This lab is due: ___________

Please Read The Following:

Making observations is a fundamental part of science. An observation is any information gained directly by using your senses. You make observations bases on what you see, smell, taste, and touch. In this activity, you will take note of the ways in which you uses your sense to make observations. Scientists also use instruments to extend their senses. Instruments make it possible for you to use your senses to their full advantage and to qualify your observations by taking notes and making sketches.

Lab Skills and Objectives

· Observe and describe a sample of soil.

· Measure and record data about the soil sample.

· Hypothesize about the source of the soil sample.

· Compare and Contrast single measurement with class measurements.

Materials

· 2 glass beakers

· 2 samples of soil (20 to 30 grams each)

· 2 glass plates

· 1 hand lens

· Water

· Eye dropper

· Triple Beam Balance

· Tooth Pick

· 2 sheets of Graph Paper

· Pencil with eraser

Procedure

1. Determine the mass (g) of each soil sample using the Triple Beam Balance.

2. Place ¼ of each of the two samples on each of the glass plates

3. Using your Tooth Pick, Hand Lens, and Eye Dropper, investigate each sample.

Look for the following:

· Describe how each sample feels when a small sample of the soil id rubbed between your fingers. Does it feel moist, dry, gritty, or smooth? Are the particles loose or difficult to separate? Record your answers in the Venn diagram.

· Using the Hand Lens, describe the type of particles that make up each sample. Record your answers in the Venn diagram.

· Place several drops of water on each soil sample, one drop at a time. Observe how the sample changes. How do the particles react to the water? Does the soil emit and odor? Record you observations on the Venn diagram.

· Using a separate sheet of graph paper for each sample, pour the remainder of the solid out on each page. Estimate the size of the particles that make up each soil sample. What are the some of the colors of the mineral grains within each soil sample? Record your data on the Venn diagram.

· Once you have gathered your information, clean up your lab table and clean all your lab equipment.

Using your Textbooks; define the following words. Use complete sentences.

Observation:___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Hypothesis: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Conclusion:____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Data: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Discussion Questions: Answer in complete sentences.

1. What is the general appearance (color, how loose or how compact it is, kind of particles, and so forth) of the each soil sample?

Sample 1 was _________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Sample 2 was ____________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Compare how each soil sample felt. Describe in as much detail as possible.

3. Was there any change to each sample as water was added? Explain your observations.

4. Describe the odor given off by each of the soil samples.

5. What is the range in size of the individual particles (not clumps of soil) each soil sample?

Describe the different types of particles you observe.

6. Based on your observations, where do you think each soil sample came from? Explain.

Conclusion:

1. What sense did you use in doing this lab? What senses did you not use? Give an example of how you used each sense to perform this lab.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. What instruments were used to extend your senses? Explain how.

Soil Sample 1

Soil Sample 2

List what soil sample 1 & 2 have in common