Energy in Blowin in the Wind (outdoor air pollution detector)
Essential question: How is energy affecting our environment?
Obective: !WB"# design and build an outdoor air pollution detector and communicate the design process and results. Engage and E$%lore: #eacher begins with a demo& #eacher lights a candle' lets it burn for a few seconds and %laces a clear ar over the flame so that the glass touches the flame& !oot will immediately develo% on the glass& "s( students )What is the blac( that has collected inside the ar? *oes the blac( stuff e$ist when the ar is not there?+ ,& Ask students to share some sources of air pollution. How might scientist measure pollution? How does pollution impact society? -& Introduce activity to students a& Read handout ollution atrol! http"##www.tryengineering.org#sites#default#files#lessons#pollutionpatro l.pdf b& $%plain that each team must design a particulate air pollution detection device. It must have a flat collection area& which is at least ' cm % ' cm. (he device should have relative protection from the elements and should be able to be secured. c& )how students the materials that they have to choose from .& )tudents meet and develop a plan for their device. a& (hey must agree on the materials that they will need b& (hey must write and draw their plan before building and have it approve by the teacher. /& )tudents build their collection device a& )tudents may need to rethink their plans& re*uest alternate materials& trade with other teams or start over 0& $ach team should place their detector at a different location around the school +near buses& parking lot& playing field ect.) 1& After ,- hours& students can e%amine particulate matter collected by their devices using hand lenses +or microscopes) a& Record and describe all the different types of particles they see +dust& pollen& dirt& ect.) E$%lain 2 Elaborate .. Analy/e data a. )tudents should create a grid of . cm s*uares over their device0s collection area with string& securing it with tape. (hey should then count the number of particles in ' random s*uares and take an average. b. )tudents can then compare and graph findings for the different locations tested by the class c. )tudents can upload data onto 1oogle pages. -. resent finding to class 2. )tudents develop a scale to rate air *uality#air pollution at the different locations tested around the school 3. )tudents compare their data to other schools Evaluate .. 4hat do you think can be done to reduce particulate pollution around your school? )tudents write a letter to the principal to let him#her know what can be done to reduce air pollution in and around the school. Energy is Blowin in the Wind Purpose: You are a team of engineers who have been given the challenge to design a device that can detect the presence of particulate pollutants outside of your school. The device must have a fat collection area which is at least 5 cm x 5 cm. The device needs to have relative protection away from the elements and should be able to be secured (so it does not blow away). Step 1: Meet with your group to develop and agree on a design for your air pollution detector. At this tie you ust deterine the aterials that your group wants to use. With the people in your engineering tea! draw a diagra for your Pollution "evice. Be sure to include all the aterials that are #eing used to #uild your device. ______________________ teacher approval $nce your design is signed o% #y the teacher! you ay #egin #uilding. Step &: Build your air pollution detector. uring construction did you ma!e any changes to your initial design" (#a!e sure you record all changes and the rational for your decisions.) ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ _______________________. Step ': "ecide where your group will place the detector. ($nly one other group ay share your sae location.) ****************************** location Step +: ,& hours later-.se a hand lens or a icroscope to e/aine what you have collected. Ma0e a detailed drawing of what you have collected and write a description using coplete sentences in the #o/ #elow. Step 1: .se a string to create a grid of 1 c s2uares over your devices collection area! securing it with tape. 3ount the nu#er of particles in 1 rando s2uares. 4ecord your data in the ta#le #elow. 5hen calculate the average nu#er of particles per s2uare. Bo/ 6u#er of Particles 5otal nu#er of particles $verage number of particles% (show your wor!) Step 7: Share your 8ndings with your class. 9ill in the data ta#le #elow showing others results. :ocation Average 6u#er of Particles 3onclusion: &. 'ased on our results and the reading( how might you evaluate the air )uality*air pollution at the locations tested around your school" ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ _______________________. +. ,f you had to do it all over again( how would your planned design change" -hy" ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ _________________. .. -hat type of particulate pollution did you /nd the largest )uantity of" -hy do you thin! that is" ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ _________________. 0. -hat do you thin! can be done to reduce particulate pollution around your school" ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ _________________.