APPhysics CPage 1/4
[When you complete the use of this template, all information inside brackets, and the brackets themselves, must be deleted. In most cases they should be replaced with appropriate text.]
[TITLE]
Date Data Taken: [DATE1] Date Report Submitted: [DATE2]
Author :[name]
Members of Lab Group:[group member names]
1. Design of Experiment
1.a Purpose and Overview of Approach
[Describe the purpose of the experiment or the problem to be investigated. In some cases this will be a description of the theory that you are trying to validate with data. In other cases, you will be provided with a problem statement from the teacher that you are attempting to address If you are attempting to test a theory that can be described by a physics equation, that equation should be included here.
There needs to be a footnoted reference to the theoretical result that you are attempting to validate either from the textbook or other reference.]
1.b Experimental Approach and Theory Of Experimental Design
[In the lab you will be recording some measurements that will have to be manipulated to provide an experimental comparison with the theoretical result. In this section you will describe the theory of the experiment and how you will manipulate the data to achieve the desired outcome.
Describe the concept of the experiment. Describe how you will use the data to make a comparison between the hypothesis and experimental measurements and observations. This is a complete description of how you will use the data to complete the calculations required for this lab. If you choose, you may select on set of data points as an example to include in your text. All of the rest of the calculations will appear in Section 4.a below, in the form of tables.
It is best if you learn how to use software to add equations directly into your document. However, you may instead leave blank spaces and then fill neatly write the equations in by hand. All equations must be numbered so that they can be easily referred to within the text.
If you invoke any theory that was not already described in 1.a there should be a footnoted reference.]
2. Implementation of Experimental Design
2.a Equipment Table with description of how equipment used
[Make a brief table showing the equipment used and how each piece of equipment is used in the lab. If you have multiple sections to the measurement then it might be best to include a separate table for each set of equipment.]
2.b Experimental setup
[Draw a schematic of experimental setup(s). (One for each setup.) This may be drawn by hand and added to back page. If it is added on the back of the report then it must be referred to in this section. Preferably, it may be generated on the computer and included within the text at this section. Another alternative may be to draw it by hand, scan it, and then include it in this section of the text. Label the elements of the diagram.In addition to the diagram, you must describe the elements of this diagram in the accompanying text so that a reader will understand how the setup works.]
2.c Experimental procedure, analysis of precision and accuracy, and care used in making measurements
[This is a general description of the procedure used in the lab. In many cases I will provide you with a step-by-step sequence of steps that you must perform for this lab. I am not interested in you restating this to me. That will result in no credit for this section. Instead, your textmust show an understanding of the steps involved, showing that you have an understanding of why the specific steps were taken.
Determine significant digits. All measurements must be recorded with significant figures that are appropriate to the instrumentation used. Significant figures must be treated carefully throughout the lab report. Significant figure errors from throughout the lab report will be accumulated and charged to this element of the rubric.]
2.dPros and Cons of Approach
[Explain pros and cons of particular experimental approach. In this section you will describe which aspects of the experiment worked well and which aspects created problems in collecting the data that you needed to complete the lab.]
3.0Measurements and Observations
3.aData Table(s)
[The data must be displayed in table formats. Even individual values, should be placed in a table or box to make it easy for the reader to find the values used. The table must include the measurements, the units, and the precision or the error bar.]
3.b Additional relevant observations
[Additional relevant observations: Should show understanding of experimental issues. This is where you will record additional observations that might not fit into a table form.]
4. Data Analysis
4,a Data Analysis Tables
[All data analysis should be arranged in tables. In section 1b, above, you described how the data is used to convert raw data into a form in which you can compare the results against theoretical or accepted values.
Do not include the data analysis in the text. It is too difficult to follow. Display data in data tables with labeled column headings and units. The analysis tables will have some columns that are raw data and some columns that are calculated from the data. This needs to be noted on the column labels. If the tables are not self-explanatory thenyou should include some text to describe why you chose to do the calculations that you performed.]
4.bGraphs and Results of linearized fits
[All graphs have a heading, axes labeled, and units. Labeled line separations on the graph should be multiples of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, etc. It would be best for the graphs to be generated on a computer. If you are not capable of doing that, draw a graph by hand using graph paper and attach it to the end of the report. Refer to it in the text of your report here.
Linearize results to be able to use linear fits as needed. Use a computer to fit lines to data points in graphs. The equation for the fitted line should be displayed on the graph as a solid line with no data points on it.]
4.cCalculations
[The details of your calculations were documented in section 1.b, where you described the experimental theory- what data you would take and how you would use that data and in section 4.a where the intermediate values that you need to produce a final result were documented. In this section you will summarize your final results.]
4.d Extrapolations and interpolations of data
[Make extrapolations and interpolations from data as needed. Usually this will not be required.]
5. Analyze errors
5.a Sources of error
[Identify the significant sources of error in your measurement. Consider each aspect of the measurement that you made. In section 2.a you described how you carefully performed the measurement. In this section you will describe the sources of error that are inevitable in any measurement. You must determine the relative importance of the various sources of error. Source of error might include the readability of the scales of a device’s least division, the calibration of the instrument, method of measurement, etc.
Human error – what you can and cannot include in this report
I am not interested in the trivial comment “human error” or “calculation error” without further explanation. This kind of comment without further explanation is equivalent to stating that the experiment or calculations were performed carelessly. However, you could describe that, for example, it was not possible to release a cart at an exact time and that based on that you introduced an error on the time measurement of ±0.10s. Another example in which human related errors come into play relate to reaction time, such as when you use a stopwatch to determine when a particular time interval starts and stops.]
5.b Percent error relative to established value.
[Estimate magnitude and direction of errors. Calculate percent error from theory or accepted values. In most cases, these errors compare a measured value against an established or calculated value. The formula for percent error is
Determine the error in the values for the slope and/or the intercept depending on which values relate to the theory that you are testing by using a statistical tool to calculate the results. One approach will be to use the Linest function as explained in class. You must include a reference to the statistical tool that you use.]
6. Communicate results
6.a Inferences and conclusions
[Draw inferences and conclusions from experimental data.
You must restate each of the purposes of the lab from section 1.a and for each purpose describe, based on the measurements that you made and your observed errors, to what extent was the purpose from section 1.a met? If your measurement was not consistent with the theory, then you should attempt to describe why.
Consider each of the following questions as you write up this section:
-What is the relationship between your measurements and your final results?
-What trends were observable?
-What can you conclude from the graphs that you made?
-How did the independent variables affect the dependent variables? (For example, did an increase in a given measured (independent) variable result in an increase or decrease in the associated calculated (dependent) variable?)
]
6.b Improvement to experimental procedure
[Suggest ways to improve experiment. You must come up with some ideas to get full credit.]
6.c Questions for further study
[Propose questions for further study. You must come up with some ideas to get full credit.]
Rubric (Do not include this section in your lab report)
None of these rubric sections can be left blank ( except for section 4d if it is not relevant to the particular experiment).
General For Entire Report / Max Pts Offa) On time:If the report is due by a specific class period, it must be turned in by that period or it is counted as handed in by next day. Lateness penalty is 25% for each day late. / 100
b) You own work: You may discuss the experiment with your lab partner and other classmates, but the lab
report that you turn in must be entirely your own work. Lab reports are subject to all the rules governing academic honesty. The data that you present must be from your lab group only. Plagiarism will result in a zero for both of the students involved. / 100
c) Overall appearance and grammar: Must be typewritten. Electronic versions are not acceptable. Must be proofread for typos, spelling errors, grammatical errors, sentence construction, and clear pros. / 10
d) Precision, Accuracy, Units: Determine significant digits. All measurements must be recorded with significant figures that are appropriate to the instrumentation used. All calculations based on these measurements must use rules for rounding of significant figures. All values must be expressed with units. / 10
Descriptive Information (Title Section) / 5
a) Title section of lab completed correctly. / 5
1. Design of experiment / 13
a) Purpose and Experimental Approach / 3
b) Experimental Approach and Theory of Experimental Design / 10
2. Implementation of experimental design / 22
a)Equipment Table with description of how equipment used / 2
b) Experimental Setup / 5
c) Experimental procedure, analysis of precision and accuracy, and care used in making measurements / 10
d) Pros and Cons of Experimental Approach / 5
3. Measurements and observations / 10
a)Data table(s) / 5
b) Additional relevant observations / 5
4. Data analysis / 22
a) Analysis Tables / 5
b) Create graphs as needed / 10
c) Calculations / 5
d) Extrapolations and Interpolations / 2
5. Analyze errors / 15
a)Sources of error. / 10
b) Percent error / 5
6. Communicate results / 20
a) Inferences and conclusions / 10
b)Improvement to experimental procedure / 5
c) Questions for further study / 5