SEMESTER SEPTEMBER 2011

EXPERIMENTS
FOR
TEACHING SCIENCE FOR LOWER
SECONDARY 11
(HBSC3403)

(20%)

EXPERIMENT 1
Aim:

To show that air exerts pressure

Materials and apparatus:

glass of water, cardboard

Figure 1

Procedure:1.
Fill the water into the glass until it is full.
2.
Place a cardboard on the brim of the glass.
3.
With one hand supporting the cardboard and the other hand supporting
the glass, tilt the glass.(Figure 1)
4.
Slowly, remove the hand supporting the cardboard.

5.
6.

Observe what happens.

Explain your observation.

EXPERIMENT 2
Aim: To show the effects of air pressure
Materials and apparatus: mahjong paper, marker pens
Procedure:1. Divide into groups of four and divide a chart using the mahjong paper into
two parts.
2. Label one side Air pressure helps and the other Air pressure hinders.
3. Brainstorm 5 ways in which air pressure helps people. Look out for 5
instances where air pressure hinders people.
4. Record the ideas on the chart.
5. Add these to the chart.

EXPERIMENT 3
Aim: To show that air contains water vapour
Materials and apparatus:

Retort stand, test tube, ice cubes, stoppers, crucible,

tissue paper, cobalt chloride paper

Procedure:1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Figure 2

Fill a test tube with ice cubes.

Close the test tubes with a stopper.
Clamp the test tube to a retort stand.
Place the crucible on the surface of the retort stand below the test tube
(Figure 2).
Wipe the outer surface of the test tube with tissue paper.
Leave the test tubes for a few minutes.
Observe what happens.
Carry out a test to confirm the fluid collected at the crucible.
Explain your observation.

EXPERIMENT 4

Aim: An experiment to show that there is microorganism in the air.

Materials and apparatus:

Two petri dishes, sterilized nutrient agar.

Procedures:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Take two petri dishes; one with a cover and the other without a cover.
Pour sterilized nutrient agar into the two petri dishes.
Leave both petri dishes in the laboratory.
After three days, check the nutrient agar with a magnifying glass.
Draw the appearance of what is observed in the petri dish without the
cover.
6.
Explain your observation of the two petri dishes.

EXPERIMENT 5

Aim: To separate the components of a mixture through filtration

Materials and apparatus: test tube, filter funnel, filter paper, test tube containing
chalk and water suspension.

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Figure 3

Procedures:
1. Line the filter funnel with the filter paper.
2. Place the filter funnel into an empty test-tube.
3. Pour the chalk and water suspension into the filter funnel (Figure 3).
4. Observe what happens. Name the residue and the filtrate.

EXPERIMENT 6

Aim: To identify things made from animal or plant products.

Materials and apparatus:

Things found in the laboratory

Procedures:
1.
2.

Look around you and identify 10 things found in the laboratory.

List the things down and identify whether the things are made from plant
or animal.

ITEMS FROM ANIMALS OR

ANIMAL PRODUCTS

3.

ITEMS FROM PLANT OR PLANT

PRODUCTS

Record your observation in the table given. Give your opinion as to

whether the things found in the laboratory have depleted the resources of the
Earth.

EXPERIMENT 7
Aim: To find out the air pollution level at your place.
Materials and apparatus: Readings of the API from
http://www.doe.gov.my/apims/lokasi.php
Procedures:
1.
2.

Write down the API index of your area for two weeks.
Fill in the data in the table given below.

Date of API taken

3.

API

From the data recorded, state your opinion as to the degree of pollution in
your area for that week.

EXPERIMENT 8
Aim: To show the products of respiration
Materials and apparatus:

Bunsen burner, deflagrating spoon, oxygen, cobalt

chloride paper, limewater, glucose, gas jar with cover

Figure 4

Procedure:
1. Place some glucose on the deflagrating spoon.
2. Heat the sugar over the Bunsen burner until it burns.
3. Transfer the deflagrating spoon and its contents into a gas jar filled with
oxygen (Figure 4).
4. Wait until the glucose has burnt completely.

5. Touch the walls of the gas jar. Record your observation.

6. Observe the interior of the gas jar. Record your observation.
7. Slide the cobalt chloride paper on the inner walls of the gas jar. Record
your observation of the cobalt chloride paper.
8. Pour a bit of limewater into the gas jar and shake it. Record your
observation of the limewater.
9. Write a conclusion of this experiment.

EXPERIMENT 9
Aim: To find the products of combustion of a candle.
Materials and apparatus:

gas jar, gas jar lid, candle, cobalt chloride paper,

limewater and matches

Figure 5

Procedure:
1. Light up the candle. Let it stand on the gas jar lid .(Figure 5)

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2. Invert the gas jar over the lighted candle.

3. When the candle blows out, observe the inner linings of the gas jar for the
presence of any substances.
4. Use the cobalt chloride paper to test the substance.
5. Record your observation.
6. Repeat step 1 and step 2.
7. After the candle blows off, invert the gas jar and pour 2cm 3 of limewater
and shake the gas jar.
8. Record your observation.
9. Explain your observation.

EXPERIMENT 10
Aim: To calculate power.
Materials and apparatus:

measuring tape, stop watch, weighing machine

Procedure:
1. Weigh yourself using a weighing machine.
2. Choose a flight of stairs nearby and measure the vertical height of the
stairs with a measuring tape.
3. Get a partner to record the time taken for you to reach the top of the
stairs.
4. Walk quickly to the top of the stairs.
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 with three other people.
6. Record all the observations in the table below.
Name

Weight of the
person (N)

Height of the stairs (M)

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Time (s)

Power (W)
=Work done (J)
Time taken (s)

1. Calculate the power for each person to go up the flight of stairs.

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