GUIDELINES FOR WRITING LABORATORY REPORTS IN MEC2401

As part of this unit, there is a laboratory investigation of the problem of balancing materials. You will investigate this problem in three stages: Balancing of rotors experiment Balancing of several masses rotating in the same plane Balancing of several masses rotating in different planes The aim of this investigation is to remove vibration from a dynamic system. To report this investigation, you will need to write one laboratory report with three parts, with each part reporting on one stage of the investigation. For each stage, you must write the Aims of the experiment, the Results and Discussion and the Conclusions as follows.

1. Aims and objectives: State the aims of the experiment. You may have several aims in your experiment list them all if this is the case. Aims and objectives must be written in complete sentences or in point form. Examples Aim: This experiment aims to determine the effect of steam flow rate on pressure. OR Aim: To determine the effect of steam flow rate on pressure. . Distinguish between aims and tasks. A task is what you have to do in the lab. Examples Task = Measure the flow rate of the steam. Aim = To determine the effect of steam flow rate on pressure.

2. Results and Discussion

Present and discuss the major experimental results. In essence, this section seeks to answer the problem that you addressed in your experiment. In the discussion of results, you interpret your results and explain the significance of what you found. Presenting Your Results Figures and tables Present your data in figures and tables. Figures can be sketches, images or graphs. Regardless of type, they are all called Figures in the report. Number figures and tables in the order in which they appear in the text. Give all tables and figures a meaningful captions, not just Graph of Y vs X. Examples of figure and table captions: Figure 1 Circuit used to measure resistance Figure 2 Effect of temperature on the resistance of a banana Table 1 Data for wave speed as a function of wire diameter Equations All equations should be centered and must be numbered as follows: y = mx + c

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MEC 2401

2011

Presenting Your Discussion In the discussion you interpret your results and explain what they mean. To interpret your results you may have to compare your experimental results with each other discuss the verification of your results in the lab. explain errors or deviations in your results comment on the suitability of the method used in the experiment Answer the following questions in your discussion: 1.Do the calculated results achieve reduced vibrations of the machine and agree with the theory? Why or why not? 2.Were there any experimental limitations that might have affected the accuracy of your data? 3.Were your results expected? Use formal and precise expressions in your discussion. If your measurements correspond well with the published values, state that: o The measurements are consistent/ agree well with the standard value. If your measurements do not correspond well with the published values, state that: o The measurements are significantly different from/ do not agree well with the standard value. To explain the source of errors, use the following expressions: o The error may be the result of incorrect calibrations. o The discrepancy may be due to human error.

3.

Conclusions

Present a short conclusion for the experiment. State whether the aim of the experiment has been achieved or not. Summarise what you did and what your key findings were. This is NOT a repetition of your discussion it is your conclusion. Include key numerical data, along with experimental uncertainties, and comparisons with expected values. Where appropriate, summarise the limitations of your work as well as mentioning future work that should be done.

MEC 2401

2011