1. Lab Writeups  Forms are available in class  Or use word processor to give same info  Organize write-up so it flows  Front page, one or two points each:  Identify apparatus  Everything you use for experiment  Not what you use for writing or calculating  Include computer if it is used to take data or for timing

2. Lab Writeups  Page two: data and calculations  Data:  Write down everything you measure  Always give units  Always give error estimate  Make table, where appropriate: Time (s)Voltage (V) +0.05 s+1.0 V 0.00120 0.60131

3. Lab Writeups  Page two: data and calculations  Calculations:  Write equation, such as x = vt  Rewrite with numbers, such as x = (7m/s)(2s)  Write results of calculation, such as x = 14 m  If the same calculation is done repeatedly, you only need to show details once. On repeats, just show results, such as x 2 = 17 m.  Don’t forget units

4. Lab Writeups  error:  Find the error in any calculated results  If it asks you to “compare” then  Compute percent error if you are comparing to standard  Compute percent difference if you are comparing two results of your measurements  Otherwise propagate error according to Squires

5. Lab Writeups  object:  What are you trying to determine?  Summary of results  What did you determine?  Do not list everything you measured, just the final results you got from those measurements.  Maybe be a value (e.g., g=9.8m/s 2 ) or a relationship (e.g., V is proportional to I)  The two should match:  If object is to find the acceleration of gravity, results should be, “ We found the acceleration of gravity to be (your value)”

6. Lab Writeups  Page four: discussion and questions  discussion:  What are some sources of error?  Was your error larger then expected?  What might improve the experiment?  Questions  Answer all questions in lab handout, whether they are labeled as questions or not.  Use complete sentences on object, results, discussion, and questions

7. Lab Writeups  Graphs:  Create a graph if manual calls for it.  Graph should always have title, axes with label an units, values on the axes.  Title should be more than just a repeat of axis labels  Always show data points (use “scatter” graph in Origin).  Show best fit or smooth curve in addition, if appropriate  You may use Origin or another graphing program.