Experimental Work: A Guide To Successful Laboratory Work

Experimental work
A guide to successful laboratory work.
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Sensitivity: Internal
Types of Practical Work
• Measurement
• Verification
• Investigation
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Measurement
• Measurement of a physical quantity: for example
the temperature of air or the level of illumination.
Measurements should be repeated and the value
of other variables noted.
• Often a single instrument is used; e.g. pressure
gauge, thermometer, pentrometer…..
• Sometimes a value is derived; e.g. liquid limit,
friction factor…..
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Verification
• Verification of a well-known law or principle: for
example showing that extension is proportional to
load.
• Usually involves fixing a set of variables, changing
one (the independent variable) and measuring
another (the dependant variable).
• A typical application would be to verify that pipe
pressure loss due to friction (the dependant) is
proportional to velocity2 (the independent) if
diameter, material and viscosity are fixed.
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Investigation
• Open ended Investigation: The outcome is not
known and the procedure has to be designed to
test all of the variables independently.
• Use the scientific method approach.
• A typical example would be to examine the effect
of different mix designs on the strength of
concrete. Although general information might
predict the outcome the details need to be
determined.
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What is the scientific method?
• The scientific method is a process of experimentation that is

used to explore observations and answer questions.
• An experiment is designed so that the effect of changes of
one variable on other variables can be observed
• It is important that only one variable is changed at a time so
that its effect can be observed (a fair test).
• There are 6 main stages:
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Stages in the Scientific method
1. Ask a Question: The scientific method starts when a question
about something that you observe is asked: How, What,
When, Who, Which, Why, or Where? The answer must be
measurable, preferably numeric.
2. Do Background Research: This enables the design of the
investigation to be more reliable and may avoid time wasting
experimentation.
3. Construct a Hypothesis: A hypothesis is an educated guess
about how things work:
"If _____[I do this] _____, then _____[this]_____ will happen."
The hypothesis should be stated so that it can be investigated
and proved or disproved.
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Stages in the Scientific method
4. Test the Hypothesis by Experimentation: The experiment
tests whether the hypothesis is true or false. The test must be
fair by changing only one factor at a time while keeping all
other conditions the same. Experiments should be repeated.
5. Analyse Your Data and Draw a Conclusion: Once the
experiment is complete, collect the measurements and
analyse them to see if the hypothesis is true or false.
6. Communicate the results: A report of the investigation is
prepared with a conclusion
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Hints for carrying out practical work
• Plan the procedure before starting work. If the work is

being carried out in a group ensure that each member of the
team is quite clear about what observations they will be
taking.
• Record results in a prepared table as they are taken to an
appropriate accuracy with the units clearly stated.
• Repeat observations. Each reading should be repeated to
ensure that there are no random errors.
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Hints for carrying out practical work
• Take Sufficient readings. At least 8 separate observations

should be taken over a wide range if a graph is going to be
produced.
• Note the Accuracy of measurements: Any measurement
is an approximation determined by the method of
measurement. For example a length could be measured
with a tape measure to + 1mm or with a rope with a knot in
it every metre to + 1 metre.
• Do not dismantle equipment until it is clear that the
observations make sense. Graphs should be plotted to
ensure sufficiency and appropriateness.
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Dealing with errors
• Systematic errors.
These are due to incorrectly calibrated equipment.
The calibration can be checked by comparison with other
equipment and measuring a known value. (e.g. scales
checked against standard weights)
• Random errors.
A variety of causes but can be caused by inaccurate
estimation of the last figure in a numeric observation.
They are significantly reduced by taken the mean of at
least two independent observations.
CHECK READINGS INDEPENDENTLY
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Quantifying errors
• Expression of Errors.
Errors can be expressed as + x or as a percentage.
For example an error of + 1mm in a measurement of 1
metre is 1 in 1000 or +0.01% whereas an error of + 1mm
in a measurement of 10 mm is 1 in 10 or +10%
• Overall error.
The overall error of a variable depends on the combined
errors of all measured variables and how they are
related to each other.
For example the area of a circle is proportional to the
radius squared. A = πR2. If there is an error in the
measurement of the radius of +3% then the error in the
area will be 2 x +3% = +6%, the power times the error.
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The Format of Practical Work Reports
The purpose of a practical report is to show that:

1. Title
• Work was carried out systematically and to 2. Abstract
be independently repeatable. 3. Introduction
• Data collected has been analysed and 4. Procedure
interpreted correctly 5. Results
• Relevant and valid conclusions have been 6. Discussion
drawn. 7. Conclusions
8. Appendices
• Practical reports should follow the same
9. References
overall format with separate sections as 10. Bibliography
indicated.
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Title Abstract Introduction Procedure Results Discussion Conclusions Appendices References
Bibliography
Report Format - Details

• Title
Include the name of the investigation, the location and date,
the name of the reporter, the names of the people involved.
• Abstract
It will normally written last as a summary of the whole
procedure in single paragraph 50 – 100 words. The
Abstract should contain four elements:-
The purpose of the work, the key results, most significant
discussion points and the main conclusions.
• Introduction
This section explains the purpose of the work, important
background theory and the initial hypothesis being
investigated.
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Bibliography
Report Format – what was done

• Procedure
– This should describe the process in chronological order.
– Explain clearly what happened noting anything that went
wrong.
– A description of the equipment used must be made but if
this is standard apparatus there is no need to describe it
in detail.
– The principle to be followed here is that there should be
sufficient information given so that another investigator
could repeat your work as closely as possible.
– If the procedure is following a standard requirement e.g.
A British Standard then reference should be made to this
and any variations or omissions to the procedure noted.
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Bibliography
Report format - Data

• Results
– This section contains the data collected during the
investigation.
– It should be presented in tabular form with graphs where
appropriate.
– Errors should be indicated.
– Ensure that each table and graph is labelled for easy future
reference.
– It is not necessary to show every single calculation but a
sample must be included so that the method can be checked.
– A very brief statement about the results may be included. The
use of spreadsheets is to be encouraged in this section.
•
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Bibliography
Report format - Outcomes

• Discussion
– A comparison of experimental and expected results. Why
were there differences? What errors are due to limitations of
equipment?
– Explain how the results agree with and support existing
theories. Give details of the theory.
– Indicate whether the results support the initial hypothesis
– Compare your values with other similar work carried out in
similar circumstances.
– Analyse the strengths and weaknesses of your experimental
design.
• Conclusion
– A brief statement about what can definitely be concluded.
– Recommendations for further work.
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Bibliography
Report format – Finishing off

• Appendices
These may be included where there is a very large amount
of data. A summary will have been included in the results
section. A laboratory sheet would be in this section.
• References and Bibliography
Refer to sources cited in the text and other reading using
Harvard referencing method.
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….and finally
The nature of experimental and investigative work

varies considerably (see types of practical work
earlier) and so the prominence given the various
sections will vary. However each section should be
included.
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Experimental Work: A Guide To Successful Laboratory Work

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Experimental work

A guide to successful laboratory work.

• The scientific method is a process of experimentation that is

• Plan the procedure before starting work. If the work is

• Take Sufficient readings. At least 8 separate observations

The purpose of a practical report is to show that:

Report Format - Details

Report Format – what was done

Report format - Data

Report format - Outcomes

Report format – Finishing off

The nature of experimental and investigative work

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