Lab Report Format

Structure of the report

Title separate sheet
Abstract separate sheet
Table of Contents separate sheet
List of Tables separate sheet
List of Figures separate sheet
Introduction
Theory
Experimental Procedures
Results*
iscussion*
Conclusions*
References separate sheet
Appendices and Ra! ata separate sheet
"Report must be submitted in#group$ %ection contents !ith &*' sign must be done
indi(idually)
Each of these sections is expected to contain specific types of information *#
Abstract
+$ Is an abbre(iated, accurate representation of the content of the report
-sually one paragraph
o .hy the experiment !as done
o /o! the experiment !as performed
o .hat pertinent results !ere obtained
o Conclusion obtained from data analysis
Informati(e, 0uantitati(e, short, concisely !ritten
1$ o not refer in the abstract to information that is not in the report
2$ .rite this section LA%T3
Introduction
+$ 4ecessary 5ac6ground Information
A short statement of phenomenon under study "i$e$, !hat are you studying7) OR
A statement of importance of phenomenon to the field "brief, +#1 sentences8 i$e$,
!hy is this area of research important to engineers7) OR
A statement of importance of phenomenon to the 9real !orld9 "be careful, limit
this to a specific application or applications$ 5e brief$ ) AND
Any necessary bac6ground information "e$g$, related experiments, etc)$
1$ Indicate the need for testing:experimental analysis
A statement of the problem that is being in(estigated and any subproblems OR
A 0uestion that needs to be ans!ered about the phenomenon under study
2$ %ho! ho! you !ill ans!er the need for testing:experimental analysis
The method you;ll employ to ans!er the 0uestion or sol(e the problem identified
in 1$ "i$e$, !hat are you going to do7)
A description of the specific ob<ecti(e of the experiment "i$e$, !hat are you going
to do7)
A statement of !hat !ill be co(ered in the report "chec6 !ith indi(idual
professors regarding their preferences)
Theory
+$ %ummari=e the 6ey theory concepts that are being used, examined, or tested in the
experiment
Also summari=e 6ey theory e0uations used in data analysis
1$ Clearly state assumptions that are used in theory
2$ Point out possible regimes !here assumptions might be (iolated in experiment
>$ -se figures or schematics as appropriate
?$ Cite rele(ant references to guide readers !ho need or !ant additional information
Experimental rocedures
+$ %tatement of location of experiment "optional)
4ame of laboratory, department and uni(ersity
1$ Apparatus:Experimental %etup "obligatory)
apparatus name
model numbers "serial numbers not necessary)
clearly#labelled diagrams
rele(ant measurements of items related to apparatus
table of experimental e0uipment used "refer to this in procedure, but place table in
appendix),
2$ Procedure # step by step organi=ation "obligatory)
Procedure should be explained in enough detail to allo! another researcher to
duplicate your experiment$
o Calibrations used
o @ethods used to obtain data
Results
+$ Aou are ans!ering the 0uestion
.hat did you obser(e or measure in the experiment7
1$ .rite this section so that it stands on it's o!n
2$ Emphasi=e results that ans!er the 0uestion"s) you are examining
>$ Put secondary results after primary ones
?$ on't repeat in the numbers that are presented in the tables and figures in the text
B$ on't repeat the table and figure titles in the text
C$ %ho! sample of calculation
D$ Include error analysis
Discussion
+$ Aou are ans!ering the general 0uestion
.hat do your finding mean, and !hat are the implications of these findings'7
1$ Citing agreement or disagreement !ith theory and pre(ious studies
2$ iscuss any possible errors in your method and assumptions
>$ Point out ho! these possible errors may explain discrepancies in your experiment#
theory comparisons
?$ Commentary on !hether results are expected or unexpected
B$ Commentary about the significance or implications of the results
!onclusions
+$ 5riefly describe the experimental approach that !as used in one or t!o sentences
1$ escribe the 6ey results of the experiment
2$ %ummari=e the essential implications of the results
>$ %uggestions for future studies
?$ Conclusions should be concise and are a statement of your main findings
References
+$ References must be easily accessible in libraries or other public sources$
1$ They are to be numbered in the order in !hich they are cited in the text$
Reference formattin"
Journals
.al6er, R$ E$, %tone, A$R$, and %handor, @$, 9%econdary Eas In<ection in a Conical Roc6et
4o==le,9 AIAA Journal, Fol$ +, 4o$ 1, +GB2, pp$ 22>#22D$
4ote* Title of article is in 0uotation mar6s and name of <ournal is italici=ed$
Books
Turner, @$H$, @artin, /$C$, and Leible, R$C$, 9Further e(elopment and Applications of
%tiffness @ethod,9 Matrix Methods of Structural Analysis, +st ed$, Fol$ +,
.iley, 4e! Aor6, +GB2, pp$ B#+I$
4ote* This is an article published in a boo6 containing an collection of articles$ The title of
the boo6 is italici=ed, and the title of the article is gi(en in 0uotation mar6s$
Book Series
%utton, J$, 9Air Radiation Re(isited,9 Thermal Design of Aeroassisted Orbital Transfer
Vehicles, edited by /$F$ 4elson, Fol$ GB, Progress in Astronautics and Aeronautics, AIAA,
4e! Aor6, +GD?, pp$ >+G#>>+$
Reports
5oo6, E$, and 5ratman, /$, 9-sing Compilers to 5uild Compilers9 %ystems e(elopment
Corp$, %P#+CB, %anta @onica, CA, Aug$ +GBI$
Transactions/Proceedings
%oo, %$L$, 95oundary#Layer @otion of a Eas#%olid %uspension,9 Proceedings of the
Symposium on Interaction et!een "luids and Particles, Fol$ +, Inst$ of Chemical Engineers,
4e! Aor6, +GB1, pp$ ?I#B2$
Meeting Papers
5hutta, F$A$, and Le!is, C$/$, 9Aerothermodynamic Performance of 2# and 5ent#4ose
RFs under /ypersonic Conditions,9 AIAA Paper GI#2IBD, Aug$ +GGI$
#rade Sheet for Laboratory Reports
/eading Points
Title Part of K(erall Impression
Abstract ? Points
Table of Contents Part of K(erall Impression
List of Tables Part of K(erall Impression
List of Figures Part of K(erall Impression
Introduction ? Points
Theory ? Points
Experimental Procedure ? Points
Results ? Points
iscussion ? Points
Conclusions ? Points
References Part of K(erall Impression
Appendices and Ra! ata Part of K(erall Impression
K(erall Impression of Report ? Points
Presentation and clarity of Figures and Tables Part of K(erall Impression
Team .or6 +I Points
Total Points ?I Points