Your file name must be like this:

Report_#_Group_#_Experiment_title

Experiment Title
Experiment # 1: MAE 157 – Basic Mechanical
Engineering Laboratory

Group Number 1-a

Names of group members go here

Instructor: Name of instructor

Date goes here

Group #1, Experiment title Date goes here

GRADING SHEET

Important Note

1. Reports must be unaided work of the student. This does not preclude consultation
with other students about how to write a good report. However, copying for other
students’ work is not acceptable and, if detected, will be treated severely.
2. Individual reports: you can share the “raw data” with your group members, but you
must write the report by yourself.
3. In general only the errors are marked because these are the things which need
correction.

Grading Sheet for MAE 157

1
Group #1, Experiment title Date goes here

Technical Content
(80%)      
    Max Grade
  Abstract 5% 
  Introduction 5% 
  Theory 10% 
  Apparatus, procedure & observations 5% 
  Sample calculations 10% 
  Results 20% 
  Error Analysis 5%
  Discussion 10% 
  Summary & Conclusions 5% 
References 5% 
  Appendices 5% 
       
Presentation (20%)    
  Graphs & tables 5% 
  Grammar & Structure 10% 
   
       
Total Grade   100%

2
Group #1, Experiment title Date goes here

EXPERIMENT TITLE
Experiment # 1: MAE 157 – Basic Mechanical Engineering Laboratory

1 CONTENTS
1 Contents........................................................................................................................3
2 ABSTRACT.................................................................................................................4
3 LIST OF SYBOLS.......................................................................................................5
4 INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................6
5 THEORY......................................................................................................................6
6 APPARATUS..............................................................................................................7
7 PROCEDURE..............................................................................................................7
8 OBSERVATIONS.......................................................................................................8
9 CALCULATIONS.......................................................................................................8
10 RESULTS.....................................................................................................................9
11 DISCUSION...............................................................................................................10
12 Summary and Conclusions.........................................................................................10
13 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.......................................................................................11
14 REFERENCES...........................................................................................................11
15 APPENDICES............................................................................................................11

2 ABSTRACT

3
Group #1, Experiment title Date goes here

The author should summarize the report, giving brief details of the experiment, its
objectives and principal conclusions. The abstract should be brief, self-contained and
explicit. It should be between 100 and 200 words long.

3 LIST OF SYBOLS

4
Group #1, Experiment title Date goes here

5
Group #1, Experiment title Date goes here

4 INTRODUCTION
A paragraph on importance or general uses of similar devices in engineering practice
with references.

A specific paragraph on variations of the experiment or similar configurations or

designs or on key features of the experiment.

A paragraph on the objectives of the experiement.

A paragraph on a general description of the experimental setup or apparatus and/or

method of measurements.

A paragraph to introduce the organization of the report to the reader (e.g. In the
following, the theory is first outlined, followed by hand calculations of set points …….
Computer simulation results are shown, where ……. Finally summary and conclusions are
presented.)

5 THEORY
The object of this section is to adapt a general theory to the particular case under
investigation. The theory should be stated briefly; possibly in the form of mathematical
expressions, and any references to sources such as lecture notes or textbooks should be cited
rather than copying sections from them as part of the report. The theory should then be
developed, if relevant, so that it relates to the variables of the experiment.

Any theory involves some assumptions, and the experimental equipment or method may not
be consistent with one or more of these. Be certain to consider the limitations of the theory
and/or experiment in the ‘Discussion’ section.

6
Group #1, Experiment title Date goes here

6 APPARATUS
The apparatus section provides a description of the apparatus and experimental set-up used
to carry out the experiment. Sketches or diagrams are particularly helpful.

If any precision instrument is used, the manufacturer’s name and serial number should be
recorded.

Also, carefully specify the accuracy claimed by the manufacturer.

7 PROCEDURE
This section describes the method by which the experimental data were obtained. Write in
the past tense and describe what you actually did, not what the manual may have suggested.

8 OBSERVATIONS

These are the direct observations recorded during the experiment and they may be
quantitative or qualitative.

It is usually convenient to tabulate numerical measurements. If tables are used they should
be contained on a single page where possible. Each column of figures should be headed by a

7
Group #1, Experiment title Date goes here

boldly printed name for the variable together with its units. Information in tabular form may
be included in the main text or in an appendix if a large amount of data is presented.

Qualitative observations include peculiar behavior such as excessive fluctuations in

environmental conditions during the experiment, etc.

9 CALCULATIONS

Authors should indicate that they can arrive at a convincing result by calculation in a
progressive, logical and clear manner. It is necessary to show only one sample of each kind
of calculation.

In most cases a final tabulation which summarizes all results arrived at by calculation will
be required and should form part of the results section. Some important points to note are:
1. The equations developed in the theory should be stated first or referred to by numbers.
2. Units should be explicitly stated.
3. The results of an error analysis (if relevant) should be used in a sample calculation. The
error analysis should then appear in the report.

10 RESULTS

The results section presents information derived from the processing of the observations
(raw data).

Processed data may be, for instance

• graphs and charts,

8
Group #1, Experiment title Date goes here

• results of calculations,
• summarized versions of tabulated data.

Careful consideration should be given to the way in which the processed data are presented
to make the significance of the results easy to grasp. For example, graphs provide a pictorial
representation of results that is often more striking and more readily comprehended than a
set of tabulated figures.

They also facilitate the comparison of:

• experimental results and theoretical predictions,
• variations in test results obtained from different sources,
• sizes of errors relative to magnitudes of effects.

11 DISCUSION
The discussion section is the most important part of the report, for it is in this section that
the benefits of performing the experiment are assessed. This section should include
comments on the results obtained and interpretation of them in relation to the stated
objectives of the experiment.

For example:
1. Experimental results may be compared with values obtained from references, and any
significant variation discussed.
2. There should be comments on the forms of graphs and pattern of results especially where
unexpected variations in experimental results have occurred.

9
Group #1, Experiment title Date goes here

3. The effects of theoretical approximations and assumptions and of experimental

limitations (the method and/or the equipment used) should be discussed. The error analysis,
where applicable, is used in the discussion as a yardstick with which the significance of the
results is assessed.

Magnitudes of random errors are especially important when comparing experimental results
with theory.

12 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

The conclusions are intended to highlight what the author considers to be the
significant findings or outcome of the experiment.

The primary value of many reports often derives from the nature, originality and soundness
of the conclusions. These should be presented clearly and succinctly and may be itemized.

13 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The author may wish to acknowledge assistance received from colleagues whose work or
ideas are used in the report. Acknowledgements should be selective and brief.

14 REFERENCES

Boelter, L.M.K., Young, G., and Iverson, H.W.,. An Investigation of Aircraft Heater
-XXVII. Distribution of Heat Transfer Rate in the Entrance Section of a Circular Tube. Los
Angeles, CA: NACA, 1948.

10
Group #1, Experiment title Date goes here

Chun, K. R., and Seban, R.A. "Heat Transfer to Evaporating Liquid FilmS." J. Heat
TransfeR 71 (1971): 301–396.

Edwards, D. K. Radiation Heat Transfer Notes. Washington D.C.: Hemisphere Press, 1982.

15 APPENDICES

11