Science Experiments

Archive for August, 2008

Question: DNA concentration gel electrophoresis?

I performing an experiment in which i am altering the DNA concentration of several mixtures then running them through gel electrophoresis. The problem is that I do not have a question to answer by doing this. I do not know what analyze by running this gel therefore I have no hypothesis that i can come up with. I am in a science fair and I do not have alot of time left. Any help is appreciated.

Answer: Well yeah there should always be a purpose for running a scientific experiment, always a question to be answered.

but regarding what you’re cooking,

By running different concentrations of DNA on a gel you will see that less concentrated samples won’t be as bright as ones with more concentrated samples.

If you were able to compare these samples to bands of known concentration, you could generate a standard curve or use a sample of known concentration to estimate the amount of DNA in your samples. Note that if you wish to make such comparisons, you need to use bands that are roughly the same size as the band you want to estimate.

DNA Extraction Home Experiment

Hypothesis of this Effects of water temperature science experiment

The same amount of water takes up more space when it is frozen.

Effects of water temperature Science Experiment Procedure

• Fill an empty soup can with water. (Be careful of sharp can edges.)
• Set the can in a small bowl, and place it in the freezer section of a refrigerator. The bowl will catch any water that might spill from the can.
• Add more water if necessary so the water level in the can is at the very top.
• Leave the can of water in the freezer overnight.

In this science experiment, the quantity of water is being held CONSTANT, and the temperature is our VARIABLE.

• Take the can of ice out of the freezer in the morning.

The volume of water that fit into the can when it was a liquid is now too big for the can. The ice has risen above the top of the can because of the expanding water and its push against the bottom of the can.

Results & Conclusion of the Effects of water temperature science experiment

Write down the results of your science experiment. Come to a conclusion as to whether or not your hypothesis was correct.

For bonus science fair experiment point

Now that you have experimented on water to find out what water does when frozen, you can conduct another similar science experiment to find out how much more volume the ice takes up than it did as a liquid by using displacement.

Hold the can tightly to melt the ice slightly around the edges of the can so the ice will come out as one block. Dip the block in a container of water and measure the water that it displaces.

Question: Diet Coke and Mentos Science Project?

So me and my partner have to teach the class about Redox(Reduction and Oxidation reactions), and we were really looking forward to showing a video of us messing around with the Diet Coke and Mentos trick, except we have to relate what is happening to Redox. I know that what occurs in Soda is a Reduction/Oxidation reaction, but I’m not really sure how to tie in the Mentos into all of it.

If anybody has a chemical equation or explanation no matter how arbitrarily relating to the Diet Coke/Mentos thing, it would be much appreicated.

Answer: I’m not sure…I just tried that trick today- pwef…Didn’t work until we added either baking soda or vinigar so I’m guessing you should have that at hand- ya know, just in case. Oh yea…And if you’re thinking about opening the coke BEFORE you show your class, be sure to close the lid tightly or all the carbon will escape. BTW the mentos actually make a little hissing sound (in the coke)-it helped with mine because we were making an explosive volcano (it sounded kinda real! O.O and the coke went about a yard up! ;] as for about tying the mentos to ur whole report, you can say that the chemical acid from the soda mixed with the compound in the mentos mixes together to create a chemical reaction and vola! an almost instantanoes fountain of coke that lastes for a few seconds! =]

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