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iRubric: Introductory Physics Lab rubric

iRubric: Introductory Physics Lab rubric

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Introductory Physics Lab 
Rubric for writing lab reports.
Rubric Code: RXACX77
By PhysLab
Ready to use
Public Rubric
Subject: Physics  
Type: Homework  
Grade Levels: Undergraduate

Powered by iRubric Lab Write-up
Ability
  Missing

0

0 pts

Inadequate

1

1 pts

Needs Improvement

2

2 pts

Adequate

3

3 pts

1.1 Professionalism

Is able to meet professional expectations, including i) timeliness, ii) collaboration, and iii) clear oral and written communication.
Missing

i) No attempt is made to meet check-ins or complete the lab on time.
ii) One group member is doing a majority of the work.
iii) No attempt is made to communicate orally. Lab write-up is difficult to understand overall or in more than 4 places.
Inadequate

i) Two check-ins are not met OR the group does not finish conducting the lab on time.
ii) Only two group members are contributing to performing the lab, the lab write-up, or conversation.
iii) Ideas are presented, but 3-4 ideas are incomplete or justification is not provided. The lab write-up is difficult to understand in 3-4 places.
Needs Improvement

i) All but one check-in is met OR the group does not finish conducting the lab on time.
ii) All group members but one are contributing to performing the lab, the lab write-up, or conversation.
iii) Ideas are presented, but one or two ideas are incomplete or justification is not provided. The lab write-up is difficult to understand in one or two places.
Adequate

i) All check-ins are met and group finishes conducting the lab on time.
ii) Each group member has a role performing the lab and for the lab write-up. Each group member contributes equally to conversation.
iii) Ideas are communicated clearly, in complete sentences, and with justification. Lab write-up is complete and formatted professionally with headings so it is easy to understand.
2.1 Understandings of Physics Pheno

Is able to communicate physics concepts clearly, correctly, and completely in writing and with representations (such as labeled diagrams).
Missing

No attempt is made to explain physics concepts
Inadequate

The lab write-up explains physics concepts, but 3-4 relevant physics concepts are not addressed. Or, 3-4 physics concepts are not explained clearly, correctly, or completely. Or, an important representation is missing.
Needs Improvement

The lab write-up explains physics concepts, but 1-2 relevant physics concepts are not addressed. Or, 1-2 physics concepts are not explained clearly, correctly, or completely. Or, a representation is not labeled or is difficult to understand.
Adequate

The lab write-up explains relevant physics concepts clearly, correctly, and completely in writing and with representations (such as labeled diagrams).
3.1 Science Practices - Purpose

Is able to identify the research question and therefore the purpose of the investigation.
Missing

No attempt is made to state the research question and purpose of the lab.
Inadequate

The research question is unclear OR the independent and dependent variables are not identified OR the variables kept constant are not identified.
Needs Improvement

The research question is somewhat unclear OR the independent variable or dependent variable is not identified OR an important variable kept constant is not identified.
Adequate

The research question is clearly stated and justified. Independent and dependent variables, and variables kept constant, are identified.
3.2 SP - Procedure & Apparatus

Is able to design a reliable experiment that aligns with the purpose of the lab and will yield outcomes that can be used to address the research question.
Missing

No attempt is made to describe the experimental procedure.
Inadequate

The experimental procedure is unclear OR 3-4 details are missing about how variables will be measured or held constant OR the diagram or picture of the apparatus is difficult to understand or missing, such that the experiment could not be replicated.
Needs Improvement

The experimental procedure is somewhat unclear, making it difficult to assess alignment with the purpose OR 1-2 details are missing about how variables will be measured or held constant OR the diagram or picture of the apparatus is somewhat difficult to understand (possibly due to missing labels).
Adequate

The experimental design aligns with the purpose and has a high likelihood of producing data that will answer the research question. Details of how the independent and dependent variables will be measured, and how constant variables will be held constant, are clearly stated. A labeled diagram or picture of the apparatus is provided such that the procedure and apparatus could be easily replicated.
3.3 Science Practices – Data

Is able to present raw and calculated quantitative data in an organized manner collected from performing the experiment. For qualitative data, is able to describe what is observed without trying to explain.
Missing

Raw and calculated data are not presented in an organized manner.
Inadequate

Raw and calculated data are presented in an organized manner, but 3-4 labels, units, or reliable and consistent significant figures are missing OR 3-4 important pieces of qualitative data are missing or recorded with analysis or interpretation.
Needs Improvement

Raw and calculated data are presented in an organized manner, but 1-2 labels, units, or reasonable and consistent significant figures are missing OR 1-2 important pieces of qualitative data are missing or recorded with analysis or interpretation.
Adequate

Raw and calculated data are presented in an organized manner, such as in a data table with labels, units, and reasonable and consistent significant figures. Qualitative data (i.e. observations) are recorded without any analysis or interpretation.
3.4 SP - Data Analysis

Is able to justify calculations performed with raw data and identify and represent a pattern in the data in an effort to answer the research question.
Missing

No justification for calculations is made OR the pattern in the data is not described OR the representation of the pattern in data is missing.
Inadequate

Justification for calculations is unclear OR the verbal description of the pattern in the data is unclear OR the representation is missing 3-4 details (such as the graph is missing a title, the axes are not labeled, the units on the slope and y-intercept are missing, the meaning of the slope and y-intercept is not explained, a general equation relating the independent and dependent variable is missing).
Needs Improvement

Justification for calculations is somewhat unclear OR the verbal description of the pattern in the data is somewhat unclear OR the representation is missing 1-2 details (such as the graph is missing a title, the axes are not labeled, the units on the slope and y-intercept are missing, the meaning of the slope and y-intercept is not explained, a general equation relating the independent and dependent variable is missing).
Adequate

Calculations performed with raw data are justified. A pattern in the data is described verbally and represented in a graph, equation, and/or diagram. If represented in a graph, the graph is linearized and a linear equation relating the independent and dependent variables is written with units on the slope and y-intercept. The meaning of the slope and y-intercept is explained and a general equation relating the independent and dependent variables is written.
3.5 Science Practices – Conclusion

Is able to answer the research question using data as evidence, thereby meeting the purpose of the experiment. Is able to devise an explanation for an observed pattern. Is able to determine specifically the way in which assumptions or shortcomings may have affected the results. Is able to propose future investigations to further develop understandings of physics phenomena.
Missing

No attempt is made to answer the research question.
Inadequate

The answer to the research question is unclear or the justification does not reference data and analysis as evidence OR the explanation for the observed outcome is missing OR no important assumptions or shortcomings are identified and discussed OR future investigations that further develop understandings of relevant physics phenomena are not identified.
Needs Improvement

The answer to the research question is somewhat unclear or the justification does not clearly reference data and analysis as evidence OR the explanation for the observed outcome is somewhat unclear OR 1-2 important assumptions or shortcomings are not identified and discussed OR future investigations that further develop understandings of physics phenomena are not relevant.
Adequate

The research question is restated and answered using data and analysis as justification. An explanation for the observed outcome is provided. Assumptions and shortcomings are identified and used to evaluate the validity of the experimental finding (*human error is not a shortcoming – if you made an error you should repeat that part of the experiment). Future investigations that further develop understandings of relevant physics phenomena are identified.



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  • undergraduate physics lab report

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