Class Files - Laboratory Notebooks

General Laboratory Information

(Adopted from Dr. Wm. J. Eccles, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology)

What is Expected of Yourself
First and foremost, professional work is the norm in the lab. The experiments themselves contain three different tasks that you will be expected to perform:

Prelab work may be assigned for many experiments. The work is given to help you prepare for the actual measurements in the lab so that you can use your time more efficiently. Do any and all prelab work in your lab manual. To receive credit for this work, you must present your lab notebook so that it can be signed off by your professor before you begin your experiment.
Actual laboratory work involves design, simulation work, connecting circuits and equipment, observing results, recording data, developing code, debugging, and so on. You should be thinking about what you are investigating and what kind of observations are appropriate. For example, if you are making measurements of resistance, you should also record a description of the resistor (coded nominal value, wattage, condition, etc.) even if these are not asked for.
Postlab work involves some consideration of the results. Be sure to check the lab sheets to see what is required and leave enough time at the end of the lab session to do it.

Additional reporting is due for most of the labs. Your reports will be like those that you might present to an employer. A word of caution: You are expected to know and understand the procedures and requirements of the laboratory experiments. An excuse of , “I didn't know we were supposed to do that,” won't work.

Lab Log Book
Your lab book is similar to the record kept by an engineer in a laboratory where new developments are taking place. It provides not only the record of what was done and how, but also serves as a legal document in matters such as obtaining patents.

Since the lab log will be turned in at the end of each experiment, each student will need a pair of books. Otherwise, a book may not be available for the prelab or lab work for the next session. In addition, each student should share equally in the task of taking notes in the lab notebook, setting up an experiment, debugging, reading the instruments, etc. Your grade on the lab is a joint grade.

You are asked to do two seemingly contradictory things when you carry out and record your experiment. The first is to follow directions to the letter, both the directions listed in the laboratory manual, and those that go with each experiment. Following these directions makes your work easier to grade and will also get you into some good habits. The second thing that you must do is think for yourself. The lab instructions are usually not a cookbook. At times you will be expected to do something, yet not be told to do it. For example, if the lab says, “Compare your experimental and theoretical results,” you are expected to calculate an experimental error -- you could lose points if you don't. Here are some additional instructions for lab books:

The lab book is a journal. Record all observations and results in the book as you are doing the experiment. Keep accurate records that would enable someone else to repeat the experiment. Show all of your calculations. If in doubt, write it down.
Make all entries in your lab book in ink. If you make a mistake, neatly cross it out with a single line and write the correction beside it. Do not erase your work since what you wrote the first time may turn out to be important.
Never tear out any pages. In general, use only the fronts of pages to write in. Although, for this lab, using both sides is acceptable.
The first page of each experiment is the title page. Put the title of the experiment in big, easy-to-spot letters. Next, list the team members and record all instrument and equipment information -- including identifying numbers (serial numbers, or the like) -- for each piece of equipment used. This will make it possible for someone to repeat the experiment and helps in identifying malfunctioning equipment.
Do prelab work in your lab book. This comes after the title page and before the lab work.
Make sure complete, labeled circuit diagrams are included for all circuits used.
When drawing what you are looking at on an oscilloscope, always draw the entire screen. Use two divisions in your lab book for each major division on the scope. Label all scales and make clear where zero is located on the vertical axis.
All tables should have column heading and appropriate units. A column labeled "Comments" or "Notes" is useful to record extra things, such as a change of scale on an instrument.
Many of your graphs can be drawin the notebook. Each graph should have a title, labeled axes, and appropriate units. If a different grid is needed (semi-log, for example), or a graph has to be saved for another experiment, use good quality graph paper. Always permanently attach these graphs to the notebook, including graphs from a printer.
When you start a new section of the lab, label the section in your lab book. Number answers to any numbered questions.
Each member of the lab team must sign the book on the last page of the experiment.
Neatness counts. Your lab must be organized, and easy to read and follow. This is not to say you will be penalized for crossed-out words, spelling errors, or hurried lettering; nor does it say you will gain extra credit for work that looks like it was done on a word processor. However, despite the fact that this is your journal, it is being written for someone else to read, whether it be the grader, the jury deciding your patent dispute, or yourself five years from now. If your journal is difficult to read or follow, your work may be wasted.