Particulate Air Pollution Lab
Purpose:
To develop an understanding of the number and type of particulates in the air around your home.
Question:
What location in home has the most particulate pollution?
Hypothesis:
Make a prediction about which location will have the most particulate pollution and be sure to include this in the introduction of your lab report.
Materials:
- masking tape
- 7 index cards
- petroleum jelly
- Ziploc bags
- magnifying glass
Procedure:
- Decide upon 6 locations in your school or home that you would like to test for particulate pollution. Record this in the data section.
- Write a hypothesis. Remember that your hypothesis should be in the form of a statement and answer the investigation question.
- Create 7 separate particulate collectors.
- Using a quarter make a circle in the center of each index card.
- Smear each index card with a thin layer of petroleum jelly.
- Write your name and location number on each card (one will be a control).
- Place each particulate collector in a Ziploc bag and close immediately.
- Remove the particulate collectors from their bags, and leave them exposed to the air at 6 locations where particulate levels may differ for 24 hours. Designate card #1 as a control and leave it sealed in the bag. (NOTE: if you want to hang the particulate collectors you can punch a small hole in one end and attach a piece of string.)
- After 24 hours retrieve the cards and place them back in their Ziploc bags. Examine the index cards, including your control, with a magnifying glass. Count the number of particulates that fell on each one within the circle and record these numbers in the data table.
- Examine and describe the particulates (identifying them if possible) and record this in your data table.
Data:
Example of Data Table:
Card # | Description of Location | # of Particulates Found | Description of Particulates and Identification (if possible) |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Control | ||
2 |
Lab Report:
Create a lab report that includes the following elements:
- Introduction: This section should be in paragraph form and include the following elements:
- Describe particulate pollution.
- Give examples of particulate pollution.
- Describe some negative health effects of particulate pollution.
- Hypothesis
- Data: This section should include the following
- Completed data table.
- Bar graph comparing the number of particulates found in each location.
- Results/Conclusion: This section should be in paragraph form and include the answers to the following questions:
- Did your results support or refute your hypothesis? Why or why not?
- Summarize your results.
- How many particulates were found in each location?
- What types of particulates were found in each location?
- Is there any relationship between the particulates and the location they were found?
- What was the purpose of the control?
- What were some sources of error in your experiment?
From a Georgia Virtual Learning Assignment source