Measuring+Activity

Introduction
This lab was designed specifically to ensure that students knew how to use common measuring tools needed in biology, such as a triple beam balance, graduated cylinder, and Vermier temperature probe (LoggerPro). Students also learned skills such as margin of error, calculating density, and water displacement.

Lab
[|Tracey Zhang Biology Measuring Lab.pdf] In this biology lab, we had to go to eight different stations. In five of these stations, our objective was to find the mass and volume of two objects using a triple beam balance and graduated cylinder. At the sixth station, a Vermier temperature probe was used to find the change in temperature of ice cubes placed in boiling water. In the seventh station we had to measure our own body temperature, and in the eighth we had to figure out the volume of an unknown liquid.

Reflection
Positive: This experiment generally went well because we did not encounter any major problems. The positive aspect of our lab was that we worked efficiently because my lab partner and I split up the work (one person calculated volume and the other calculated mass). Negative: Unfortunately we stumbled on station six because we accidentally placed the ice cubes in the wrong beaker. We also ran into some miscalculations that we luckily caught beforehand. What I learned: From this experiment, I learned how to calculate the mass and volume using a triple beam balance and graduated cylinder, use LoggerPro to graph temperature changes, and finding the margin of error of a calculation. What was difficult: The most difficult part of this experiment was using the Vermier temperature probe because problems with LoggerPro on my computer (we used my partner's later) and handling the beaker of ice cubes. Gone better: If this experiment were to be redone, I would have liked to keep a better track of my data. At home, when I was writing the lab report, it was hard trying to figure out which data went with which nail in the picture.