HOW TO WRITE A FORMAL LAB

REPORT

A FORMAL LAB REPORT INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS

Title Background Information Background Questions Objective/Purpose/Hypothesis Procedure Data and Results Equations/Calculations Conclusion Sources of Error

TITLE The title includes:

The title of the lab in the table of contents as well as on the first page of your lab write up

Your Lab Partners Date Page Number

Table of Contents

Pg:1 Measurements

Measurement Joe Smith1/2/10Pg. 1

Table of contents

This is the first page of yourLab notebook – in the frontRIGHT Hand side !!

This is the first page of the Lab you are doingAGAIN, right hand side !!

BACKGROUND INFORMATION This includes a short summary of important

information about the lab All equations you will use in the lab

Measurement Joe Smith1/2/10Pg. 1

Background InformationStandard measurement occurs using meters, liters and grams. You can convert between these units using t-chart conversions.

Equations:Density=mass/volumePercent Error=actual-theoretical/theoretical X100

Table of contents

BACKGROUND QUESTIONS These will be asked on your lab worksheet handout Answer these questions using your notes and your book Either re-write the question or re-state the question in

the answer

Background Questions:1.What is the standard measurement for mass? Grams2.What is the standard measurement for volume? Liters

Pg. 2Don’t forget to number your pages

Notice nothing has been written on the left side of the page!!!! Keep the left side of the page for calculations!

Notice nothing has been written on the left side of the page!!!! Keep the left side of the page for calculations!

Table of contents

OBJECTIVE/PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS Objective and Purpose will be listed in your lab

worksheet, simply copy them into your notebook Create a hypothesis based on the

purpose/objective of the lab

Pg. 2Background Questions:1.What is the standard measurement for mass? Grams2.What is the standard measurement for volume? Liters

Objective: Become familiar with measurement tools in labPurpose: To understand how to use different tools and convert between unitsHypothesis: The 10 milliliter graduated cylinder will be the most accurate

Table of contents

PROCEDURE List the procedure from the lab worksheet in

your lab notebook Include materials and any safety warnings

Pg. 3Materials:Graduated Cylinders (10ml, 25ml, 100ml)BalanceWeigh boats

Safety: Be careful with the glass instruments

Procedure:Fill the 100ml graduated cylinder with 10ml of waterThen put that water into the 25 ml graduated cylinder and record the actual volume by reading the meniscusEtc…….. Table of contents

DATA TABLE The data table includes any measurements

you take in lab

Data Table

Pg. 4

Volume

100ml 25ml 10ml

10ml 8ml 6ml

These are only things measured in lab, for example here was the first two steps of measuring how much water was in the 100 ml graduated cylinder

Table of contents

RESULTS TABLE The results table includes anything that you

have calculated!

Pg. 5

Results Table

Marble Metal 1 Metal 2 Dice

Density

Density is something that is found via a calculation so it must be in the results table!

Table of contents

EQUATIONS AND CALCULATIONS These are to be done on the LEFT side of the page

Pg. 5

Results Table

Marble

Metal 1

Metal 2

Dice

Density

.5g/ml

2g/L

Equations/calculations

Density of MarbleDensity=mass/volumeDensity=5g/10mlDensity of Marble = .5 g/ml

Density of Metal 1Density=mass/volumeDensity= 10g/5LDensity of Metal 1= 2g/L

ALWAYS INCLUDE UNITS!!!

Table of contents

CONCLUSION This should include the following

What you learned EXAMPLES from lab supporting that you did

indeed learnPg. 6

ConclusionI learned from this lab the difference between accuracy and precision. For example I understand now that a 10 ml graduated cylinder is more accurate than a 100 ml graduated cylinder. ETC………………….

Table of contents

EXAMPLE OF A POOR CONCLUSION I learned a lot. This lab taught me how to

measure things using different lab materials.

Characteristics of a Poor Conclusion “I learned a lot” is stated No examples from lab You state that the lab has taught you something

yet you do not back it up with evidence It is two sentences and seemingly has no effort

put into it

Table of contents

CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD CONCLUSION

Includes the following Very detailed about what was learned and

accomplished in lab Gives more than two examples of evidence of

something learned Use complete sentences Discusses if the objective was met Discusses the outcome of the hypothesis, if it

was proven or not and supporting evidence to prove this statement

Discusses percent error and the values that they found

Table of contents

SOURCES OF ERROR Include at least three reasons why you have a percent

error Do not include calculator error!

Discuss the possible effects this error could have had on the results

Pg. 7

Sources of Error: 1.When we transferred water from the graduated cylinders some could have spilled out or been left behind in the container. This could have caused a lower level being read out of the next graduated cylinder causing error.

Also do not forget to show percent error in the calculations section!

Table of contents

RESOURCES

Help with writing conclusions http://staff.gps.edu/McConnell/Toolbox/

labreport.htm#Conclusions http://www.ehow.com/how_2062895_write-

conclusion-discussion-section-lab.html

Simple How To for Lab Reports http://www.docstoc.com/docs/2539211/How-to-

Write-a-Simple-Lab-Report