Statics lab write-up

Statics Group Lab Write-Up:

I would like to give everyone some practice creating a lab write-up so that when it's time to put together your big project report you will be comfortable making a technical report.

You can turn this in as a group, but please find a time and place to sit down and work together on this (rather than just emailing one another) so that everyone understands how to do everything.

Your reports and lab write-ups should all have 4 main numbered sections:

1. Introduction (10 points)
 5 points for lab objective & experiment description, 5 points for literature review


The objective of this lab is to determine ....

The experiment we performed was....

 We compared our results to ... (literature review)

2. Methods and equipment (15 points)

List of materials used in experiment: (5 points)
1.
2.
3.

Procedure: (5 points)
1.
2.
3.

Figure 1: Diagram of apparatus used to measure the static coefficient of friction between various materials. (5 points)



3. Results (40 points) 

• Calculations (15 points)

Use the word equations editor to add equations to your report. Show equations for how to calculate the coefficient of friction from inclination angle.  There are you tubes on how to use equation editor for all the different versions of word, just find and watch the instructions for the version you have.

 The equation should be numbered, and separated from text on either side with a blank line.  Show equations for calculating physical properties, as well as error analysis.

• Graphs and Tables (15 points)

Graphs use numbered figure captions, tables use numbered table headings.  Be sure to include units, and an appropriate number of significant figures in your results.

To set sig figs in excel:
1. Highlight cells
2. Right click on cells
3. Select "format cells"
4. Select "Number"
5. Set number of decimal places
or

 For average, standard deviation - Use excel functions to check yourself, but understand what equations excel is using.  (ie, you should be able to write the equation for finding the standard deviation on a quiz or test, and use it.)


For most versions of excel - the arrow next to the "sum" key leads you to other functions like standard deviation etc.

Some example excel functions:
standard deviation = STDEV(C12:C14)
square root = SQRT(E15)
=AVERAGE(C12:C14)

Use excel "help" or online youtube tutorials to find what you need.  (You will always be dealing with different versions of software, so just get used to using online resources to find what you need to).

Figure 3.1 Bar graph of average inclines (in degrees) for various materials on a plastic mat.

• Discussion of results (10 points)

We think that our group's average differed from the class data because ....
The bald tire had a larger (smaller) coefficient of static friction because ....
Our results are only approximate because we assumed that ....

4. Conclusion (15 points)

Summarize findings, compare results to literature (site your references), provide recommendations for future experiments, and comment about results.


20 points - Format & Writing style 
(References, no wordiness, specific descriptions, labeled headings, equations, figure captions, etc.)

Good resource for Friction info:
http://www.stle.org/resources/lubelearn/friction/#static