LABORATORY REPORT PROCEDURES – Revised 2008/2009

 

A.         READ through the purpose, background, and procedures FIRST.  Do this the

            DAY BEFORE the experiment.  Know the safety issues for each lab before starting.

B.         The following is the required format for a laboratory report.

 

Your Name:                                                                                         

Lab Partners Names:               (If absent write who you obtained data from to complete your experiment)    

Grade and Period:

Due Date:

LAB # - TITLE OF THE EXPERIMENT          

 

Purpose-                                  can be paraphrased in complete sentence form           

 

Independent Variable -            manipulated values (you know these values before the lab begins)    

                                               

Dependent Variable-               develops as a result of the independent variable (you do not know these values before the lab begins)

 

Controlled Variables -              must be held constant or they confuse the results

 

Prediction -                              Tentative answer - What do you think the result is going to be between the independent and dependent variables?  State in complete sentences.

 

Data -                                       Data table must be drawn with a straight edge and include units for each column at the top of the column. 

 

Example calculations -            This is not required unless a column in the data table is calculated.  Each calculated column in the data table must have a sample calculation listed below the data table.  It must include a formula, substitution, and boxed answer with units.

 

THE CONCLUSION SECTION -  Includes Analysis / Questions / Evaluation / and Going Further

 

ANALYSIS -      This section could be made up of graphs, calculations, or diagrams.  Check the purpose and background before doing this section.  This is the CAUSE AND EFFECT section.

 

1)  Graphs from labs are to be done on GRAPH PAPER.

2)  Graphs are to have a TITLE that represents the relationship being studied                         

     (dependent versus independent variable OR y vs x).

3)  The axes have to be properly LABELED AND SCALED

      (SCALED FACTOR = largest reading /# of squares used -- Round to a whole            

      number).

4)  Experimental points are to be CIRCLED.

5)  A SMOOTH LINE OR CURVE has to be drawn that best represents all of the points.

     (half above the line and half below the line is a good starting point).

6)  Follow all good graphing techniques outlined by the handout on proper graphing techniques.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AN ANALYSIS could be written this way or you could paraphrase the following paragraph as long as all five sentences are addressed for each graph.

 

The relationship between the _______1_______  and ________2________

is _________3_________ .  The meaning of this statement is that as the

_______1_______  increases that causes the  ________2________   to

_______4_______.  The line equation that expresses the shape of this graph is

_______5_______ .  The formula that can be derived from this line equation is

_______6_______ .  It is this formula that can be applied to real life application and used for problem solving.

 

1)         independent variable

2)         dependent variable

3)         direct or inverse? (chose one) or occasionally as a function of an angle?

4)         increase or decrease? ( chose one)

5)         y = kx + b                     or         y = kx               if no y intercept      linear

            y = kx² + b                    or         y = kx²             if no y intercept      exponential

            y = (k / x) + b                or         y = k  / x           if no y intercept      inverse

            y = (k / x²) + b               or         y = k / x²           if no y intercept      inverse square

6)         Plug in letters that make y and x correspond to what is plotted on their axes.

            “y” is the dependent variable  ,   “x” is the independent variable

 

QUESTIONS –  (Points vary based on complexity of question – little or no credit may be given if not answered in sentence form restating the question or writing the question and the answer.)

 

QUESTIONS ARE TO BE ANSWERED IN PARAGRAPH FORM.  A complete sentence does not always have a complete thought in it.   You make sure that your sentences make sense to a person that may have no idea what the experiment was all about.  You may paraphrase the question into the answer without losing the meaning.  In other words when I read your answer to a question I should know what the question was without looking it up.  Below is an example:

 

QUESTION:  What is the relationship between velocity and time?

ANSWER:  The relationship between velocity and time is direct because as time increases velocity increases on the velocity versus time graph as shown by a positive increasing slope.

 

EVALUATION -

 

EVALUATION HAS TO DO WITH THE VERIFICATION OF YOUR PREDICTION. You are to give proof by using your graphs or error or agreement calculations.

NOTE ABOUT EVALUATIONS - If you do not consult the purpose and background of the experiment to help form conclusions, then you increase the risk of making mistakes.  Also, there is the possibility that you will not understand the scientific principle being studied.  This makes it difficult for you to apply your conclusions to the solution of new problems.

 

GOING FURTHER -

 

You are to state a new question from this lab that would allow for further investigations leading to further knowledge.

NOTE:  EVERYONE WILL BE REQUIRED TO TURN IN A COMPLETED LAB REPORT EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY HAVE WORKED WITH PARTNERS TO COLLECT THE DATA - Evaluation should reflect your own thoughts on the lab and the results.

 

Sequence of the Lab (verify before turning in so valuable points are not lost)

 

Partners,date, grade and period & Title & Purpose

Independent variable, Dependent variable, Control variable

Prediction

Data & Example calculations if necessary for calculated columns of the data table.

Analysis paragraphs for all straight line graphs and other analysis as needed  (ex. % agreement or error)

Questions & Evaluation & Going further