These labs are designated WI for purposes of the University writing-intensive course requirement. This means that your written work will be evaluated both for physics content and for technical writing correctness and style. Your course grade will be based almost entirely on your written work.
You should obtain a bound laboratory notebook or computation book. Each member of a team should record their answers to the self test questions, all experimental procedures, setups and data in his or her lab book. As data is recorded it must always be entered on an informal plot in the lab book or the computer. One team member may initially record and plot the data and the other(s)subsequently exchange it electronically or by e-mail. Be sure to record enough information so that you can remember exactly what you did and what settings were used on the equipment. You need not write complete sentences, but be clear and neat.
The final result of your experiment will be a short (2000-3000word long) report of the type that appears in the journal Physical Review Letters. Double column format is not required. The report should include the following parts:
- Abstract (A very short summary including the result)
- Background (history and motivation for experiment)
- Apparatus (general, including resolution, etc.)
- Procedure (do not list data, describe fits and analysis)
- Calculation of results and errors
- Discussion (compare with theory/other experiments)
Except for the Abstract, the different sections do not need section labels. Be sure to write complete sentences, pay attention to the agreement of subject and verb, etc. Organize your report into paragraphs with a lead sentence. You may want to make a preliminary outline before starting to write. Read what you have written out loud, either to yourself or to someone else. Does it make sense? Consider carefully my suggestions for writing a good lab report and make sure your grammar is correct.
You can find additional help with writing at the website of the Manoa Writing Program http://mwp01.mwp.hawaii.edu/.Follow the “Student Resource & Information” link, followed by the”Help for Writers” link. Notice that you can make an appointment to get help with your writing by calling the Writing Workshop(956-7619).
After I receive the first drafts of your reports, I will read them and make comments on physics and on writing. I will indicate corrections and return your paper. You should submit a second draft to try for an improved grade. If the final draft is late, you will lose one grade step on your final grade for the experiment (A to A-to B+ to …) for each day after the due date. Revisions must be submitted within two weeks of the original due date to be considered. You will submit the final draft of the last lab report on the date indicated–you will not have more chances to revise it.
You must use a word processor to compose your reports. I recommend either LATEX or MICROSOFT Word. I recommend that you embed your figures in your file. It is quite likely that I will ask you to make changes in the figures.