Fresno High School Physics Lab Report Format
All reports are to be typed and proofread for spelling and grammar.
Title - usually short, but descriptive. The title is not labeled like a section. It usually is centered at the top of the first page. It should not exceed 15 words.
Graphic - Include a graphic under the title that best summarizes the content of your lab report.
Abstract - This is a short paragraph of 150 words or less in which you summarize your experiments and results. It is often best to write this section last, but it gets placed as the first section in the paper. It should include the most pertinent information: what you did, how you did it, the results, and the conclusions derived from the results. In essence, one or two sentences of the abstract summarize each section of the paper that follows.
Introduction
Introduction - This section gives the background for your experiments and states the purpose of the experiment. The introduction outlines the problem you are investigating, why it is worth studying, and what other scientists have already found out about it. Be specific (e.g. NOT “This problem is worth studying so we can improve the lot of human beings.”) The relevant background information might include: (A) previous experiments on the subject (who did them, when and why), (B) what was learned from these early experiments and (C) why we still do these experiments. You will probably have to refer to your textbook or other published material. Be sure to cite these references. End the section with a statement of the purpose of your experiment (your hypotheses) and the predictions made by your hypotheses. It typically has the following components:
1. Thesis and Purpose
2. Background Information
3. Identification of Variables
4. Pertinent Equations
5. Mathematical Derivations
6. Hypothesis
Materials
Materials - With a high degree of specificity, identify all materials used in the experiment so a researcher can gather the tools needed to reproduce each aspect of your investigation. Only specify materials used directly in the investigation. Sometimes, diagrams of the apparatus need to be included to aid in thoroughly describing any tool that you assembled when designing your laboratory investigation. Materials are often presented in paragraph form with the name of the object preceding its description, a schematic of the object, and/or a thorough description of the item (mfg. #, lot #, etc.) depending on the type of lab being presented.
Procedures
Procedures - This section should be a short and concise description of how the experiment was conducted. Tell the story of what you did; this should be in first person, past tense, and explicit (e.g. The metric ruler was layed perpendicular to the vein of the leaf and measured the leaf’s greatest width). This should be written so that a person could follow your description and repeat this experiment 20 years from now. It must allow for reproducibility of your lab. Be through and yet concise. Only specify the significant steps pertinent to your investigation. Do not say, "Went to the lab table to get the ruler" as this is not as pertinent as how the ruler was used.
Results
Results - This is the section where you present your findings. Graphs and/or tables are often used in the results section, along with text organizing the data in a logical sequence. Graphs and tables alone are not sufficient; text must point out the important messages. In the text, refer to the appropriate graph/table when discussing its message. Be sure to use clear labels and captions of your graphs and tables, so it is obvious what they are showing. Be careful to include units, significant figures, uncertainties, and any calcuations used in creating your tables. Be thorough yet concise. One sample calculation is often enough. There is no need to repeat calculations for all data points.
Discussion
Discussion - Interpret your data in this section. (Never introduce new information in the discussion section.) Do the data support your hypotheses? Are the data consistent with any alternative hypotheses? If you supported your hypotheses, what are the broader implications of your hypotheses to the biological world? If you did not support your hypotheses, what are the implications of your data for other hypotheses? What are the broader implications of these other hypotheses? A thorough discussion typically has the following components:
1. Analysis of Data
2. Identification of outliers
3. Percent Error Calculations
* Percent Error
* Regressions
* Standard Deviations
* Chi Square Analysis
4. Sources of Error
5. Conclusion Statement
6. Laboratory Modifications for Improvement
7. Significance of your findings
References
References - This is the Bibliography. List the references used throughout the paper. Include: author(s) name(s), year of publication, article title, book name (or journal name), publisher, (volume # if journal), and page number(s).
Plagiarism is taking another person’s ideas or words and passing them off as your own. It includes copying from another student and copying from a book or journal etc. Be sure that you cite any reference you use to understand any part of the material. If any part of your report is plagiarized, it will result in a grade of zero. If one student plagiarizes from another student, the grade on both papers will be a zero.