FACULTY OF ELECTRONICS & COMPUTER ENGINEERING

Laboratory Report

Writing Guideline FKEKK

Compiled by

Sani Irwan bin Md Salim

July 2008

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LABORATORY REPORT OBJECTIVES

• To publish laboratory report according to its format with relevant information of the

experiment.

• To publish laboratory report in clear and concise for easy readability.

• To present ideas together with illustration such as figures, graphs, tables etc.

• To analyze data collected, reasoning in data interpretation and comprehensively

summarize all the findings.

• To apply concepts, techniques and formula in problem solving and to distinguish

whether the results are in line with the theory or not.

• To produce recommendation or conclusion that leads to work enhancement.

LABORATORY REPORT WRITING FORMAT

ELEMENTS IN LABORATORY REPORT

LONG REPORT LOGBOOK

TITLE TITLE

OBJECTIVES OBJECTIVES

THEORY EQUIPMENTS

EQUIPMENTS RESULT

PROCEDURES DATA ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION

RESULT

DATA ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION

CONCLUSION

REFERENCES

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LONG REPORT

COVER PAGE

Cover page should include

• The report title at the top of your report.

• Your name and the name (s) of your partners.

• Date of experiment was performed

• Date of submission

TITLE

“Overall statement of experiment”

� Example

TITLE : RECTIFIER CIRCUITS.

OBJECTIVES

“Purposes, what you want to achieve or the intention of the experiment to be carried out”

� Example

OBJECTIVES:

• To obtain…….

• To determine…….

• To understand…..

• To verify…..

• To practice…..

THEORY

“Scientific laws or principles and formula involved in the experiment, assumptions and details”

Students must state theory relevant to the experiment to be carried out.

� Example

Rectifier circuit should concentrate on half wave and full wave rectifier. (AC and DC values).

EQUIPMENTS

“Detail of the equipment used including its serial number”

Students should work on the same station (equipments) throughout the whole semester.

� Example

EQUIPMENTS:

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PROCEDURES

“PASSIVE SENTENCES of what you have done in the lab”.

• This section is a detailed narrative describing the steps you completed during the lab.

• Any random person should be able to read this section and duplicate your experiment.

• Write it as if you are telling someone else how to complete the lab.

� Example

1. Before start of the experiment, all equipments are calibrated.

2. A circuit was connected as shown in Figure 1 using the components provided.

Figure 1 Circuit A

RESULT

“Data or result obtained in the experiment, may include error analysis or theory calculations”

• Outline the results of your experiment (s).

• Generally, the quantitative aspects of the results are best presented in graphs and tables.

• These should be accompanied by a verbal description of the data and the trends that may

occur.

• Remember to include your units and to use scientific notation.

• When applicable, you should include a sample calculation.

Table 1: Silicon

VAK (Volt) 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30 0.35 0.40 0.45 0.50 0.55 0.60 0.65 0.70 0.75

IA (mA) 0.50 1.55 2.60 3.20 3.80 4.50 5.10 5.90 6.55 7.15 8.00 8.80 9.50 9.80 9.82

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Table 2: Germanium

Table 3: Vp set to 10V

Experiment

Measured Theoretical Error

Waveform

Vdc (volt) Vrms (volt) ��� =��

2� �� =

��

√2 Vdc Vrms

Half wave

rectifier a b C d e f Refer graph 2

Half wave

rectifier with C Refer graph 2

Full wave

rectifier Refer graph 3

Full wave

rectifier with C Refer graph 3

Error analysis:

� � =�������������������

�����������

� � ��� =���

�

� � �� = ����

There are no significant difference between measured and theoretical values.

VAK (Volt) 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30 0.35 0.40 0.45

IA (mA) 0.80 1.90 3.20 4.00 5.10 7.20 7.21 7.22 7.23

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Forward Characteristics of Si and Ge Diodes

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Theory Calculation:

� EXAMPLE: WAVEFORM

Each waveform must have:

• Title

• Label for X-Y axis

• Used suitable scale for X-Y axis

• Unit for each axis

• Legend (has to be stated at the end of each graph curve)

• use graph paper.

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Word 2007 : Insert Caption

Caption is important and a necessity in labeling all figures, graphs, tables etc. A

structured caption could easily be maintained by using automated caption, instead

of manually filling the caption number.

By using this feature, all the caption numbers will be sorted out automatically, even if the figure is

changed. Together with “cross-reference”, your text is linked with the caption as well.

For figure, the caption must be BELOW of the figure.

For Table, the caption must be ABOVE the figure.

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DATA ANALYSIS/ DISCUSSION

• This part depends on type of the data or experiment.

• Explain about result based on graph, table, figure or waveform in sentences.

• A broad DISCUSSION used in the experiment.

o results,

o challenges,

o difficulties,

o precaution,

o theories,

o assumption etc

• Give answer for all questions in lab sheet.

In your discussion, interpret your results and observations. Keep in mind the purpose of the

experiment while interpreting your results. You should also answer the questions that were

presented to you throughout the experiment/assignment in this section

In this section you must discuss and interpret the results of your investigation. It is important to

reflect back on your hypothesis in this section - Can you support your hypothesis? Must you reject

it?

Discuss any mistakes you may have made while performing the experiment. If your data is "weird"

try to figure out what is wrong. Finally, suggest how the investigation might have been improved.

Analysis of data

1. For the rectifier, graph is not necessary but waveforms are needed.

2. Results are as expected from theory:

Silicon diode gave Vk=……

Germanium diode gave Vk=…..

This shows that Ge diode is closer to the ideal diode approximation.

� Example

The experiment showed Ge and Si diodes can be used as rectifiers. Rectifiers are used as AC

to DC converter. This is shown by the DC value obtained in the experiment. The AC values are

ripple voltages. Ripple can be reduce by the introduction of capacitor.

CONCLUSION

• Wrap up your report in short nice statements. Relate to your objectives, theory and result.

• Suggestions for the better approaches of the experiment in near future.

REFERENCES

• State your references and cited work.

• References used must be reflected in the theory section in the form of quotes, citation or

footnote.

• References can be books, journals, papers and webpage (with its URL and date accessed)

• Reference formatting can be either APA, Harvard or IEEE format.

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Word 2007 : References & Citations

Choose a publishing style – normally APA or IEEE references.

Insert Citation or Add New Source accordingly.

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Manage sources - Once you have completed a document you may need to add or delete sources,

modify existing sources, or complete the information for the placeholders

Add bibliography to the document

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT All notes, modules and diagrams are extracted from previous work done by the following staff:

1. Professor Abdul Hamid Bin Hamidon

2. Siti Huzaimah binti Husin

3. Hazli Rafis bin Abdul Rahim

4. Khairuddin bin Osman

5. Izadora binti Mustaffa

6. Mai Mariam binti Mohamed Aminuddin