General Physics Laboratory

Instructions for Laboratory Reports

Students must individually complete and submit a typed lab report according to these
instructions. Data tables must have your instructors original signature and should be attached in
the report. These reports will be graded as part of your final grade. Your instructor will explain
how many and when the reports are due.
Lab Report Grade Breakdown: The grade is based on introduction & theory(10%),
experimental data and lab work (20%), analysis of data including calculations, graphs, slopes,
error reporting, etc. (30%), conclusions (20%) and answers to questions (10%), and
completeness and overall appearance of the report (10%).
The Lab report is normally organized in seven parts, (I) Introduction (including Aim), (II)
Equipment used, (III) Theory (formulas examined), (IV) Procedure (steps) followed, (V) Data
Sheets, Calculations & Analysis of Data (Graphs, slopes, % Error, etc), (VI) Conclusions and
(VII) Questions.
The writing style should be in the third person avoid the use of the first person, leave out
references to I, we, me, myself, etc. Write in past tense, passive voice. For example, instead of
writing I measured the length of the bar with a meterstick. You should write The length of the
bar was measured with a meterstick. The writing center is a good resource for help in reviewing
your writing style and logic, and your manuscript in general.
Format for Report
Course Name, Course Instructor
Lab Title and Number
Your Name (lab partners if lab was performed as a group)
Date the experiment was performed
(I) Introduction: A short introduction stating the objectives (aim of the experiment). Write
complete sentences (1 paragraph).
(II) Equipment Used: List of major items or accessories used in the experiment (meterstick,
ruler, ring stand, air track, pendulum bob, stopwatch, balance, etc.)
(III) Theory: A brief outline or statement of the theory, law or formula that is to be verified or
studied by the experiment (1 or 2 short paragraphs) (examples: graphing techniques including
slope, % error, % difference, density ( =m/V), Newtons second Law (F=ma), Period of a
Pendulum bob (T= 2(L/g), centripetal acceleration (ac = v2/r), etc.). These formulas should not
just be listed in the report, but briefly explained, with all the symbols defined.
(IV) Experimental Procedure. Procedure or Steps followed when performing the experiment.
This can be written in paragraph (1-2 paragraphs) form or as a list. Be brief and compact in your
writing or listing. Be balanced in the details.

(V) Data: sheets supplied in lab manual - these can be photocopies of the lab manual sheets.
Sometimes the data sheets have modifications according to the lab instructor. This section should
have a listing (in the data tables) of all the data obtained in the experiment, and are in tabular
form. The completed data sheets should have the original signature of the lab instructor make
sure he/she signs before you leave the lab room. If repetitive computations are required using the
data, a sample calculation should be performed and reported. Other calculations using or
analyzing the data (graphs, slopes, determining or verifying a parameter from the theory,
computing % error or % difference) should be organized in a separate sub-section labeled Data
Analysis.
(VI) Conclusions: (at least 2 paragraphs). This section is normally the most important part of
your report. It should start with 1-2 sentence description of the experimental aim or objective.
The results of the experiment should be summarized and conclusions should be drawn and
discussed. Discuss your % error or % difference in your measured quantities. Was the law (or
formula) under investigation verified? All formulas need to be restated/rewritten when discussed
in the conclusions! Were the objectives of the lab met? If not, why not? Were your results
convincing? Were there difficulties in performing the experiment? What were they and why?
What could have adversely affected your results? Possible sources of error may also be important
to discuss. What did you learn from this effort?
(VII) Questions: Answer the questions shown in the lab manual after the lab description. Your
instructor may assign all or some and may modify some of the questions. You may use either the
tear-out pages or photocopies of the manual pages containing the questions. Answer in complete
sentences (these can be handwritten in your lab report or typed). If calculations are required you
must show the steps in the calculations.