University of South Carolina
Department of Mechanical Engineering
EMCH 361 Measurements and Instrumentation
Fall 2001
LAB TITLE HERE
Your name here
Date when lab was performed
Lab Group
Group member #1
Group member #2
Group member #3
Abstract
This should be a one-paragraph summary of your entire report. This means that everything from your objectives to results should be briefly addressed. A good abstract also suggests what the results mean. When laying out this title page, obtain a cover sheet with a window through which the lab title and names above can be viewed. The abstract will then be seen only when opening the cover.
1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
If sections need to be added to (or deleted from) the table of contents, apply the Heading 1 style to the section title within your text. Then update the TOC by selecting it with the mouse and using the right button. Select “update field.”
1. Introduction 3
2. Theory 3
3. Apparatus 4
3.1 Tables 4
3.2 Figures 5
4. Procedure 6
5. Results 7
6. discussion 7
7. Conclusion 7
8. Acknowledgements 8
9. References 8
10. Appendix 8
To insert table of contents, go to Insert/Index and Tables …/ Table of Contents. Choose Formal style.
LIst of Figures
Figure 1 – Schematic of the equipment used in the lab 5
Figure 2 – Detail of the equipment 5
Figure A1 – Detail of … 9
Figure A2 – View of … 9
To insert List of Figures, go to Insert/Index and Tables …/ Table of Figures. Choose Formal style. Choose Figures caption label.
List of Tables
Table 1 – List of Apparatus 4
Table 2 – Readings 4
Table A1 – List of … 9
Table A2 – List of … 9
To insert List of Tables, go to Insert/Index and Tables …/ Table of Figures. Choose Formal style. Choose Tables caption label.
1. Introduction
This section is an introduction to the lab objectives and its practical uses. It should normally be 2 to 3 paragraphs. The primary functions are to capture the interest of the reader and describe the objectives of this laboratory exercise. The section needs to introduce the lab function and background. Any new concepts and terminology need to be given as well. Last should be the objectives of the lab. Include what should be accomplished or learned through performing this experiment.
2. Theory
Explain all new concepts covered in this experiment. Most labs will cover at least two concepts: a physical measurement system, such as a thermocouple, and an analysis tool, such as the linear regression. All non-trivial equations must be given here with explanations for all variables. Values for constants, such as material properties, are also given in this section. To create an equation, click on Insert/Object and then open up “Microsoft Equation 3.0” Equations should be center justified, with the equation number in parentheses right justified. Use the ‘Equation’ style to achieve this result.
(1)
(2)
3. Apparatus
Provide a narrative describing all the equipment used in this lab.
3.1 Tables
Most of the equipment can be listed in a table, as seen in Table 1. Do NOT leave spaces blank, use "NA" for Not Available or "--" for items that do not apply. Use the style ‘Table’ (Arial, 11 pts) for the text in the table. Place the caption of the table (here, ‘Table 1 – List of Apparatus’) above the table. To create a table caption, first highlight the table, and then go to the menu bar and select Insert/Caption. Choose the kind of caption you need, i.e., ‘Table caption’. The caption inserted in this way will update automatically whenever a new table is inserted, or a certain table is moved in front or after another table. If the caption number update does not happen automatically, force it by selecting it and pressing F9 key (or right click, and select Update field)
Table 1 – List of Apparatus
Item / Manufacturer / Model / Serial No. / Range / ResolutionBeverage can / Coca Cola / 12 oz. / -- / -- / --
Dial caliper / Mitutoyo / 505-646-50 / U06149 / 150 mm / 0.02 mm
Table 2 – Readings
3.2 Figures
In some labs, a sketch, drawing,- or photo of special equipment may be needed. Always include an explanation of the figure in the form of a figure caption. Place the figure caption (here, ‘Figure 1 -- The Apparatus I want’) below the figure. To create a figure caption, place the cursor below the figure, and then go to the menu bar and select Insert/Caption. Choose the kind of caption you need, i.e., ‘Figure caption’. The automatic update feature mentioned for Table captions also works for Figure captions.
Figure 1 – Schematic of the equipment used in the lab
Figure 2 – Detail of the equipment
Note on using the Word picture editor
If you have not used other software for producing the drawing, sketches, or circuit diagrams, use WORD PICTURE EDITOR. To start a Word picture, go the pull down menu Insert/Object, and select Microsoft Word Picture. You will be opened into a Word Picture Editor screen. Activate the Drawing toolbar from the View pull down menu (if not already activated), and use the available drawing tools. YOU WILL HAVE FUN. When ready, press the Reset Picture Boundary button on the Edit Picture tool bar, and then press Close.). By done last action: make the picture layout ‘In line with the text’ (By default, the picture is floating over text). To do so, right click on the picture, choose Format Object, select the Layout tab, and choose ‘In line with the text’.
Note on using pictures created in Excel, MathCad, and other software packages
When copy and paste from Excel, MathCad, or other software, DO NOT PASTE DIRECTLY. Rather, use the PASTE SPECIAL under the Edit menu, and select ‘Paste as picture’. The difference is that if you paste directly, you are going to embed into you Word file the original Excel, MathCad, etc. file, such that when you double click on the picture, you will be opened into the original application. You do not need this feature, and you DO NOT WANT to do it, since your Word file will quickly grow to very large size. Hence, paste special as a picture. This will keep your file size manageable.
4. Procedure
Describe the procedure that was used in performing this lab. This section should give a narrative of what was done, with sufficient details to allow another investigator to fully understand what was done, and to reproduce it independently. If steps were done differently than originally planned, intentionally or by error, describe the changes. The description of the procedure should include enough detail to allow the experiment to be reproduced independently, without your intervention or verbal clarification.
5. Results
What are the results of the experiment? Most results will fit into tables. Describe all tables and figures in the text, repeating important information as needed. Raw data can often be put in an appendix, but its description and interpretation should be given here. If there are large tables, or a large number of tables and figures, put them into an appendix and provide a summary in this section to show the overall results and identify the trends. All data, except the original raw values, must be converted to consistent units. All data must include the uncertainty values with explanation of how they were determined.
6. discussion
Analyze trends in the data. Explain what was found and how it can be used in the future.
Quantify and describe the sources, or suspected sources or error and uncertainty.
Evaluate the convergence between the theory and experiment. Does the experiment confirm the theory ? If not, what could be the cause of differences?
If the lab could be repeated, how should the procedure be changed to improve the results?
7. Conclusion
This section is normally brief, consisting of 1 or 2 paragraphs. Refer to the objectives of the lab, and articulate whether of not they were met, and how. If some objectives were not met, give a brief explanation of why. Explain what was found or learned by performing this lab.
Any ideas for improving the lab can also be included in this section.
8. Acknowledgements
This section gives you a chance to acknowledge the people who helped you complete your lab.
9. References
References are those bibliographical sources that are directly referenced in the text. Make sure all references are complete, including page numbers. When you cite one of these sources in your text, place the last name of the author and the date of publication, separated by a comma, in parentheses after the quotation. Example: (Smith, 1989) or, if you mention the author in your text, then: Smith (1989). With more than two authors, just use the alphabetically first name and then “et al”: (Beckwith, et al, 1993). Write the list of references in the format shown below using the ‘Ref’ style.
BECKWITH, MARRANGONI, and LIENHARD. (1993) Mechanical Measurements. 5th edition. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley, 1993, pp 45-63, 79-91, 98-108
BEER, David; MCMURREY, David. (1997) A Guide to Writing as an Engineer. New York : John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1997, pp 1-246
10. Appendix
This section is optional. If there are large amounts of raw data, or a large number of graphs, summarize them in the Results section and put the bulk of them here. (In most cases, only raw data will find its way here). All contents of the appendices must be referenced from within the text. Remember that the contents of an appendix is not normally examine in details, unless there is a question with something in the Results section and the reader wants to viewed the raw data given in the Appendix.
However, the format of the data presented in the Appendix must follow the format imposed on the rest of the report. This includes margins, table and figure numbers, captions, and organization. Tables and figures presented in the Appendix must be also included in the list of figures and tables. However, start their numbering afresh, using the prefix A, e.g., Figure A1, Figure A2, …; Table A1, Table A2, …If you want to take advantage of automatic numbering, you can use the codes below to restart the automatic numbering (The code A1 has been modified to restart from 1.)
Figure A1 – Detail of …
Figure A2 – View of …
Table A1 – List of …
Table A2 – List of …
GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR REPORT!
Remember, when in doubt, better ask!
The TA’s are there to assist you to get the best results possible.
EMCH 361 Lab Report Template 1 8/16/2001