I have observed Physics in the Real World a few times this past week. Here is my report on one simple machine that uses physics to make life easier. You can refer to this as an example of how your first report (if you are doing this sort of report for your first project) should be structured.
Example Real World Physics report: Heavy lifting with the hand truck
Outline of Report:
- Introduction and background (1-2 paragraphs + illustration):
- Say what is being discussed, how it is used in society, and other interesting things about it. Mention the physics prinicpals (e.g., inertia, prinicple of lever, Newton's Second Law, work & energy, etc.) that are involved.
- How it works and Analysis (3-5 paragraphs + figure)
- Go into more detail about how the tool, object or phenomenon functions. Sometimes a step-by-step list is useful. Include a labeled diagram and refer to it. State the specific physics principles involved in both words and as formulas. If your subject is a tool or machine, note in your report how these principles are addressed in its design. If it is something in nature, such as a bird's wing, again note how its "design" follows these principals.
- Experiments to test hypotheses (1-2 paragraphs)
- You may wish to suggest some simple experiments that support your ideas about how something work (for example, I tried unscrewing a screw using both a narrow-handled and fat-handled screwdriver. For stuck screws the fat-handled screwdriver worked better. This is because, in applying the same force at the outside of the handle, I apply a greater torque on the shaft to turn the screw, as the force is applied further away from the axis of rotation (the shaft). Describe them and the results to conclude your report.
Your report should have these above sections and figures. The figure (can be hand-drawn) should include appropriate forces, velocities, torques, etc., drawn (as arrows) and labeled.
The following can be done for extra credit:
- Experiment Proposal Outline (optional, for extra credit) to test hypotheses (1-2 paragraphs, on separate sheet!)
- Propose a simple experiment that tests your explanation for how something (tool, sport, etc.) works. This separate sheet should include:
- Drawing of experiment, with everything labeled.
- Statement of what is to be tested (e.g., narrow- vs. fat-handled screwdrivers for ease of driving screws... should see a change in torque exerted on a screw given a constant applied force (lever arm, r, is changing), according to: torque = lever arm x force.
- Prediction of outcome (it will be easier to put screw in when screwdriver handle is fatter)
Turn in your Experiment Proposal Outline to Dr. Livelybrooks (regular turn-in box) on a separate sheet, along with your report (above)
Experiment Report (optional, for extra credit) (3-4 paragraphs, on separate sheet!, due Weds, 2-June by 5pm)
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- Give table or graph indicating outcome of your experiment(s).
- Include drawing of experiment, with everything labeled (can be recycled from your experiment outline).
- Discuss whether the outcome matched your predictions. If it did, explain why you interpret it that way. If it didn't, explain how your predictions were wrong.
- Summary-- summarize your experiment.
Turn in your Experiment Report to Dr. Livelybrooks (regular turn-in box) by Wednesday, 2-June (5pm).
Experiment Presentation (optional, for extra credit) (on overheads, to be presented in lab section Thursday or Friday, 3/4-June.)
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- Give overhead of idea to be tested (from Proposal). Include physics principles and variables.
- Include drawing of experiment on overhead, with everything labeled (can be recycled from your experiment outline).
- Give overhead with prediction of experiment outcome
- Give overhead with data on overhead, either as a table, graph or in (brief!) observations.
- Give overhead with explanation of whether prediction was correct or incorrect.
- Give summary overhead.
Report ideas (here are just a few):
- Bicycles-- gears, wheels, how to turn corners, how brakes work.
- Ice skating-- how skates slide across ice, how propulsion is achieved, that spin thing with the arms.
- Tools-- how hammers work, how a "cheater bar" works with a wrench, how a zipper works, using a "come-along."
- Sports-- how to throw a curve ball, how bats propel balls, the high jump, how a kick propels a soccer (ahem, football!) ball, why does a hammer thrower spin?, bouncing a basketball.
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