Physics experimental report- Dynamics

[david.wang28]

Hello,
I have an experimental report that is due within a week and a couple of days. Can anyone suggest any improvements for this draft? Thanks, David,

[jamonwindeyer]

Hey David! A few thoughts as I skim it:

- I'd list those formulas in the intro some other way, ditto with the variables. Dot points maybe? Or a table?
- Reading the introduction, I'm not totally clear on what the experimental setup is and how it relates to the theory you've discussed. Not sure how to fix, but potentially elaborating a bit on the setup would help.
- Ditto with the aim, not totally sure what you mean by "force on a rolling object". Is it friction?
- Hypothesis the same, I think setting up your experiment better in the introduction will make it clearer to understand your earlier parts of the experimental report without having to flick forward and read the method.
- The dependent variable should be what you are measuring, not what you are determining. Read your method. What are you actually measuring for each different slope?
- Your method needs to be fleshed out: You should be able to hand it to a primary school student and they can do it without asking questions. Try to find someone younger/separated from the course to provide feedback on it. For example, in Step 10, I'm reading it and I'm like, "Wait, we are doing 3 trials?"
- You should add graphs - I'm sure there is a criteria which requests graphical summaries of your data. And if there isn't, there should be - Graphs are SO important for experiments like this.
- Your discussion needs a bit more structure, one big brain dump like that doesn't look the nicest. As a Physicist looking at your report, I'd like to see headings with things like "Sources of Error" or "Potential Improvements", for slightly better organisation.
- There is never a desired outcome for an experiment, only one in line with the hypothesis. Just watch the wording In the conclusion there, because I read that as a physicist and go, "Oh, they wanted this result," which suggests bias.
- Some of your conclusion should probably go into the discussion. Conclusions should be fairly short!

Overall I think you have most/all the pieces, but you need to work on clarifying how it is presented

[david.wang28]

Hey David! A few thoughts as I skim it:

- I'd list those formulas in the intro some other way, ditto with the variables. Dot points maybe? Or a table?
- Reading the introduction, I'm not totally clear on what the experimental setup is and how it relates to the theory you've discussed. Not sure how to fix, but potentially elaborating a bit on the setup would help.
- Ditto with the aim, not totally sure what you mean by "force on a rolling object". Is it friction?
- Hypothesis the same, I think setting up your experiment better in the introduction will make it clearer to understand your earlier parts of the experimental report without having to flick forward and read the method.
- The dependent variable should be what you are measuring, not what you are determining. Read your method. What are you actually measuring for each different slope?
- Your method needs to be fleshed out: You should be able to hand it to a primary school student and they can do it without asking questions. Try to find someone younger/separated from the course to provide feedback on it. For example, in Step 10, I'm reading it and I'm like, "Wait, we are doing 3 trials?"
- You should add graphs - I'm sure there is a criteria which requests graphical summaries of your data. And if there isn't, there should be - Graphs are SO important for experiments like this.
- Your discussion needs a bit more structure, one big brain dump like that doesn't look the nicest. As a Physicist looking at your report, I'd like to see headings with things like "Sources of Error" or "Potential Improvements", for slightly better organisation.
- There is never a desired outcome for an experiment, only one in line with the hypothesis. Just watch the wording In the conclusion there, because I read that as a physicist and go, "Oh, they wanted this result," which suggests bias.
- Some of your conclusion should probably go into the discussion. Conclusions should be fairly short!

Overall I think you have most/all the pieces, but you need to work on clarifying how it is presented

Thank you for the detailed feedback Jamon! Much appreciated!

[jamonwindeyer]

Any time!