Science Experiments

Posts Tagged ‘tools’

Question: PHOTOSYNTHESIS: chlorophyll extraction report- HOW?

in science we are covering the topic photosynthesis.
we did an experiment on extracting the chlorophyll from different leaves.we used iodine to test the starch in the leave afterwards etc etc.
now we have to write a report on it..
in it we have to include;
Title
Introduction
Hypothesis
Method and Materials
Data and Results
Conclusion
and Discussion

can someone please give me a briefing on what part of extraction experiment etc etc to put in each category and give examples maybe?
i am so stuck here, my science teacher doesn’t explain himself very well so it’s quite hard when we have to do homework..

PLEASE AND THANK YOU’S
thank you so much!
you have helped me greatly!

Answer: Title – Your title should sum up what you were trying to do in a single sentence.

Introduction – Any background information, reasons why it’s important to know what you’re trying to find out (leaves require chlorophyll to perform photosynthesis, animals depend on plants for oxygen produced during photosynthesis), and specific objectives of the study (what types of results you’ll be looking for – “We will be trying to quantify how much chlorophyll is in a leaf of [name of plant].”, or “We will compare the amounts of chlorophyll found in three common trees on the school grounds.”).

Hypothesis – a statement about what you might be expecting to find out ( “We hypothesize that the amount of chlorophyll will increase as leaf size increases”.).

Method and Materials – What you used and how you used the items. Rather than just making a list, write this as one, or a few paragraphs. “First we collected leaves from three different trees and placed them in ziplock bags.” Explain this as if you were telling someone who wasn’t in class, so they would be able to do the experiment themselves.

Data and Results – This is what you found. Period. You might include a table or graph to show your results, but you should write an explanation as well. You could compare the results, or show a range of the results, or a comparison. “Species #1 was the largest leaf in size, but Species #3 contained the most chlorophyll.”

Discussion (discussion should be placed here) – this is where you say what you think your results mean. “The largest leaf was growing in the shade, so photosynthesis may be more limited, which is why the amount of chlorophyll was less in Species #1, where Species #3 was growing in full sun.”

Conclusion – sum up what you’ve already said into one paragraph of a few sentences.

Here is a website that gives the format and explanations of scientific writing. You can skip sections like “Abstract” if you’re not required to do them: http://www.dickinson.edu/departments/biol/BioWritingGuide/biogdline.html

Preparing for Science Fairs – Part 1 – Introduction

Question: How to write sources of error in a lab?

I did a Bio lab on respiration and circulation and I need to include a Sources of Error (I forgot to include one on my last lab). I already have in mind what could have went wrong during my experiment, but is there a specific format in which I have to put my errors in?

Answer: explain in two parts:

-Systematic errors (avoidable)
-Random errors (unavoidable)

Space Shuttle Endeavour Night Launch STS-123 11 March 2008 HD