on the other side of this sheet. If you attach your graphs to the back of the lab then the phrase “see attached” should appear in the graphs section of the report.
-All the headings seen on the other side of this sheet should appear in your lab report in bold or underlined on the left side of the page just as you see here. The headings are “Objective,” “Materials,” “Procedure,” etc.
-Use a reasonable font and size. (Times New Roman, size 12 is standard)
Late lab reports will be -10% per day no excuses
- Excuses like “My printer broke” or “my computer crashed” will not be accepted. If it breaks you can print it in the media center or e-mail it to me. Don’t wait until the last minute to do the report and you won’t have a problem.
Remember lab reports must be your own. You may not turn in the same lab report as another student. Everything must be in your own words. The only things that might be the same as another group member are your data, calculations, and graphs.