HOW TO… Calculate | Collect | Describe | Graph | Hack Identify | Measure | Tabulate | Use | Write

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CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2) GAS in air

• Using Vernier’s CO2 sensor

DISSOLVED OXYGEN (DO) of (aqueous) solutions

• Using Vernier’s DO sensor/probe
• Using Vernier’s optical DO sensor

DIVERSITY of macroinvertebrate communities

• Using biomonitoring field techniques

EFFECTS of organic pollution on macroinvertebrate communities

• Using a Biotic Index

HEIGHT of tall objects

• Using your legs or your thumb
• Using a homemade clinometer
• Using shadows, pencils or paper

LENGTH

• Using a centimeter ruler
• Using a metric ruler

LIGHT ABSORPTION by chemical substances

• Using Vernier’s SpectroVis Plus

LIGHT

• Using Vernier’s light sensor
• Using Vernier’s UVA and UVB light sensors

MASS – by using different types of balances. The balances included below are arranged according to the amount of precision they provide (from least to most).

• Least precise: Manual or Mechanical balances
  • YouTube tutorials for the triple beam balance (Video 1) (Video 2) (Video 3)
  • Interactive Flash (swf) tutorial for the Ohaus 700/800 Triple Beam Balance
  • Interactive Flash (swf) tutorial for the Ohaus Cent-O-Gram Balance
  • Interactive Flash (swf) tutorial for the Ohaus Dial-O-Gram Balance

• More precise: Top-Loading Electronic balances 
  • YouTube tutorials for top-loading electronic balances (Video 1) (Video 2) (Video 3)
  • Interactive Flash (swf) tutorial for the Ohaus Compact Electronic Balance Series
  • Interactive Flash (swf) tutorial for the Ohaus Scout Pro Electronic Balance

• Even more precise: Analytical Electronic balances
  • YouTube tutorials for analytic electronic balances (Video 1) (Video 2) (Video 3)

• Most precise: Micro-Analytical Electronic balances

MOISTURE in soil

• Using Vernier’s soil moisture sensor

OXYGEN (O2) GAS in air

• Using Vernier’s O2 gas sensor

pH of (aqueous) solutions

• Using litmus paper
• Using pH test strips
• Using a universal indicator solution
• Using Vernier’s pH sensor

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS of stream channels

• Using various field techniques

READING SCALES of lab instruments

• Practice reading the scales commonly found on measuring scales and weighing scales

SURFACE AREA

• of a leaf (or other irregular shapes)

TEMPERATURE

• How to read thermometers in degrees Celcius
• Reading a thermometer
• Using a laboratory thermometer
• Using Vernier’s stainless steel temperature probe
• Using Vernier’s Go Wireless temperature probe
• Using Vernier’s extra-long temperature probe

TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS in (aqueous) solutions

• Using Vernier’s conductivity sensor

TURBIDITY of (aqueous) solutions

• Using Vernier’s turbidity sensor

VOLUME of liquids

• Using graduated cylinders (Video 1)(Video 2) (Video 3) (Video 4, which pays special attention to accuracy, precision, and uncertainty)
• Using beakers, cylinders, Erlenmeyer flasks, and volumetric flasks (Video 1)

VOLUME of irregular shaped (solid) objects

• by displacement

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Do you have a MEASUREMENT that you’d like to see added to this section? If so, please tell Dr. M about it through the Comment feature below.