Suggested Format for Laboratory Reports

Suggested Format for Laboratory Reports for Physics 125/225

Laboratory reports should reflect clear writing style and obey proper rules of grammar and correct spelling. Write in a manner that can be understood by another person who has not done the assignment, but who has a background similar to yours.

Introduction. Briefly summarize the nature of the physical system, the basic numerical method or algorithm, and the interesting or relevant questions.
Method. Describe the algorithm and how it is implemented in the program. In some cases this explanation can be given in the program itself. Give a typical listing of your program. Simple modifications of the program can be included in the appendix if necessary. The program should include your name, date, and title of your file, and be annotated in a way that is as self-explanatory as possible. Discuss any important features of your program.
Verification of program. Confirm that your program is not incorrect by considering special cases and by giving at least one comparison to a hand calculation or known result.
Data. Show the results of some typical runs in graphical or tabular form. Additional runs can be included in an appendix. All runs should be labeled, and all tables and figures must be referred to in the body of the text. Each figure and table should have a caption with complete information, for example, the value of the time step.
Analysis. In general, the analysis of your results will include a determination of qualitative and quantitative relationships between variables, and an estimation of numerical accuracy.
Interpretation. Summarize your results and explain them in simple physical terms whenever possible. Specific questions that were raised in the assignment should be addressed here. Also give suggestions for future work or possible extensions. It is not necessary to answer every part of each question in the text.
Critique. Summarize the important physical concepts for which you gained a better understanding and discuss the numerical or computer techniques you learned. Make specific comments on the assignment and your suggestions for improvements or alternatives. Summarize what you learned (if anything) and how. Also comment on what was easy and what was difficult to understand.
Log. Keep a daily log of the time spent on each assignment and include it with your report.

Other comments

Use superscripts and subscripts and Greek symbols. Do not write dt.
Example of caption.
Do not use indefinite or ambiguous references.
It is easier to write in the present tense when you are describing the properties of a system.

Updated 19 January 1998.