Lab Report Template
Lab Report Template
ii
OBJECTIVES
Under “Objectives” you write the main outcomes expected from the experiment. In other
words, the objectives reflect on the purpose and usefulness of the experiment. You should
never copy the objectives from the lab handout. Instead, you should paraphrase. As an
example consider the following:
This sample report aims to:
• Provide a guide to be followed by all students required to submit experiment
reports
• Make the student familiar with many features of MS Word
• Encourage students to use these tools when writing professional engineering
reports
In this section, and using your own words, summarize and present the theoretical background and
analysis, which should (at least in theory) support create figures, you should
1
Introduction should introduce enough background of the Lab. It should include the
follwings.
(1) Describe the general motivation of the lab.
(2) Review the knowledge from our class as well. In such way, you can reinforce your
learning. It is highly that you describe the theory in details such that your audience can
understand it.
For the representation of electric components (like resistors, capacitors etc.) or electric
circuits you MUST use either Multi-Sim or Circuit Lab. (see figure 2).
Also, if equations are needed, MS equation Editor MUST be used. In
general, when writing reports always number the pages as in the current sample and
never use font larger than 12 pt. for text. In addition, use justified alignment and single
line spacing.
R1 R2
3.2kΩ 2kΩ
Vs
2
• Dual Trace Oscilloscope (Brand: HAMEG, Model: HM 203-6, Serial
Number: 46/87 Z33418)
• Two 20KΩ resistors
• One 1µF Capacitor
Part 1
Use the above template for subsection title. Make sure subsections are shown in the Table
of Contents (ToC). Usually these subtitles correspond to different parts of the experiment
procedure. As an example consider:
The circuit in figure 2 was constructed in order to verify the voltage divider equation.
Using Ohm’s law (eq. 1), and looking at the circuit in figure 2, the voltage divider
equation can be derived as follows:
Vs
VR2 = I mesh × R2 = × R2 (2)
R1 + R2
To verify (eq. 2), the supply voltage (Vs) was varied from 0 to 10 volts and the voltage
across R2 ( VR2 ) was measured. The measured VR2 was then compared against theoretical
VR2 as in table 1.
3
Part 2
In this part the power consumption at R2 is calculated from the mesh current of the
circuit of figure 2. With respect to that circuit, and since R1 and R2 are in series, the mesh
current is given by:
Vs
I mesh = (3)
R1 + R2
and the power consumption at R2 by:
PR2 = I mesh
2
× R2 (4)
By varying the voltage of VS in figure 2, the voltage drop across R2 ( VR2 ) was measured
and the mesh current ( I mesh ) and the power consumption at R2 ( PR2 ) were calculated.
The results are conveniently presented in Table 2
Table 1. Verifying the voltage divider equation. Table captions MUST be on top of the table
Be sure to be consistent with symbols and units throughout the experiment report. The
following subsections explain more about data discussion and graphs.
4
Discuss the obtained results. For example you can compare experimental and theoretical
(expected) results and provide first comments on any discrepancies (discuss possible
sources of error, including the human factor, instrument error, limitations of
theoretical/experimental models).
Error Analysis
In this subsection of an error analysis should be provided that compares the theoretical
(calculated) to the obtained (measured) results. The formula needed follows:
calculated − measured
% error = × 100% (5)
caluclated
5
So, as an example consider the results in table 1. Using equation 5, one can calculate that
the % error between calculated and measured VR2 when Vs is 10 volts is:
3.85 − 3.76
% error of VR2 (Vs = 10) = × 100% = 2.33%
3.85
4.50
4.00
3.50
3.00
VR2 (volts)
2.50 Calculated
2.00 Measured
1.50
1.00
0.50
0.00
0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 10.00 12.00
Vs (volts)
Figure 3. Graph of contents of table 1. (captioning is always positioned below the figure)
Table 2 results
12
10
VR2, Imesh, PR2
8
VR2
6 Imesh
PR2
4
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
Vs
6
CONCLUSIONS
Conclusions indicate the significance of the findings, their usefulness and possible
advantages or limitations. Potential applications of the results may also be
presented. If results do not agree with theory, you should provide a deeper analysis
of what you believe went wrong.