Monday, October 19, 2015

Photosynthesis Virtual Labs

Photosynthesis Virtual Labs.

Lab 1: Glencoe Photosynthesis Lab


Analysis Questions
1. Make a hypothesis about which color in the visible spectrum causes the most plant growth and which color in the visible spectrum causes the least plant growth?
If the color in the visible spectrum is red or blue, then the plant will grow the most.

If the color in the visible spectrum is  green or yellow, then the plant will grow the least.

2. How did you test your hypothesis? Which variables did you control in your experiment and which variable did you change in order to compare your growth results?
I tested my hypothesis by planting the same seed in different lights for 30 days. The variable I controlled in my experiment is the type of plant and the variable I changed in order to compare my growth results are the different color of lights that I changed.



Results:
Filter Color
Spinach Avg. Height (cm)
Raddish Avg. Height (cm)
Lettuce Avg. Height (cm)
Red

13

Orange

8

Green

2

Blue

14

Violet

11



3. Analyze the results of your experiment. Did your data support your hypothesis? Explain. If you conducted tests with more than one type of seed, explain any differences or similarities you found among types of seeds.

Yes, my data did support my hypothesis because I predicted that the red and blue light would stimulate the most growth in plants and in the end the plants that grew the most was under the red and blue light. The average for the red light is 13 cm and the average for the blue light is 14 cm.


4. What conclusions can you draw about which color in the visible spectrum causes the most plant growth?

I can come to the conclusion that the color blue in the visible spectrum causes the most plant growth.

5. Given that white light contains all colors of the spectrum, what growth results would you expect under white light?
The growth result I would expect under the white light is a normal rate, one that’s not the highest or lowest.



Site 2: Photolab

This simulation allows you to manipulate many variables. You already observed how light colors will affect the growth of a plant, in this simulation you can directly measure the rate of photosynthesis by counting the number of bubbles of oxygen that are released.
There are 3 other potential variables you could test with this simulation: amount of carbon dioxide, light intensity, and temperature.
Choose one variable and design and experiment that would test how this factor affects the rate of photosynthesis. Remember, that when designing an experiment, you need to keep all variables constant except the one you are testing. Collect data and write a lab report of your findings that includes:
  • Question
  • Hypothesis
  • Experimental parameters (in other words, what is the dependent variable, independent variable, and control?)
  • Data table
  • Conclusion (Just 1st and 3rd paragraphs since there's no way to make errors in a virtual lab)
*Type this document on a word processor or in Google Docs and submit via Canvas.

Question: Under the intensity of 25 of the blue light, which degree of temperature causes the plant to release the most bubbles?
Hypothesis: If the degree of temperature is 40 under the intensity of 25 of the blue light, then the plant will release the most bubbles.
Experimental parameter: The dependent variable is the number of bubbles that were released, the independent variable is the degree of temperature, and the control is the plant.
Data table:

Blue light: Intensity of 25
Blue light: Intensity of 25
Blue light:
Intensity of 25
Blue light:
Intensity of 25
Temperature (degrees)
# of bubbles in 15 seconds
# of bubbles in 30 seconds
# of bubbles in  45 seconds
# of bubbles in 60 seconds
10
3
5
8
11
25
4
11
17
25
40
7
13
19
26

Conclusion:
In this lab, I asked the question “Under the intensity of 25 of the blue light, which degree of temperature causes the plant to release the most bubbles?” I found that if the degree of temperature is 40 under the intensity of 25 of the blue light, then the plant will release the most bubbles. When the water in the container was 10 degrees, the plant gave off 11 bubbles in a minute. When it was 25 degrees, the plant gave off 25 bubbles in a minute. And when it was 40 degrees, the plant gave off 26 bubbles in a minute. My evidence supports my hypothesis because the plant gave off the most bubbles, which are 26 bubbles, when the degree was the highest, which is 40 degrees.

This lab was done to demonstrate how different variables can affect plant growth. It also gives more information about photosynthesis. From this lab, I learned that the warmer the water that the plant is in, the better the plant grows. This helps me understand the concept of photosynthesis more. Based on my experience from this lab, whenever I want to grow a healthy plant I will know to make sure that I grow it in warm water.  





Unit 3 Reflection

Unit 3 was about cell structure and it's function, photosynthesis, and cellular respiration. The themes and essential understandings of this unit was how life is cellular, eukaryotic cell structures, cell boundaries, the diversity of cellular life, energy and life, the overview of photosynthesis, the reactions of photosynthesis, chemical pathways, and the Krebs Cycle and Electron Transport.

When it came to all the cell related topics and cellular respiration, it was fairly easy for me. It got a bit harder for me when the topic of photosynthesis came in.

I believe I'm a better student now because from this unit I've learned more about cell structure and their function, photosynthesis, and cellular respiration. I'm also better at taking notes and knowing what's important and what's not from the textbook now.

I think I would like to learn more about cells now. I don't have any unanswered questions about cells or the other topics but I would like to learn more about cells. It's interesting learning about what makes us living human beings.

Since the test is coming up, I'm definitely studying by going through my vodcast notes and textbook notes. I'm also planning on taking, if not all then most, of the CFU's for the vodcast notes. And for the diagrams, I'm planning on drawing them again and again until they're stuck in my mind. I've seen the Studying and Learning Page, and I think I'll try out the flashcard method; I've never used flashcards before so I'm interested in how this will turn out.

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Egg Cell Macromolecules Lab Analysis

The question of this lab was "Can macromolecules be identified in an egg cell?"

Macromolecules could mostly be identified in egg yolk. In the egg yolk, for the Monosaccharide, Polysaccharide, and Protein test, the macromolecule was present. In the Lipid test, the macromolecule wasn't present, having the quantitative amount of macromolecule of 0 and not changing colors. In the Monosaccharide test, the egg yolk had a quantitative amount of macromolecule of 5, turning slightly purple. In the Polysaccharide test, the egg yolk had a quantitative amount of 4, turning light brown. In the Protein test, the egg yolk had a quantitative amount of 7, turning a bit clear. These evidences support my claim because the quantitative amount and the colors that the egg parts changed to show that the macromolecule was/wasn't present.

Macromolecules can be identified in the egg membrane. In the egg membrane, for the Monosaccharide, Polysaccharide, Protein, and Lipid test, the macromolecule was present. In the Monosaccharide test, the egg membrane had a quantitative amount of macromolecules of 8, turning purple. In the Polysaccharide test, the egg membrane had a quantitative amount of macromolecule of 6, turning brown. In the Protein test, the egg membrane had a quantitative amount of 5, turning light purple. In the Lipid test, the egg membrane had a quantitative amount of 3, turning pinkish. These evidences support my claim because the quantitative amount and the colors that the egg parts changed to show that the macromolecule was/wasn't present.

Macromolecules can be identified in the egg whites. In the egg whites, for the Monosaccharide, Polysaccharide, Protein, and Lipid test, the macromolecules were present. In the Monosaccharide test, the egg white had a quantitative amount of macromolecule of 3, turning blue. In the Polysaccharide test, the egg white had a quantitative amount of macromolecule of 5, turning dark brown. In the Protein test, the egg white had a quantitative amount of 6, turning purple. In the Lipid test, the egg white had a quantitative amount of 5, turning pinkish. These evidences support my claim because the quantitative amount and the colors that the egg parts changed to show that the macromolecule was/wasn't present.

One error that could've occurred in this lab were that some of my group members could've put in less drops then what was required for the egg part. This could've affected the results by not allowing the macromolecules a chance to appear in the egg part. A second error could've been the accuracy of the quantitative amount of macromolecules. Since the quantitative amount of macromolecule was completely based off a person's opinion, it can't be the most accurate. This would affect the results by making them not entirely true or false.

A way to improve the experimental procedure so that errors could be minimized or removed are to always be careful with any solution you might be handling and to constantly interact with your group members throughout the lab.

The purpose of this lab was to see if macromolecules can be identified in an egg cell. In this lab we tested the different egg parts for the certain macromolecule we were looking for. Before this lab, we had already gone through the different type of macromolecules. We also learned beforehand what to use in order to test for its presence and how to know if it's present.

This lab experiment could be applied to other experiments by applying where macromolecules are, how to find them, and how to know when they're there.

Thursday, October 1, 2015

Generating Questions Assignment

Out of all the big 20 questions, I'm most interested in the question "What is consciousness?". I'm interested in this question because to me the human brain is something very complex that I would like to figure out. There is no official hypothesis for the question but it is known that it involves different brain regions networked together.

List of 20 Questions:
1) Can we restore humans?
2) Is it possible to make an artificial planet?
3) Will we ever be able to naturally fly?
4) Who are we really?
5) Can we freeze time?
6) Can we pause our emotions?
7) Is there a parallel universe?
8) Can we stop missing someone?
9) Is society getting any better?
10) How exactly would people in the past react to how we live now?
11) How will music be like in 3000?
12) Will humans ever become extinct?
13) Will humans forever be the more powerful creature?
14) Why do students procrastinate so much?
15) Is the 21st generation the laziest generation?
16) Why are humans so dependent?
17)  Is it possible to not feel love in your whole life?
18) Is there magic in this world?
19) How would the world be without music?
20) Why are humans so attracted to sweet things?