You should also get an adult to go with you. The urban road habitat received the most particulate matter because of the automobile and truck traffic. 2. Use the number of dust particles sticked to the squares as a proof of air pollution. They can do this by making “pollution catchers” from small pieces of cardstock covered in Vaseline and hung from various places around their neighborhood. 5. Air Pollution Experiment. Why do you think that is? Make sure that all labeling is on the back of the slide, otherwise the sample areas and the labeling may be mistakenly rubbed off. From Star Teaching. Get the unbiased info you need to find the right school. Required materials. Environmental Science Merit Badge Handbook, Irving, TX, pp. Log in or sign up to add this lesson to a Custom Course. The Environmental Protection Agency works hard to pass laws, such as the Clean Air Act, to decrease the amount of particulate matter in the air. When all of the samples in all of the communities were averaged together, the total particles for the rural areas averaged 153.40 particles/1.5 cm2 and the urban average was 134.07 particles/1.5 cm2 (Fig. Set-up is easy, and material cost is low- you can obtain everything you need for under $5 for a classroom of 30. When you've selected an area to test, thread a piece of string through the hole in the plastic square and attach it to a pole, branch or other object in the area. Is there a difference between air pollution in urban areas as compared to more rural areas? My hypothesis was that there would be more particles in near the road and the least amount would be in the woods. Stereoscopes are best. Particles of soot from car and truck exhaust are very small as compared to dust, soil particles, and plant parts that are blown in the air from harvesting. But the urban field did show the lowest amount of particles. She has taught high school Biology and Physics for 8 years. You don't want someone cutting down your experiment! Though generally thought of as an urban dilemma, it poses a health threat in rural areas as well. imaginable degree, area of Harvesting crops with a combine produces lots of dust and chopped up plants that are blown in the air. Human activities, such as driving cars and factory production increase the amount of pollutants in the air. This was true for all the habitats combined for the rural and urban area and also for each of the habitat types. This was because the time of the year I sampled was during the corn and soybean harvest and that produced a lot of material. Hand lens with a good light source work, but are more difficult for kids to use. Vaseline 3. Paper plate2. Did you know… We have over 220 college In 2012, household air pollution made up 7.7% of all global mortalities. Pollution Activities for Kids, Pollution Projects for Kids, Earth Day Activities for Kids, Earth Day Theme for Preschool and Kindergarten, Activities on Pollution, Teaching Kids about Pollution with Hands on activities, Perfect for Earth Day and environmental studies, Science, Natural Living activities for Kids, Water Pollution, Land Pollution, and Air Pollution Activities Try testing different areas, like inside versus outside, or areas with lots of cars versus areas with lots of trees. Our Experts won't do the work for you, but they will make suggestions and offer guidance if you come to them with specific questions. In addition to human health problems, both chemical and particulate air pollution are prime factors involved with the warming of the earth by the greenhouse effect and the depletion of the earth’s protective ozone layer. Since there is more pollution outside than inside a building, there will be more particulate matter outside than inside. I chose the problem "Is there more Air Particulate Matter in an Urban or Rural Area" because I was interested in finding out whether air pollution is different in an urban and rural area. Looking at all the data from each one of the 3 trial taken, in every case the rural areas had a higher number of particles than when compared to the urban areas (Fig. You may have noticed that air pollutant particles can be big or small, and colored or colorless. 2). {{courseNav.course.mDynamicIntFields.lessonCount}} lessons Scissors are sharp and this step can be tricky. ScissorsWatch the full video to learn more. Visit the Science Experiments & Projects page to learn more. credit by exam that is accepted by over 1,500 colleges and universities. Pollution causes many problems for the environment, such as global warming, acid rain, and excessive growth of algae which can cloud lakes, upsetting the balance of ecosystems. The filter paper outside turned a dark purple and the one on the inside stayed a shade of white. The class of pollutants that are released into the atmosphere is known as air pollutants and is called air pollution. February 1, 2021. Particulate Air Pollution is a human health hazard because it can travel into your lungs and cause a variety of respiratory problems. Then I placed slides smeared with a thin layer of Vaseline in each of these sites to capture particulate air pollution. In the three different areas lay the slide on a flat surface (fallen tree, block of wood, etc.) Wait 3-5 days and return to the sites and collect your samples, being careful not to disturb the vaseline. (Side note: My students recently tested the pH of different … The reason the rural habitats had such a high level of particulate matter is because at the times the samples were run, the corn and soybean harvest was in progress. DIY AMAZING PROJECTS. While stratospheric ozone protects the planet from the suns harmful ultraviolet rays, troposphere ozone can cause sever health problems such as lung cancer. 472-477. In this experiment, we will make a sensor to detect particulate matter in our air – any objects floating through on the wind. Go to the resource. By the time you're done, you'll be able to explain why certain areas have more air pollution than others. - Causes, Symptoms & Treatment, Gallstones: Diagnosis, Treatment & Removal, Quiz & Worksheet - The Structure of Chromosomes, Quiz & Worksheet - Types of Point Mutations in DNA, Quiz & Worksheet - Effects of Frameshift Mutations, Quiz & Worksheet - How the Environment Affects Mutation Rates, Animal Reproduction and Development Lesson Plans, Human Effects on the Environment Lesson Plans, Animal Behavior for High School Biology Lesson Plans, California Sexual Harassment Refresher Course: Supervisors, California Sexual Harassment Refresher Course: Employees. 3. punch two holes in each of these index cards and use string to hang one inside and one outside in an area that is found suitable for testing 4. Air pollution is an important and current issue affecting many of us living in the U.K. and by engaging in this experiment it allows for a wider discussion on why we need clean air. first two years of college and save thousands off your degree. Bookmark this to easily find it later. Over 83,000 lessons in all major subjects, {{courseNav.course.mDynamicIntFields.lessonCount}}, Biological and Biomedical You will need:1. First, cut your milk jug into 3'' by 3'' squares using the scissors. In the rural areas where there was crop harvesting, the particulate matter settled out. PM air pollution can cause coughing, wheezing, and overall decreased lung function in otherwise healthy children and adults. (When particulate matter lands on the Vaseline it will stick to the slide.). The pore size of the coffee filter has no bearing on this experiment since it is not being used as a filter. Anyone can earn Feb 2, 2013 - Simple experiment to test for air pollution - petroleum jelly and index cards. Safety Tip!! and in an open area. Wadsworth Belmont CA, pp. Ad it doesn't matter where you live you can make these pollution catchers anywhere. This activity challenges you to carefully observe the air quality around you and how much air pollution might be in your own city or hometown. Rub any excess off the slide to make the Vaseline coating even. To determine the amount of foreign particles in the air in a specific area. Speculate on differences in pollutant concentrations in Pittsburgh. You'll need to bring the string and vaseline along with you. Also, choose spaces that will be undisturbed and are not private property. I thought there would be more particulate pollution along the road as compared to the field or the forest. Environmental Science, 2nd edition. 4. This resource is produced by Grow to School. Make sure to do this when no rain is expected. Chemistry? To tap into this interest, students may wish to study the differences in air pollution in various areas. Miller, Tyler, 1988. Now, take the plate and punch a … But in the urban area it was correct. Haze occurs both in cities, like the famously smog-covered Los Angeles, as well as areas rich in wildlife, like the Great Smoky Mountains. Another form of air pollution comes from particulate matter. 1. There are natural sources of air pollution as well. In this experiment you will test the quality of air by measuring the number of air particles from different locations. 96. Tags. Next, smear vaseline over the entire surface of the plastic. Record any peculiar activity that may have occurred in the vicinity of a sample during the 24-hour period. And it's a little way for you to test to see how dirty your air is in your environment. 4. Use caution in areas with heavy traffic. 7. For example, the dust and salt blown from the ocean or the "haze" produced by plants in our large forests are natural forms of air pollution. Follow all signs and stick to the sidewalk. * EPA, (www.epa.gov), Air Now. 4. The particulate matter that settled on the slides stuck to the Vaseline and I was able to count the number of particles under a dissecting microscope. Use your hole punch to put a whole in the top middle of each square. Let other people know about this page . Repeat steps 3-4 for each of the squares. But the reason the urban sites in general received the least amount of particulate matter is because most of the pollution produced by automotive vehicles are chemical pollutants and not large enough to be collected or counted with a dissecting microscope. Air Quality . Air pollution is known to be a health hazard. Activity Overview . Then there was filter paper that was hung inside and outside to see if it changed color in the presence of ozone. Climate change and smog. - Quiz & Self-Assessment Test, Environmental Management Course and Class Information. Scientists use complex sensors to detect the presence and quantity of specific gases in the air. Breathing air is vital to our existence, but have you ever thought you might not be breathing purely clean air? Before you start, think about what areas you expect to have increased pollution and why. Use caution when cutting the milk jug with the scissors. You teach the water and carbon cycles. I also hypothesize that within each area, the three different community types will have different quantities of particulate pollution. I used a measure of particulate air pollution to answer some of these questions. Air pollution can be in gaseous or particulate forms. This will catch the pollution. Pollutants are any materials, such as gas, particles, or chemicals that are released into the environment. The experiment tested if the ozone was in agreement with the clean air act and the particulate matter tested how clean the environment is. Given that we spend 90% of our lives indoors, it's important that the air we breathe indoors is clean, which can be a challenge since indoor air is 2 - 5 times more polluted than outdoor Today, we're … Objective. Tags . Sara Agee, Ph.D., Science Buddies. The air does not pass through the paper. See http://www.qacps.k12.md.us/cms/sci/ercesair.HTM#Data, See http://www.qacps.k12.md.us/cms/sci/ercesair.HTM#Graph. Water + CO 2 = carbonic acid. Which areas had the most pollution? To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. 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