How To Write a Lab Report: Step By Step Guide

It’s not always easy to explain How to write a lab report. Writing a lab report needs you to give a detailed explanation of an experiment you did. It must also show what the findings represented and what to learned generally from it. When determining the score of a report, the instructor must look for indicators of evidence that you understood the it and by telling in detail why certain processes took place. Also, the report must adhere to the experimental aims and discipline conventions. Most reports follow this format;

The title
Abstract
Introduction
Methodology
Experimental processes
Findings
Discussion
Conclusion
References

Steps: How To Write A Lab Report Well

Title page

The first words of a lab report must have the full title of the experiment. Avoid abbreviations to avoid misinterpreted. For instance, if you are experimenting the elasticity of a spiral spring, your title must look like the one shown; Experiment 1: Testing the elasticity of a spiral spring and the changes its makes after stretching. For the title name, avoid using “The” as the first word because it weakens the title. Avoid words such as chromatography. Also, the title name can be as long but not exceed 12 words in total.

Abstract

This is an important part of a lab report since it summarizes the four needed aspects of the report. The abstract must address the purpose of the experiment, the processes involved, key findings, and the major conclusions. The abstract also includes a restatement of the theory and the methodology. This section should be at least 150-200 words. The information should be short and only touch on important details of the procedure.

Example

This experiment is to examine the stretching of a spiral spring. Molecules in a solid account for its stretching properties. When a solid is stretched, Hooke’s law states that the force applied in stretching spring is directly proportional to the length of stretching. Using mass and a spring, the mass is loaded on one hook of spring, and as the mass increases, the spring begins to stretch. A repetition of this shows that as more weight is applied at the end of the spring, the distance in stretching increases significantly. This was tested three times, and the results were the same. Provided that the weights were not too heavy, the spring stretched into a straight line. After unloading the weight, the spring compressed to its original form, and the distance of stretching also decreased.

Introduction

The introduction must state the purpose of the experiment. For instance, “what is the elasticity limit of a spring and what happens when the spring reaches its stretching limit.” State the it to make the reader able to understand the its overall purpose. The paragraph can also include the basic formula, such as the equation, the theory, and the measurements. Indicating the gaps in the previous research can also be an important note to take. This explains why there was a need to conduct the experiment.

Example

Have you ever wondered what happens when spring stretches to its elastic limit? This experiment looks at what is involved in elasticity, strength, and stiffness of spring and the overall reaction when force is applied. A simple formula of (F= Ke) determines the elastic limit . Hooke’s law on stretching materials explains that the extension of a spring is equal to the stretching force. When force is increasing, the stretching also increases significantly. When the force increases beyond the spring’s capacity to hold, the spring experiences permanent stretching. Thus, the experiment reveals that stretching a spring to its limit changes its form completely.

Methodology

The methodology explains all the materials and equipment used in the procedure. State the manual extension of the spring. For instance, “equipment and materials were set up as CHE 154 manual. State tall the procedures and processes to help the reader understand what is involved.

Example

Equipment used.

Arrange spiral spring with a pointer attached as shown in the table.

Processes

The hook of the spring suspended the mass. Then, record the position of the pointer after loading the mass. Systematically, increase the weight by 20g and record the new readings. Increased the mass systematically while recording the new position of the pointer. Then, continually increased the mass by 20g each time until the spring is completely stretched. With this, record the distance of the stretch and then analyze the changes made on the spring. After recording the change in the spring put the mass away, and record the readings again.

Results

Provide all the results in units. All the uncertainties, errors, standard measurements must be addressed. Show the findings in this section to help in its analysis.

Example

Initially, putting a 20g mass stretched the spring by 2cm. As we continued adding the weight, the spring stretched by 2cm. With this, the spring stretched more to until it lost its original form. The spring originally was coiled, but after hanging too heavy weights it became a straight metal rod. This showed that the stretching force to extension is constant, and the force equals extension. This is also abbreviated as (K) in the equation F=Ke.

Discussion

The discussion should suggest improvements or disparities between the theory and your findings. This is good because it showcases your understanding of the process.

Example

The force applied extended the spring. The extension is directly proportional to the stretching force. Therefore, force determines the level of stretching. Doubling the force applied also doubled the stretching.

Conclusion

Your conclusion must present the findings of your experiment. Evaluate the findings and present unbiased explanations making the observations straight, candid, and factual. Connect the findings to the theory or the equation and explain how the findings came to be.

Example

This experiment revealed that a spring also has an elastic limit. Elastic limit is a point in which the spring does not stretch further. Increasing the force beyond a certain value that the spring could hold, approximately 80g, stretched it significantly to a straight rod, and this change became irreversible. Permanent extension occurred because of the increase in the weight applied. Therefore, springs permanently change when stretched beyond their elastic limit.

References

This is a bibliography of all the sources you have used in the paper. Citations can arise from commentaries or ideas that you have extracted from other journals.

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In summary,

How to write a lab report depends on the type of experiment you are doing. Most of the time, lab reports involve scientific experiments that test your proficiency in reporting in detail the processes, analysis, and findings of the results. Use the following strategies to create an excellent lab report.