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 LabBackground 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= - 0.25g

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 __________.