A6.

YOUR PRACTICAL WRITE-UP

The purpose of a laboratory report is to communicate the aim, process and outcome of an
investigation to an outside audience. It is a record of your direct (“hands-on”) experience in the
laboratory. By putting together the different aspects of your laboratory experience in a
structured and coherent report, the essence of your investigation becomes clearer in your own
mind. In the process, you develop your skills of reasoning and ability to communicate in
writing.
The accepted way of presenting a laboratory report includes the components outlined below.

Aim: -
Often you will be asked to carry out an investigation in order to measure some quantity or
investigate some behaviour. Understand as clearly and as concisely as possible exactly what is
to be measured or what behaviour is to be investigated. The aim for the experiment will be
given in the manual.

Apparatus and Method: -

A neatly sketched and labelled experimental set-up of the apparatus used must be drawn
clearly on the space provided in the manual. A Brief description of method will be given in
your manual; this will help you to recall the problems that were associated with experimental
procedures such as precision of measurements, strengths and weakness of certain techniques,
recording of observations etc. This will help you when you have to summarise your conclusions
and recommendations at the end of your report. The method will be written point wise and in
order that it must be performed.

Results and Calculations: -

The main part of this section is your tables of results and graphs. You must have a consistent
way of recording your observations and calculations. Data are normally summarised and
displayed in tables and graphs. Each table and graph is usually referenced by a number and
should be numbered in sequence e.g. Table 1, Table 2; Figure 1, Figure 2 etc. Each table is
accompanied by a tittle and each graph by a caption which describes the purpose for which it
has been presented. (See also the chapters on tables and graphs in Section A1 and A2).
Perform the necessary calculations, remembering to quote slopes, means or other derived
quantities with the appropriate significant figures and the corresponding uncertainties. This
section does not contain your judgement of the data or results. It is a straight forward
presentation of your readings or measurements. Only one example of each type of calculation
must be shown in the report. Units must be given at each final answer.
The results must be written in ink and signed by the lecturer before you leave the laboratory.

Conclusion: -
This is normally a section in which you say what the investigation has shown. In your
conclusion the following must be given: -
(i) The experimental value found during the experiment; and how it was found.
(ii) The theoretical value given or found during the experiment; and how it was found.
(ii) The percentage error obtained; % Error  T  E  100 , T - Theoretical Value, and E –
T
Experimental Value.
(iv) The reliability of the experimental procedure and results (If %Error < 15%, then is
reliable);
(v) You may also need to discuss sources of any possible errors (i.e. systematic error) and
any improvements that could be made to the apparatus (and measurements). Avoid
meaningless phrases such as “it was caused by human error.”