Tools Scientists Use

Computer Description: Electronically find information and solve problems Function: Creates graphs, solves complex equations, analyze data, share ideas, research, publish reports

Compound Light Microscope Description: Instrument that uses lens and light to make objects look larger Function: magnifies small objects

Microscope Slide Description: Rectangular piece of plastic or glass to mount a specimen for viewing under a microscope Function: Holds the object being observed under a microscope

Electron Microscope Description: Uses electrons to produce a clearer and more detailed images Function: Focuses a beam of electrons to magnify objects

Ruler Description:A tool divided into sections for measuring lengths of objects Function:Measures distances including length, width, and circumference Metric Units: Meter, Centimeter, Millimeter Kilometer Metric Abbreviations: M, Cm, Mm, km

Graduated Cylinder Description: Cylinder divided into sections for measuring the size of something in three dimensional space (liquid volume or solid volume by displacement) Metric Units: Liter, Milliliter Abbreviations: L, ml Function: Measures volume of a liquid where the meniscus is located. Displacement is measured by putting a given amount of liquid in the cylinder, then placing object into the cylinder and finding the difference in the level of the liquid

Beaker

Triple-Beam Balance Description:A tool with a pan and beams. The object’s mass or the amount of matter in the object is determined by using the weights on the beams to balance the pan. Metric Units: Grams, Kilograms Abbreviations: g, kg Function:Measures mass of an object by using weights to balance the pan. When it balances, the mass is determined by how much weight is needed

Digital Balance Description: Tool with a pan that shows the mass (amount of matter) of an object with a digital screen. Function: Electronically determines the mass of an object Metric Units: Grams, Kilograms Abbreviations: g, kg

Thermometer Description: A tool that shows the amount of energy within matter. How hot or cold something is. Metric Units: Celcius Abbreviations: C Function: Measures how hot or cold matter is.

Stopwatch/Clock Description: Tool divided into hours, minutes and seconds Function: Tells the amount of time that passes Metric Units: Hours, Minutes, Seconds Abbreviations: hr, min, sec

Graph Description: A display of how one group of data relates to all of the data Function: Displays the results of an investigation visually Metric Units: Can be circle, bar or line graph. The variables are displayed on the x and y axis.

Data Table Description: A display of the data collected in an investigation. Usually done in a block format Function: To easily record data in an experiment in a time efficient manner where it is obvious to the reader what has happened

Ethogram Description: Tool used by behavioral scientist to observe behavior of an animal over time Function: Records the different defined behaviors of an animal over a given amount of time.

Safety Symbols

Gummy Worm Lab Background information: Use the text on page 24 & 25. The _metric ruler is a useful tool for taking accurate measurements of size (length, width, and circumference). Length measurements use the metric unit of meter which is abbreviated m. A metric ruler is divided into sections called centimeters with the abbreviation of _cm. There are 10 millimeters in a centimeter. The tool used in the laboratory to measure mass is called a Triple Beam Balance or a digital balance. The base unit for mass is called gram and is abbreviated g

Gummy Worm Lab Hypothesis: Write a hypothesis for the length, width, and circumference of your gummie worm using the “If………then……….” predicting statement. If a gummie worm is measured with a metric ruler, then the length is estimated to be __________cm, the width is estimated to be _________cm, and the circumference is estimated to be ____________cm. Write a hypothesis for the mass of your gummie worm using the “If………then……….” predicting statement. If a gummie worm is measured with a digital balance, then the estimated mass is ____grams.

Gummy Worm Lab Observations Must have an exact size drawing in colors of your worm with the three exact measurements listed.

Gummy Worm Lab Results Data table Must have your data and a comparison from someone with the opposite kind of worm. The earthworm is not filled in.

Gummy Worm Lab Example: Mass of worm + paper towel= 2.00g Mass of only paper towel= g Difference=mass of worm: 1.75g *Must have units Mass of worm + paper towel= __________ Mass of only paper towel = __________ Difference = mass of worm ___________

Gummy Worm Lab Conclusion: The hypothesis for length, width, and circumference was (accepted, rejected, or inconclusive). The worm measured _______________________________________ _____________________________________ ______________________________________________ ___________________. * Must be filled in with measurements you got! The hypothesis for mass was (accepted, rejected, or inconclusive). The worm’s mass was_________________ compared to a sour/regular worm with a mass of __________.