APES AIR POLLUTION ACTIVITY Page 1
AIR POLLUTION ACTIVITY
PROBLEM: How do the number and types of air particulates differ in the areas around school?
MATERIALS: (Per group of two) masking tape, 5 microscope slides, petroleum jelly, 5 petri dishes with lids, binocular microscope, wax pencil
HYPOTHESIS: Write a hypothesis that pertains to the problem. Each group does not have to have the same hypothesis, and a group may have more than one hypothesis.
PROCEDURE:
1) Make 5 separate particulate collectors by writing your group name on masking tape labels and sticking the labels to an end of each slide. Identify one as a control.
2) Using a penny, make a circle on the slide with wax pencil. Smear the circle of each slide with a thin layer of petroleum jelly.
3) Place each particulate collector in the bottom half of a petri dish. Cover the dishes with lids immediately.
4) Remove the particulate collectors from their petri dishes, and leave them exposed to the air at four (4) locations where particulate levels may differ.
5) Write the locations on the appropriate labels. Record careful descriptions of your locations (particularly with respect to conditions that might affect the level of particulate matter.
6) Keep the control in the classroom, and do not remove it from its covered petri dish.
7) Retrieve the particulate collectors anywhere between 25 minutes to 5 days later. Put them in covered petri dishes.
8) Examine the slides, including your control, with a binocular microscope. Move the slides around and count the number of particulates that fell on each one within the circle. Record these numbers.
9) Identify, as much as possible, the nature of the particulates that are on the circle.
CONCLUSION:
Write a conclusion (in full sentences and well-constructed paragraphs) relating your results to your hypothesis. Did your results support or refute your hypothesis? Why or why not? Sources of error? Purpose of control? Types of particulates? Numbers? Relationship to nature of the location? Are the particulates found considered pollutants? Why or why not?
REPORT TO BE SUBMITTED BY THE GROUP SHOULD INCLUDE:
1) Names of group members.
2) Hypothesis(es) formed.
3) Data and observations.
4) Conclusion statement.
Source: Reformatted from Palmer, Lee: www.brynmawr.pvt.k12.md.us/Palmer/APES