Lab 1 Introduction to Science BIO201L

Student Name: Click here to enter text.

Kit Code (located on the lid of your lab kit):Click here to enter text.

Exercise 1: Data Interpretation

Dissolved oxygen is oxygen that is trapped in a fluid, such as water. Since

many living organism requires oxygen to survive, it is a necessary
component of water systems such as streams, lakes and rivers in order to
support aquatic life. The dissolved oxygen is measured in units of parts per
million (ppm). Examine the data in Table 4 showing the amount of dissolved
oxygen present and the number of fish observed in the body of water the
sample was taken from; finally, answer the questions below.

Table 4: Water Quality vs. Fish Population

Dissolved Oxygen
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18
(ppm)

Number of Fish
0 1 3 10 12 13 15 10 12 13
Observed

Questions
1. What patterns do you observe based on the information in Table 4?
Table above shows that dissolved oxygen constantly increases and the
population of the fish has an irregular pattern of increasing and decreasing. I
can interpret this in two different point of view. First is, from column 1 to 7,
dissolved oxygen in water is directly proportional to the population of the fish
having a maximum of 15 fishes in 12 ppm. While Column 7 and 8 showed the
transition and became inversely proportional to each other The latter
columns again showed direct proportionality. Second is, the lesser the
population of fishes the more oxygen is present in the water.
2. Develop a hypothesis relating to the amount of dissolved oxygen
measured in the water sample and the number of fish observed in the body
of water.
If the population of fish increases, the dissolved oxygen content in water is
decreased. According to Fondriest Environmental Inc. (2013), if the
concentration of dissolved oxygen in water drops below the equilibrium level,
mortality rate of fishes will increase.
3. What would your experimental approach be to test this hypothesis?
I would do two experiment consisting of 2 separate containers. Container 1
having the less number of fishes and Container 2 having the maximum
number of fishes both to be observed with the constant succession of the
water quality by 2 ppm. In First container I will add more fish while in the
second container I will remove fish and try to identify its effect to the quality
of water.
Lab 1 Introduction to Science BIO201L

4. What would be the independent and dependent variables?

The independent variable is the population of the fishes and the dependent
variable is the rate of dissolved oxygen in water or the water quality.
5. What would be your control?
I would reinforce my control by making sure that I have the same water
source, strict constant succession of the rate of dissolved oxygen (ppm), the
same start and end of experiment, same temperature of the environment,
and possible fishes with equal size, weight, and health.
6. What type of graph would be appropriate for this data set? Why?
A line graph would be a better mode of illustration. It will clearly show the
transition or changes through the rate implied.
7. Graph the data from the table 4: Water Quality vs. Fish Population (found
at the beginning of this exercise).

8. Interpret the data from the graph made in Question 7.

The graph aboves shows that from 0-4 ppm there is greater amount of
dissolved oxygen because of only few numbers of fishes. While from 6-12
ppm, there is a lesser quality of water due to increased number of fishes
than the rate of dissolved oxygen in water. The latter part shows the
transition from 12-14 ppm, there was a great decrease in the number of
fishes jumping from 15 to 10 making the quality of water higher. From 14-18
ppm, the quality of water is also high because the rate of dissolved oxygen in
water is higher than the number of fishes.

Exercise 2: Testable Observations

Determine which of the following observations are testable. For those that
are testable:
- write a hypothesis and null hypothesis to test the observation
- describe the experiment you would use to test this hypothesis
- list the dependent and independent variables
- list the positive and negative controls
Lab 1 Introduction to Science BIO201L

1. A plant grows three inches faster per day when placed on a window sill
than it does when placed on a on a coffee table in the middle of the living
room.

Testable (yes or no):YES

Hypothesis:Plants that are positioned on the window sill germinate faster
than plants placed in the middle of the living room
Null Hypothesis:Plants that are not positioned on the window sill have the
same growth rate like those that are positioned.
Describe experiment:In order to carry the experiment, I would need to
have 2 identical plants having the same length and quality of soil. Plants
need different nutrients to grow but the most important source of this is
sunlight. When there is sunlight, the plants growth rate is faster but also
dependes on the location or placement of the plant. Therefore, I would place
Plant 1 on the window sill while the other is positioned in the middle of the
living room. Plant 1 will have an access to the sunlight while the other will
not. Each day I would strictly reinforce and provide necessary nutrients
needed like water making sure that I would give exact amount to both
plants. Monitor and document for changes in the growth or structure of the
plant at the same time everday for a week. Then results everyday will be
recapitulated at the end of the week to conclude whether the hypotheses
made are accurate or null.
Dependent variables:Growth rate of the plant
Independent variables:Location or placement of the plant
Positive Control:Plants placed on the window sill, where sunlight can pass
through, grow faster
Negative Control:Plants that are not placed on the window sill will not grow.
Observe also a plant that is placed outside or on the window sill only at
night.

2. When Sally eats healthy foods and exercises regularly, her blood pressure
is 10 points lower than when she does not exercise and eats fatty foods.

Testable (yes or no):YES

Hypothesis:Eating healthy foods and having a routine exercise everyday
lowers the blood pressure by 10 than when eating fatty foods and do not
have a regular work out.
Null Hypothesis:Eating unhealthy or fatty foods and having no daily routine
of exercise lowers the blood pressure rate by 10.
Describe experiment:Blood pressure could be affected by different
situations such as temperature of the environment, activity done by the
person, certain illnesses. But the root cause of the changes in blood
pressure, is mainly the type of food eaten by the person and if he/she has a
regular exercise. To conduct this study, I would make a schedule for sally.
First schedule is 1 week of eating fatty foods and no daily routine of exercise.
Second is 1 week of eating a healthy diet with regular work out routine. On
Lab 1 Introduction to Science BIO201L

the first week, I will ensure that I would record vital statistics including blood
pressure at the same time everyday for a week and same process will be
reinforced for the second week. At the end of the experiment, I would
colligate all the documented result each day for the whole 2 weeks. Then, I
will plot it via line graph to visually demonstrate the differences of the
statistics obtained. The result of the experiment will present whether the
hypotheses made is true or a null.
Dependent variables:Change in the blood pressure
Independent variables:Type of food eaten and frequency of exercise each
day
Positive Control:Persons having a healthy diet and regular exercise tend to
have normal or lower than her normal blood pressure
Negative Control:Persons eating fatty foods and without any opportunity to
work out will have an abnormal or higher rate of blood pressure.

3. The Italian restaurant across the street closes at 9 pm but the one two
blocks away closes at 10 pm.

Testable (yes or no):NO

Hypothesis:Click here to enter text.
Null Hypothesis:Click here to enter text.
Describe experiment:Click here to enter text.
Dependent variables:Click here to enter text.
Independent variables:Click here to enter text.
Positive Control:Click here to enter text.
Negative Control:Click here to enter text.

4. For the past two days, the clouds have come out at 3 pm and it has
started raining at 3:15 pm.

Testable (yes or no):NO

Hypothesis:Click here to enter text.
Null Hypothesis:Click here to enter text.
Describe experiment:Click here to enter text.
Dependent variables:Click here to enter text.
Independent variables:Click here to enter text.
Positive Control:Click here to enter text.
Negative Control:Click here to enter text.

Exercise 3: Conversion

For each of the following, convert each value into the designated units.

1. 46,756,790 mg =46.75679 kg
2. 5.6 hours =20160 seconds
3. 13.5 cm =5.31496 inches
Lab 1 Introduction to Science BIO201L

4. 47 C =116.6F

Exercise 4: Accuracy and Precision

For the following, determine whether the information is accurate, precise,

both or neither.

1. During gym class, four students decided to see if they could beat the
norm of 45 sit-ups in a minute. The first student did 64 sit-ups, the second
did 69, the third did 65, and the fourth did 67.
PRECISE
2. The average score for the 5th grade math test is 89.5. The top 5th
graders took the test and scored 89, 93, 91 and 87.
BOTH
3. Yesterday the temperature was 89 F, tomorrow its supposed to be 88 F
and the next day its supposed to be 90 F, even though the average for
September is only 75 F degrees!
PRECISE
4. Four friends decided to go out and play horseshoes.
They took a picture of their results (shown to the
right).
BOTH

5. A local grocery store was holding a contest to see who could most closely
guess the number of pennies that they had inside a large jar. The first six
people guessed the numbers 735, 209, 390, 300, 1005 and 689. The grocery
clerk said the jar actually contains 568 pennies.
NEITHER

Exercise 5: Significant Digits and Scientific Notation

Part 1: Determine the number of significant digits in each number and write
out the specific significant digits.

Number # of significant Specific significant

digits digits
Lab 1 Introduction to Science BIO201L

405000 3 405
0.0098 2 98
39.999999 8 39999999
13.00 4 1300
80,000,089 8 80000089
55,430.00 7 5543000
0.000033 2 33
620.03080 8 62003080

Part 2: Write the numbers below in scientific notation, incorporating what

you know about significant digits.

Number Scientific Notation

70,000,000,000 7 x 10^ 10
0. 000000048 4.8 x 10^ -8
67,890,000 6.789 x 10^ 7
70,500 7.05 x 10^ 4
450,900,800 4.509008 x 10^ 8
0.009045 9.045 x 10^ -3
0.023 2.3 x 10^ -2

Exercise 6: Percentage Error

In the questions below, determine the percentage error.

1. A dad holds five coins in his hand. He tells his son that if he can guess the
amount of money he is holding within 5% error he can have the money. The
son guesses that he is holding 81 cents. The dad opens his hand and
displays 90 cents. Did the son guess close enough to receive the money from
his father?
% error:Subtract 90-81 first then multiply it to 100% and then the result
will be divided by 90. It will become 9 x 100% = 900 %/90. The percent error
is 10%. This means that the boy cant have the money because it is not close
to the given 5 % error.

2. A science teacher tells her class that their final project requires the
students to measure a specific variable and determine the velocity of a car
with no more than 2.5% error. Jennifer and Johnny work hard and decide the
velocity of the car is 34.87 m/s. The teacher informs them that the actual
velocity is 34.15 m/s. Will Jennifer and Johnny pass their final project?
% error:Subtract 34.87-34.15 then multiply to 100% and divide the result
by 34.15. It will become 0.72 x 100% = 72/34.15. The percent error is 2.11 %
therefore means that Jennifer and Johnny will pass their final project because
2.11% is lower than 2.5%.
Lab 1 Introduction to Science BIO201L

3. A locomotive train is on its way from Chicago, IL to Madison, WI. The trip
is said to last 3.15 hours. When the train arrives in Madison the conductor
notices it actually took them 3.26 hours. The train company prides itself on
always having its trains to the station within a 3% error of the expected time.
Will the train company live up to its reputation on this trip?
% error:Subtract 3.26-3.15 hours then multiply to 100% and divide the
result to 3.15. It will become 0.11 x 100% = 11/3.15. The percent error is
3.49 %. This means that the train company failed to live up its trip reputation
because the actual percent error of 3.49% is higher than the expected error
of 3%.

4. A coach tells his little league players that hitting a .275 batting average,
within 7% percentage error, means that they had a really great season.
Seven year old Tommy ended the season hitting a .258 batting average.
According to his coach, did he have a great season?
% error:Subtract .275-.258 then multiply to 100% and then divide the
result by .275. It will become .017 x 100% = 1.7/.275. The percent error is
6.18 % meaning that Tommy had a really great season this is because his
actual battling average percentage error of 6.18% is close to the expected
percentage of 7% which will conclude how great they performed in the
season.
Lab 1 Introduction to Science BIO201L

Experiment 1: Design an Experiment

Table 5: Experiment 1 Variables

Water blended with oil
Water added with vinegar
Water blended with a bit of flour
Faucet water
Bottled water
Sweet water
Warm Temperature
Cold Temperature
High humidity
Darkness

Lab 1 Introduction to Science BIO201L

Tested Variable #1:Water from faucet

Hypothesis:Grains of beans mount faster when immersed in faucet water
in opposition to sweet water
Null Hypothesis:Grains of beans immersed in sweet water mount faster
than those being dipped into faucet water
Describe experiment:In order to conduct this experiment, I would need a
grain of bean with same length and size, same amount of liqud, and the area
of placement must have the same temperature. I will immerse the grains of
beans to sweet water and faucet water at the same time. Strictly monitoring
the rate of growth and the changes of both beans at the same time everyday
for 10 days. After 10 days, I will compile and compare the result monitored.
Then conclude whether the hypotheses made are accurate or a null
hypothesis.
Dependent variables:Cultivation of the grains of beans
Independent variables:Type of water used
Positive Control:Grains of beans dipped in faucet water germinates rapidly
Negative Control:Grains of beans that are not dipped in faucet water will
not germinate
Photo of Results:
Lab 1 Introduction to Science BIO201L

Tested Variable #2:DARKNESS

Hypothesis:Beans positioned in a darkened place grow faster than beans
positioned in a lightened place.
Null Hypothesis:Beans positioned in a lightened place grow faster than
those beans placed in a darkened place.
Describe experiment:In order to conduct this experiment, I would need
beans having the same length and size, making sure that the dark area is
totally dark and doesnt have an opportunity to be lightened, and also
making sure that light area is totally light with no opportunity to be
darkened. I will place both beans at the same starting time and monitor its
changes at the same time of each day for 10 days. At the end of 10 days,
documented results will be gathered and inspected for comparisions. The
result will prove whether the hypotheses made are accurate or a null.
Dependent variables:Germination of the beans
Independent variables:Darkness or Lightness of the area
Positive Control:Beans that are set in a dark zone cultivates speedily
Negative Control:Beans that are not set in a dark zone will not cultivate
Photo of Results:
Lab 1 Introduction to Science BIO201L

Tested Variable #1:Bottled water

Hypothesis:Grains of beans soaked in bottled water develop faster than
grains soaked in water blended with oil
Null Hypothesis:Grains of beans soaked in water blended with oil develop
faster than those grains soaked in bottled water
Describe experiment:To conduct this experiment, I will need to have beans
with the same size and length and same amount of liquid in a container. I will
soak the grains of beans in the container at the same time. Then I will strictly
document the changes observed on both the grains at the same time
everyday for 10 days. At the end of 10 days, results monitored are collated
and compared for the differences that will show whether the formulated
hypothesis is true or null.
Dependent variables:Growth progress of the bean
Independent variables:Type of liquid used in dispersion
Positive Control:Beans develop rapidly when soaked in a bottled water
Negative Control:Beans will not develop when soaked in a water blended
with oil
Photo of Results: