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Tips and guidelines for writing successful laboratory reports for meng 351 experiments. It covers sections such as title page, abstract, introduction, theory, results and discussion, and references. It emphasizes the importance of clear and concise writing, use of figures and tables, and proper citation.
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Title Page and Guidelines for MENG 351 Experiments Prepared for Meng 351 Dr. Nadir Yilmaz Name of Member 1 Name of Member 2 Name of Member 3 January 30, 2008 ABSTRACT This document shows the standards required for laboratory experiments reports. Topics include writing style, format, use of figures and tables, and reference citations. Common errors are noted, and suggestions are offered for avoiding them.
To write successfully takes much thought, hard work, and multiple drafts. Depending on the nature of the information being conveyed in the report, both the format and content can vary greatly. Sections may appear as needed, while others may disappear. It is important to keep in mind that a report is to convey information to a reader who has no idea what you plan to discuss. In other words, you must assume that the reader has no specific knowledge of the subject, except for what you tell them. Therefore, the report must lay the groundwork so that the interested reader can understand the message you are trying to convey. A logical approach and strong organization of the material are very important. Appropriately placed section titles for dividing the information in the report can help you with this. Sections- type of information each should contain TITLE PAGE The top of the page will show your title for the report. It should be descriptive of the major items that were studied and reported. The context for the report should be given next. Name of the person or company to which the report is submitted should be identified. You may choose to combine these two items. Authors: the team captain’s name should appear first, with the names of the other authors listed below. Each author should initial his/her name to signify they have looked at the report, provided input, and are willing to accept the rewards of deficiency of the effort. Date. Normally, this is the due date of the report. Abstract
the effects of I^2 R heating combined with the effects of cooling by three means of heat transfer: radiation, conduction, and convection. In understanding how wires cool, an engineer can be better understand what conditions are required to prevent wires from being overloaded and failing. For instance, this experiment shows that free convection is not a very effective way to cool a wire. Four different theoretical cases were compared: 1. the adiabatic case in whish there is no heat transfer; 2. the case of I^2 R heating minus radiation, 3. the case of I^2 R heating minus radiation and convection; and, 4. I^2 R heat minus conduction. These theoretical cases were compared to our actual results to see how will they matched up. They are also compared to known data from Omega Engineering, Inc. Some of the results were not consistent with expectations, and some were not even logical. The work from this experiment was not done with the intention of being compared to previous work done in this area so much as it was to compare the theoretical case with actual results. Inconsistencies may be explained by the fact that the testing apparatus and conditions are not and cannot be identical to the conditions assumed in the theory behind our results. THEORY The purpose of the theory section is to provide the reader with general knowledge about theories related to the project you are conducting/about to conduct. It should contain the following items: A discussion of theoretical principles that have been followed and used for predictions, or for comparisons to measurements If the discussion is lengthy and can be in a reference, then it may be sufficient to summarize briefly, with a specific reference to a citation from where the details of the can be found- see Reference in Citation section A discussion of any assumptions made that allow the reader to arrive at any of the equations within the context of this application: i.e., are these assumptions justified for this cause, and why. Make sure that you do not introduce theory that is not used specifically for this study. If equations are shown, use some sort of consistent numbering system so that they can be referred to later without being repeated. Note: In some reports that convey only theoretical principle(s), the theory will be the main body of the report. In that case, a different title for this section may be chosen. Depending on the nature of the theory, the section following the theory may be devoted to calculations using equations that were developed. If this theory was used to make prediction(s), the appropriate final equation(s) should be given, along with a comment that these theoretical predictions will be compared to experimental measurements in the “Results and Discussion Section.” If some method for data treatment is to be used, such as an uncertainty or a statistical analysis, the principles that were used can be given here, or at least discussed. If this latter comment applies, you will not be able to present results from the data analysis until after you have presented you data.
The purpose of the apparatus and procedures section(s) is to show the reader how the experiment was carried out. For this section, the structure may differ considerably depending on the type of experiment you are conducting and the type of repot you are compiling. For example, sometimes the title of this section may be Procedures only; sometimes, it may be Apparatus only. The choice depends on how extensive the section is. If each section is extensive, then separate sections should be used. Apparatus: If a brief description if the apparatus is given in the body of the report, list with the manufacturer and model #. Example Harrison Laboratories 6264A DC power supply Fluke 45 dual display multimeter Fluke 60 MHz combiscobe PM3370B Omega Engineering N180/CR20SI Deltrol Control Relay 900DODT20241- Or This may be shown in an appropriately named section in appendix, especially if a long list is involved. Example In this case, be sure to identify in which appendix it will appear. Appendix A- List of Apparatus In some cases, where a unique apparatus was developed and used, you must provide a detailed discussion of the apparatus and its design. If a brochure from the manufacturer will help the reader understand the operation, a copy of that brochure should be included as a properly labeled appendix. (Appendix B- Smith’s Electrical Conductors Brochure) In other words, it is unlikely that the reader will need to know the full list of apparatus, but if he/she needs specific information, make sure it is available. Procedures: The procedure should contain the more important items/steps in the procedure that was used. It is not appropriate to discuss things like data treatment procedure here, unless some criteria were used for a repeat of a measurement. In general, both the apparatus and procedures should be given with enough detail for an outside party to duplicate the experiment at some later time and at some alternative location. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The purpose of the results and discussion section is to provide the reader with the results of your measurements. These results can be in either tabular or graphical form. Again, as with the apparatus and procedures section, this will differ depending on the type of information you are portraying.
Specific references should be given. You need to give page numbers where this specific information can be located, and if it can be located in a cook or periodical. The citation symbol in the body of the work will be something like [3]. Then, in the reference list a 3 will be the number of the corresponding citation. If you have quoted something from a reference, quotation marks should be used followed by a citation designator. The following examples use ASME reference style; Books: Author(s), initial(s)., Year, Title (in italics if printed, or underlined if hand written), Edition (except the first), Publisher, Place of Publication. Vesilind, A.P., 1994, Environmental Engineering, Butterworth, Boston. Chapter/Section/Volume of Books (You will probably use this in referring to Class Notes and textbook): Author(s), Initial(s)., Year, “Title of Chapter/Section/Volume,” Book Title (in italics if printed, or underlined if hand written), Edition (except the first), editor(s), Publisher, Place of Publication, Chapter/Section/Volume Number, pages referenced. El Walkil, N. and Sacadura, J.F., 1992, “Some Improvement of the Discrete Ordinates Method for the Solution of the Radiative Transport Equation in Multidimensional Anisotropically Scattering Media,” Developments in Radiative Heat Transfer, S.T. Thynell ed al., eds., ASME HTD, Vol. 203 pp. 119-127. Note: when an author has contributed to a book which has been edited by a different author, details by both contributor and editor are included. Papers from Conferences: Author(s), Initial(s)., Year, “Article Title,” in Conference Title (in italics if printed, or underlined if hand written), Volume Number (in bold ), Publisher, Place of Publication, pages referenced. Jameson, A., 1995, “Re-engineering the design process: The role of computational methods,” in proceedings of the ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, ASME, New York, pp. 43-67. Journal Articles: Author(s), Initial(s)., Year, “Article Title,” Journal Title (in italics if printed, or underlined if hand written), Volume Number (in bold ), Issue or part (if available), pages referenced. Reichhardt, T., 1996, “Environmental On-Line: A Guide to Internet Resources,” Environmental Science & Technology, 30 , 76A.
The purpose of the appendix section is to give additional information which will help the reader understand the project being presented. It should contain additional information that is not critical to your discussion, but it supports your presentation and enhances the methods you chose to follow. Types of information that may be included in the appendix are: Photocopies/copies of data taken (from lab composition book), and predictions that were submitted in pre-lab work Sample calculations Equipment list In some cases, a brief resume in which the author presents his/her qualifications for making this study. Each section of the appendix should have a unique designation, such as “Appendix A,” followed by a title f the information presented. (If the information to follow is a photocopy, such as your pre-lab predictions, it may be appropriate to use a title page, which gives the appendix designator and title only. The appropriate material would be included next.) FORMATTING Consistency and clarity are the key standards for formatting. Format provides guide posts for the writer and reader, supports the work’s organized structure, and encourages readability and flow. Type: Body Text: Choose easily read font and size. (The default in Microsoft Word, for example, is times 12.) Section Headings: Font can be the same as text or different; but distinctly different size or style (bold, all caps). Subheads and Titles: Again, either the same font as body text or different, but different in size from both body text and section headings. APPARATUS & PROCEDURES The purpose of the apparatus and procedures sect(s) is to show the reader how the experiment was carried out. Apparatus: A brief description xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Equations: Number equations for referral in text. Use consistent numbering system A= 1 / 2 BC (1) The inverse
