Air Pollution Experiment: Measure the amount of falling dust in Hsien-Hsi from November to December
I. Abstract _
To
use self-made simple equipment to measure the average amount of falling dust in
Hsien-Hsi. We found that the dust inside is less than outside, so when the dust
storm comes, we had better not stay outside. The experiments result has also
shown that rain would purify air, and the amount of dust would differ from
inside and outside, from different places at the same area in one day. In
conclusion, we have learned how to make report, how to ask questions, how to
design experiment, how to keep records of experiment, how to operate equipment,
how to keep experiment journal, and experienced that we might make errors in
experiment result for our neglect.
II. Research Motive & Purpose
1.
Research Motive:
Among all items of air pollutant, except for harmful air, such as carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, oxycarbide, ozone, hydrocarbon and etc., the great effect is aerosol pollution caused by dust storm in every autumn and winter. Therefore, we’d like to use self-made simple equipment to measure the amount of falling dust in Hsien-Hsi.
Among all items of air pollutant, except for harmful air, such as carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, oxycarbide, ozone, hydrocarbon and etc., the great effect is aerosol pollution caused by dust storm in every autumn and winter. Therefore, we’d like to use self-made simple equipment to measure the amount of falling dust in Hsien-Hsi.
2. Research Purpose
Measure the average amount of falling dust inside and outside at Hsien-Hsi Junior High School from Nov. to Dec.
Measure the average amount of falling dust inside and outside at Hsien-Hsi house from Nov. to Dec.
Compare the average amount of falling dust for different places at the same area.
Measure the average amount of falling dust inside and outside at Hsien-Hsi Junior High School from Nov. to Dec.
Measure the average amount of falling dust inside and outside at Hsien-Hsi house from Nov. to Dec.
Compare the average amount of falling dust for different places at the same area.
III. Research Equipment
- 12 500ml-beakers
(rim is about 70.8cm2 )
- 4 boxes(33cm×24.5cm×11.5cm)
- 4 small bricks
- 1 set electronic scale
- 1 pack of labels
IV. Research Process & Ways
1. Experiment A-
Measure dust inside and outside at school
Step1: Take six 500ml-beakers(rim is about 70.8cm2 ), label A-in, B-in, C-in, A-out, B-out, and C-out (as photo 1), and weigh them separately (as photo 2).
Step1: Take six 500ml-beakers(rim is about 70.8cm2 ), label A-in, B-in, C-in, A-out, B-out, and C-out (as photo 1), and weigh them separately (as photo 2).
Step2: Put beakers labeled A-in, B-in, C-in and one piece of brick in an empty box, use corrugated paper to surround the brick (as photo 3), and put them in school library on third floor (as photo 4).
Step3: Take beakers labeled A-in, B-in, and C-in out, observe, weigh, and record at 12:30 p.m. every Thursday.
Step4: Repeat step 3, keep observing and recording until Jan. 2nd, 2014.
Step5: Put beakers labeled A-out, B-out, C-out and one piece of brick in an empty box, use corrugated paper to surround the brick (as photo 5), and put them on top floor of Cheng Pu Building at school.(as photo 6).
Step6: Take beakers labeled A-out, B-out, and C- out out, observe, weigh, and record at 12:30 p.m. every Thursday.7) Repeat step 6, keep observing and recording until Jan. 2nd, 2014.
Step4: Repeat step 3, keep observing and recording until Jan. 2nd, 2014.
Step5: Put beakers labeled A-out, B-out, C-out and one piece of brick in an empty box, use corrugated paper to surround the brick (as photo 5), and put them on top floor of Cheng Pu Building at school.(as photo 6).
Step6: Take beakers labeled A-out, B-out, and C- out out, observe, weigh, and record at 12:30 p.m. every Thursday.7) Repeat step 6, keep observing and recording until Jan. 2nd, 2014.
2. Experiment B- Measure dust inside and outside at home
Step1: Take six 500ml-beakers (rim is about 70.8cm2 ), label A-in, B-in, C-in, A-out, B-out, and C-out, and weigh them separately.
Step2: Put beakers labeled A-in, B-in, C-in and one piece of brick in an empty box, use corrugated paper to surround the brick, and put them in room (as photo 7).
Step3: Take beakers labeled A-in, B-in, and C-in out, observe, weigh, and record after school every Thursday.
Step4: Repeat step 3, keep observing and recording until Jan. 2nd, 2014.
Step5: Put beakers labeled A-out, B-out, C-out and one piece of brick in an empty box, use corrugated paper to surround the brick, and put them at balcony (as photo 8).
Step6: Take beakers labeled A-out, B-out, and C-out, observe, weigh, and record after school every Thursday.
Step7: Repeat step 6, keep observing and recording until Jan. 2nd, 2014.
Step1: Take six 500ml-beakers (rim is about 70.8cm2 ), label A-in, B-in, C-in, A-out, B-out, and C-out, and weigh them separately.
Step2: Put beakers labeled A-in, B-in, C-in and one piece of brick in an empty box, use corrugated paper to surround the brick, and put them in room (as photo 7).
Step3: Take beakers labeled A-in, B-in, and C-in out, observe, weigh, and record after school every Thursday.
Step4: Repeat step 3, keep observing and recording until Jan. 2nd, 2014.
Step5: Put beakers labeled A-out, B-out, C-out and one piece of brick in an empty box, use corrugated paper to surround the brick, and put them at balcony (as photo 8).
Step6: Take beakers labeled A-out, B-out, and C-out, observe, weigh, and record after school every Thursday.
Step7: Repeat step 6, keep observing and recording until Jan. 2nd, 2014.
V. Research Result
1. Experiment A- Measure dust inside and outside at school
2. Experiment B- Measure dust inside and outside at home
VI. Discussion
(1) It is found that the average amount of falling dust inside at school is too little to be weighed by electronic scale from table 3 and 4. It might be the good prevention from door and window to block most dust.
(2) It is found that the average amount outside at school in week 1, 3 and 8 is more than others from table 3 and 5, and average for week 5 is zero, so the air quality is much better in week 5 just depended on weekly average.
(3) It is found that the weekly average would differ from different places at the same area, even if the distance between them is few centimeters.
(4) It is found that the weekly average is less in rainy day from table 5, so the rain might purify air to elevate air quality.
(5) The figures in week 3 and 5 seemed to get some problems from table 6 and 7. Classmates responded the electronic scale wasn’t stable in these weeks, after consulted with teacher, who said that they might place electronic scale unevenly when measured, so it caused unstable figure. Therefore, figure in week 3 wasn’t adopted.
(3) It is found that the weekly average would differ from different places at the same area, even if the distance between them is few centimeters.
(4) It is found that the weekly average is less in rainy day from table 5, so the rain might purify air to elevate air quality.
(5) The figures in week 3 and 5 seemed to get some problems from table 6 and 7. Classmates responded the electronic scale wasn’t stable in these weeks, after consulted with teacher, who said that they might place electronic scale unevenly when measured, so it caused unstable figure. Therefore, figure in week 3 wasn’t adopted.
(6) Compare table 5 with table8, and we could find the weekly average in week 6 outside at home and school is little or zero.
(7) Compare table 6 with table8, the amount in week 7 to 9 increased and decreased abnormally. It resulted from heavy rain in week 7 and the water flew into beaker at balcony. To present the reality, we still measured the mass change. However, the mass decreased for water vaporization in week 8 and 9.
(8) Observe the beakers in the last day, such as photo 9, photo 10, photo 11, photo 12, we could find that there were feathers and falling leaves in beakers, so the experiment equipment should be improved.
(7) Compare table 6 with table8, the amount in week 7 to 9 increased and decreased abnormally. It resulted from heavy rain in week 7 and the water flew into beaker at balcony. To present the reality, we still measured the mass change. However, the mass decreased for water vaporization in week 8 and 9.
(8) Observe the beakers in the last day, such as photo 9, photo 10, photo 11, photo 12, we could find that there were feathers and falling leaves in beakers, so the experiment equipment should be improved.
(9) The classmate who was responsible for measuring at home didn’t measure on regular time after school, so it might cause some errors in this this experiment.
VII. Conclusion
- The falling dust inside is less than outside, so the doors and windows could prevent from the dust. Therefore, when the dust storm comes, we had better not stay outside.
- Rain might decrease the weekly average amount of falling dust to purify air.
- Weekly average amount of falling dust would be different, even if the distance is very short in the same area.
- When using electronic scale, we placed it on different places without considering putting it evenly to influence the experiment figure and result.
- Inflow happened in week 7. Therefore, we should examine the location for some time before designing the experiment and design experiment equipment carefully next time.
- We should improve the irregular measure time at home next time.
- From this experiment, we have learned how to make report, how to ask questions, how to design experiment, how to keep records of experiment, how to operate equipment, how to keep experiment journal, and understood the profile of average amount of falling dust in part of Hsien-Hsi.
Reference (Traditional Chinese Websites & Books)
Websites
Books
Books
- 翰林版自然與生活科技2上第二章2-3空氣的成分與特性,102年6月初版二刷