Earth Science
Lab Manual
LUOA
2013-2014
Contents
Welcome to Earth Science Lab ..................................................................................................................... 2
Important Things to Know ............................................................................................................................ 2
Course Expectations...................................................................................................................................... 3
Questions must be answered in complete sentences. ................................................................................. 3
Formatting Guidelines for Uploading Assignments: ..................................................................................... 4
Formatting for Formal Science Lab Reports- ................................................................................................ 4
Unit 1 Project 3 Research a Career ............................................................................................................... 6
Unit 1 Assignment 5 Project Earth Comparison............................................................................................ 7
Unit 1 Assignment 8 Project Building the Earth ............................................................................................ 9
Unit 1 Assignment 11 Project- Mantle Convection ................................................................................... 10
Unit 1 Assignment 13 Project Plate Boundaries ......................................................................................... 10
Unit 1 Assignment 16 Project Sphere Interaction ...................................................................................... 11
Unit 1 Assignment 20 Project Flow of Energy ............................................................................................. 11
Unit 1 Assignment 22 Special Project ......................................................................................................... 11
Unit 2 Assignment 4 Project Earthquake Features Lab .............................................................................. 11
Unit 2 Assignment 10 Project Volcanic Features Lab ................................................................................. 12
Unit 3 Assignment 4 Project Identifying a Mineral ..................................................................................... 13
Unit 3 Assignment 10 Project 10 Identifying a Rock ................................................................................... 13
Unit 4 Assignment 4 Project Soil Particles .................................................................................................. 14
Unit 4 Assignment 8 Project Ice Erosion (Glacial Erosion) and Alternate ................................................... 14
Alternate Lab:.......................................................................................................................................... 15
Unit 5........................................................................................................................................................... 15
Unit 6 Assignment 2 Project Water Purification ......................................................................................... 15
Unit 6 Assignment 8 Porosity and Permeability ......................................................................................... 16
Unit 6 Assignment 13 Experiment Fresh Water vs. Saltwater .................................................................... 18
Unit 7 Assignment 10 Project Air Circulation.............................................................................................. 21
Unit 7 Assignment 14 Project Greenhouse Effect ...................................................................................... 21
Unit 8 Assignment 2 Project Weather or Climate ....................................................................................... 22
Unit 8 Assignment 4 Project Weather and Climate .................................................................................... 23
Unit 8 Project 18 Special Project Making a Barometer............................................................................. 23
Unit 9 Assignment 2 Project: Scale of Solar System ................................................................................... 24
Unit 9 Assignment 5 Project Newton’s Law ................................................................................................ 27
Unit 9 Assignment 11 Project Identifying Galaxies (virtual) ....................................................................... 27
Unit 10......................................................................................................................................................... 27
Appendix A- Model Science Lab Report...................................................................................................... 28
1
Welcome to Earth Science Lab at LUOA. Laboratory is a very important
component of any science class. The lab must be completed in conjunction with your regular
science class. If you have a question regarding the lab, you have two options. You can message
your instructor within the curriculum, or you can call into the LUOA office at 1-866-418-8741
option 4 (teacher), option 3 (science). Science help is available from 8:30-5:00 Eastern Standard
Time, Monday through Friday.
Important Things to Know
1. We pray for you. If you need prayer for anything specific let us know. We will add you
and your need to our prayer list and will pray for you. 
2. Labs are not optional. You must complete all of the labs found within a unit before the
unit test may be attempted. Please do not ask us to allow you to “just take a zero.” It is
one of our greatest desires to see you be successful and be prepared for all the plans that
the Lord has prepared for you. This class is transcripted as a lab science; therefore, all
labs must be completed.
3. The directions and the supplies may differ in this manual from those in lesson. ALWAYS
FOLLOW THOSE IN THIS LAB MANUAL. Please refer to this document often; a hard
copy can be very helpful.
4. The Messaging System is an easy way to contact your teacher, if you have questions
about the labs or your classwork in general. Please remember to be respectful. Use Mr. or
Mrs. when you send your message. Watch your spelling and capitalization (you are not
texting friends; this is school).
2
5. Teachers have 24 hours to respond to your messages, and 24 – 48 hours to grade your
submissions. This does NOT include the weekends.
6. The curriculum will permit uploads of a wide variety of formats (.csv, .docs, .pdf, .xls,
.xlsx, .docx, .jpeg, .jpg, .ppt, .pptx, .txt, and .rtf). Uploads in MS Word (.docs or .docsx)
are preferred, and in some cases, may be required. Word documents enable the teachers
to give comments along with scoring and are more universally accepted than some other
formats.
7. Repeatedly submitting blank assignments or disregarding teacher comments may lead to
your science progress being blocked until the work is completed satisfactorily.
Course Expectations
In this course, there are certain expectations. We want you to be aware of these
expectations from the very beginning. Please read the following guidelines and follow them
when submitting your assignments. Understand that while some of these guidelines may apply to
all of your work (Headings & Complete Sentence Answers for instance), others only are needed
with certain assignments (Science Reports & Science Lab Reports for example).
Questions must be answered in complete sentences.
What is meant by complete sentences?
 When speaking of answers, complete sentences do not mean only grammatically
complete. It also means to use part of the question in the answer.
 Q: What color are your eyes?
A: My eyes are blue.
 Q: Which planet is nicknamed the “red planet”?
A: The planet nicknamed the red planet is Mars.
3
Formatting Guidelines for Uploading Assignments: Some science assignments
require that your work to be submitted in a more formal way. These reports need to follow the
following guidelines. Failure to follow these guidelines may result in your assignments being
reassigned.
 Headings – Please include your name, date, and Unit/Assignment numbers at the top
of any uploaded work.
 Formatting – Papers should be written in MLA format
o 12 inch font
o Times New Roman
o Double Spaced
o 1-margin
o Work Cited Section or Page
o Left Justified
o Indented Paragraph
o Section headings are useful and add clarity to a report. (These may be bolded
and underlined, size 14, and centered).
 Sources – Generally, in research work, at least 2 academic sources will be asked for.
If you are citing the internet, keep in mind that Wikis, Google, ASK and a few other
are search engines are not considered academic sources! Academic sources should be
listed using proper formatting at the end of your report in a Works Cited section.
o All work will be submitted to the plagiarism checker Safe Assign.
Formatting for Formal Science Lab Reports- For some of your experiments and
projects, a science lab report format is needed to separate the separate areas of your experiment.
4
If a science lab report is required then the work will be reassigned if it is not there. A template of
a Science Lab Report format can be found in the Appendix at the end of this manual.
 Purpose – What are you trying to show with this project? What is the intent?
 Research – You should not be as detailed as with a research paper. A paragraph that
gives some background is fine.
 Hypothesis – This is a prediction of what you think the results of the project will be.
Write your hypothesis before you begin the experiment. A common sentence form for
a hypothesis is to use an ‘if-then’ statement. (Example: If students get adequate rest,
then grades will improve.) (1-2 sentences)
 Procedures – In 1st person past tense, please write a summary of what you steps you
actually performed while conducting the experiment. Be sure to include any
modifications. You should include enough detail so that someone could reproduce the
experiment based on what you have written. Presenting your information in a
numbered list format is also recommended.
 Data – (VERY IMPORTANT) Data is often missing and the cause for a great many
re-assignments. Data and observations are vital in science, and it is also vital that data
be referred to in your answers. Teachers will look for your data to be presented in an
organized manner (usually a table format), and this data should be referred to in your
conclusion. Observations may be written out in a descriptive paragraph following the
data table.
 Analysis – (Graphs) Many experiments would benefit by showing the data in graphic
form. For some projects and experiments, graphic form is a requirement. The graph
would be included after your data in the analysis section of your lab report. A bar
5
graph is used when comparisons are being made, as with your Porosity &
Permeability experiment. A line graph is excellent to show trends, as with your
Greenhouse experiment. Finally, a pie or circle graph is useful when dealing with
percentages.
 Conclusion – Begin by stating whether the hypothesis was true or false. Use data and
calculations to support your answer. Consider the following questions as you write
your conclusion: Why or what happened to result in the outcome you observed? Did
you learn anything new? If not, what previously discussed concepts did this lab
reinforce? Is there anything you would or could do differently that would improve the
experiment? Do you have any other comments/observations you would like to share
about this lab?
 Application – In what manner can these conclusions be used in the real world?
Unit 1 Project 3 Research a Career
Directions: Research a Career in the field of science and write a report describing that career.
Choose one of the following careers or if you if you can think of another, ask you teacher for
approval. The careers are astronomer, geologist, meteorologist or oceanographer. Your paper
should be about 450-500 words. The paper should be written in your own words. You need at
least two sources. You need to cite both of these sources. See the guidelines on writing papers
for LUOA below.
Information to include in the report:
 What are three tasks this type of scientist completes on most days?
 What locations might this type of scientist work?
 What are at least three reasons why this type of scientist’s work is important?
6
 What course of study is necessary to work in this field of science as well as how many
years of study are necessary to complete a degree in this field?
Category
Possible Points
Earned Points
80 points
Information included in the
report. (20 points for each
question).
15 points
Formatting Guidelines
5 points
Spelling, Mechanics,
Grammar
100 points
Total
Unit 1 Assignment 5 Project Earth Comparison
This assignment consists of a chart as well as 12 questions. The student needs to complete both
and upload them in the area beneath the essay box in the lesson.
Directions: Research the following information of the following planets plus Pluto. Fill in the
information on the chart. Use the chart to answer the questions in COMPLETE sentences.
***Grading – The chart is worth 40 points, and each question is worth 5 points for a total of 100
points.
7
Planet
Average
Surface
Temp
Gravity
Compared to
Earth
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Pluto
Questions:
1. Which is the hottest planet?
2. Which is the coldest planet?
3. Which planet’s temperature is closest to that of earth?
8
Atmospheric
gases
Water
(solid, liquid,
gas)
4. Which planet has the greatest gravitational attraction?
5. Which planet has the least gravitational attraction?
6. Which planet's gravitational pull is closest to that of Earth?
7. Do any of the planets have oxygen in their atmosphere?
8. Which planet's atmosphere most resembles that of Earth?
9. Do any of the planets have flowing water?
10. Which planet's water resources (solid, gas, or liquid) might be close to the amount on
Earth?
11. Which planet most resembles Earth in terms of all of the factors: temperature, gravity,
atmosphere, and water?
12. If Earth became an uninhabitable planet, which planet do you think would be the next
best location on which to live? Explain your answer.
Unit 1 Assignment 8 Project Building the Earth
In this lab you build a virtual planet, but first you must go back to “Lesson 7 Layers of the Earth”
to make a few notes about the makeup of the Earth.
After the Planet Builder Exercise, you need to complete the questions. Each question is worth 10
points.
Part 1 Answer in Complete Sentences
1. What is the name of your planet? (Be creative)
2. Name each of the four layers?
3. What is the composition of each of the four layers?
4. What is average temperature of each of the four layers?
5. What is the average thickness of each of the four layers?
9
Part 2 Answer in Complete Sentences
1. Which layer does plasticity and convection occur?
2. Which layer is thinnest under the oceans and thickest in the mountains?
3. Which layer is made of solid iron?
4. Which layer is the hottest?
5. Which layer is the coolest?
Unit 1 Assignment 11 Project- Mantle Convection
This project is a comparison between plate tectonics and mantle convection and lava lamps.
First you need to understand plate tectonics and mantle convection a little better. Watch this
YouTube clip (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEYLx_bhtoA). Now go to your lesson
(lesson 11) and watch the lava lamps. Answer the questions
1. What is happening with the “lava” in lamp A? Explain your response. (25 points)
2. What is happening with the “lava” in lamp B? Explain your response.(25 points)
3. Relate your observations of lava lamp B to mantle convection and plate tectonics. What
does the heat source of the lave lamp represent in the earth? If the lava lamp had a
floating piece of foam at the top, what would they do? What would these foam pieces
represent on the earth? (50 points)
Unit 1 Assignment 13 Project Plate Boundaries
This project is a virtual project. Follow the directions within the lesson. You need to name the
specific movement for each question. You need to explain the process in such a way that
demonstrates your understanding. Well written and complete sentences are expected.
10
Unit 1 Assignment 16 Project Sphere Interaction
This project is a virtual project. Follow the directions within the lesson. First Complete the
Virtual Sphere Interaction Lab. Next complete the following questions.
1. Name the four spheres and, in complete sentences, describe the spheres.
2. Provide an example of at least one interaction for each pair of spheres.
a. An example Crust (lithosphere) provides areas for life (biosphere)
Unit 1 Assignment 20 Project Flow of Energy
Develop a food web. You may use Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Publisher, or create a free
Glogster (glogster.com) or a free Prezi (prezi.com) (or use any other program you would like to
use). Be creative. After you have created your food web, upload it or the link to it into the lesson.
Next, answer the questions in the lesson. Answers must be in complete sentences. Your answers
must convey your understanding of food chains and populations.
Unit 1 Assignment 22 Special Project
When you started this class, your advisor asked you to email all of your teachers and introduce
yourself. Please do so as an attachment to this assignment. Also include your contact information
(email and phone number please) as well as a statement that you have read and have accessed
this science lab manual.
Unit 2 Assignment 4 Project Earthquake Features Lab
This lab is a virtual project. Follow the instructions as they are written in the lesson. All answers
must be written in complete sentences. Please make sure you give thorough explanations for
each answer, even for #3 which is your own opinion.
11
Unit 2 Assignment 10 Project Volcanic Features Lab
This lab has a virtual component with pictures of each of the features listed below. Go through
the virtual lab and name each feature. After you have completed the virtual portion of the lab,
answer the following questions using your own words.
Describe the following features. (Do not just cut and paste).
a. Dike
b. Sill
c. Laccolith
d. Batholith
2. Describe the following types of volcanoes.
a. Cinder cones
b. Composite
c. Shield
3. Describe the following terms.
a. Crater
b. Caldera
c. Geyser
d. Hot Spring
e. Lava Dome
f. Flood Basalt Plateau
12
Unit 3 Assignment 4 Project Identifying a Mineral
In this lab, you are identifying unknown minerals using common testing properties: color, luster,
streak, hardness, and cleavage, as well as transparency and acid reaction. Follow the directions in
the lesson and document your results below. (You can cut and paste this chart into your own
document). When you are done with the experiment, answer the questions using complete
sentences. Then you will need to upload the completed chart and the answered questions into the
lesson.
Mineral A
Mineral B
Mineral C
Mineral D
Mineral E
Mineral F
Color
Streak
Hardness
Luster
Acid
Reaction
Breakage
Transparency
Mineral
Unit 3 Assignment 10 Project 10 Identifying a Rock
In this lab you will be identifying rocks using texture, color, and composition.
Texture
Color
Rock A
Rock B
Rock C
Rock B
13
Composition
Rock Type
When you are done with the experiment, name all four rocks using complete sentences. (Rock A
is….). Upload the completed chart, and the answered questions into the lesson.
Unit 4 Assignment 4 Project Soil Particles
In this lab, you are describing how particle size affects the settling of soil.
Materials:
 1 ½ cups dirt (you can dig it up in your backyard)
 ½ cup of sand
 2 wide mouth glass containers with lids (jars or juice bottles work well)
 Masking Tape/Pen (to label)
 Spoon (to mix)
 Water
 Camera
With complete sentences, you need to answer the questions in the lab. Upload a picture of your
jars on the same page as your answers. The lesson teaches you to expect a certain result. If you
do not get that result, please explain why. Your answers need to explain that you understand the
principles involved.
Unit 4 Assignment 8 Project Ice Erosion (Glacial Erosion) and Alternate
In this lab, you are going to observe ice erosion.
****Do not follow the material list in the lesson or step 1 and 2 under the directions.****
Materials:
 2 cups of sand
 2 plastic trays (8x 24 inches)
 Water
14
 Freezer
 Ruler
 Measuring Cup
Pour 1 cup of sand in each tray. Follow the directions in the lesson starting with the number 3.
***You only have to do the experiment for 1 week not 2, and the drawings are not necessary.***
For this lab you need to follow the directions of the Formal Lab Report on page 5. Please include
photographs of your trays in the data section of your report.
Alternate Lab:
If you do not have a freezer big enough to do this experiment, you may substitute the following:
 Use the internet to research ice erosion (glacial erosion).
 Consult at least 3 different sources (see formatting guidelines on page 5).
 Write an opening paragraph about ice erosion in general.
 Include information on three specific places in the world where ice erosion is evident.
 The total word count for this assignment is 450-500 words.
 Remember to include your Work Cited Section
Unit 5
Review and Semester EXAM
NO LABS 
Unit 6 Assignment 2 Project Water Purification
In this experiment, you will explain how evaporation and condensation can be used to purify
water.
Materials:
 1 cup of dirt (not potting soil)
15
 4 cups of Water
 Small glass
 Large glass bowl
 Clear plastic wrap
 Small round rock
 Sunshine (or on a cloudy day add desk lamp to speed up process)
Complete the lab following the directions in the lesson and then answer the four questions.
Please include a photograph of your experiment on the same page as your answers. Please make
sure your understanding of the process is expressed in your answers. Each question is worth 25
points.
Unit 6 Assignment 8 Porosity and Permeability
In this experiment, you will measure the porosity of soil and compare the permeability of
different soils. ***These directions are different from the lesson.***
Materials:
 Water
 A measuring cup with metric measurements (or 30 mL= 1 ounce)
 6 clear cups (all the same size)
 A marker
 Metric Ruler
 1 cup of each large, medium, and small pebbles
 1 cup of each gravel, sand, and dirt (not potting soil)
 Funnel
 3 coffee filters
16
Part A Measuring Porosity:
1. Fill one of the cups to the brim with water and measure that amount. Record the value.
2. Measure and mark a line 4 inches from the bottom of three of the cups.
3. Fill the cup with large pebbles up to the line and label Large Pebbles.
4. Fill the cup with medium pebbles up to the line and label Medium Pebbles.
5. Fill the cup with small pebbles up to the line and label Small Pebbles.
6. Put water in the measuring cup equal to the amount measured in step 1. Take the
measuring cup of water and pour it into the cup with the large pebbles, fill until it reaches
the top of the cup. Record the amount of water left in the measuring cup.
7. Calculate the amount of water added to the pebbles cup. Subtract the amount of water left
in the measuring cup from the amount record in step1. This is the amount of space
between the pebbles (porosity).
8. Repeat step 7 with both the medium and small pebble cups.
9. Create bar graph comparing pebble type with their porosity
(1)Water volume in
Record all measurements in water cup at the
mL
beginning
Large Pebble
Medium Pebbles
Small Pebble
Part B Measuring Permeability
1. Line funnel with coffee filter.
2. Fill filter with gravel.
3. Put 100 mL of water in the measuring cup.
4. Place plastic cup on table top
17
(2)Water volume
remaining after
pouring into the
pebbles
Volumes of space
between pebbles =
Porosity (1-2)
5. Hold funnel over plastic cup slowly pour the water into the cup. Time how long it takes
for the water to flow through the gravel into the cup. Stop timing after 10 minutes.
6. Remove the gravel. Place a new filter in the funnel and fill the new filter with sand.
Repeat steps 3, 4 and 7 (substituting the sand for the gravel).
7. Remove the sand and place a new filter in the funnel and fill the new filter with dirt
(NOT potting soil). Repeat steps 3, 4, and 7 (substituting the dirt for the gravel).
Medium
Time (s)
Gravel
Sand
Dirt
***This experiment requires a formal lab report. Please include photographs of your experiment
in your data section.***
Unit 6 Assignment 13 Experiment Fresh Water vs. Saltwater
This lab has you compare and contrast physical properties of freshwater and saltwater.
Materials:
 8 tablespoons of salt (2 tablespoons for each section)
 Water
 2 clear glasses
 Measuring cups
 Tablespoon
 2 eggs
 2 plastic cups
 Spoon
 Marker
 Freezer
18
 Stove
 Small Pot
 Stopwatch or watch with a second hand
 2 pie plates or shallow pans approximately the same size
 Paper
Density
(Float/Sink)
Freeze Time
(Hours)
Boiling Time
(Minutes)
Evaporation
(Amount of
Water left in
mL)
Freshwater Egg
Saltwater Egg
Directions:
Density
1. Fill one of the clear glasses with one cup of warm water.
2. Carefully drop one of the eggs into the glass. Record your observations.
3. Fill the second clear glass with one cup of warm water. Add two tablespoons of salt and
stir until it dissolves.
4. Carefully drop the other egg into the second glass. Record your observations on the chart.
Freezing Point
19
1. Use the marker to label one plastic cup "freshwater" and the other "saltwater."
2. Fill both plastic cups halfway with warm water.
3. Add two tablespoons of salt to the saltwater cup. Stir until the salt dissolves.
4. Place both cups in the freezer. Check the cups every 30 minutes to see how long it takes
each one to freeze. Record data on the chart (i.e. 3.5 hours).
Boiling Point
1. Fill the pot with one cup of warm water.
2. With adult supervision, heat the pot on a stove. Note the setting you choose for the
stove's burner. Time how long it takes for the water to boil. Record data on the chart.
3. Carefully empty the pot and allow it to cool completely.
4. Fill the pot with one cup of warm water.
5. Add two tablespoons of salt and stir until it dissolves.
6. With adult supervision, heat the pot on a stove. Use the same heat setting you used to
heat the freshwater. Time how long it takes for the water to boil. Record the times in
minutes on your data table.
Evaporation
1. Fill the measuring cup ½ cup of with warm water.
2. Pour the water into the first pie plate.
3. Place the pie plate near a sunny window. Use the marker and paper to label the pie plate
"freshwater."
4. Fill the measuring cup halfway with warm water.
5. Add two tablespoons of salt and stir until it dissolves.
6. Pour the saltwater into the second pie plate.
20
7. Place the pie plate near a sunny window. Use the marker and paper to label the pie plate
"saltwater."
8. Check both plates after 3 days. Pour the remaining in the pans into your measuring cups
and record the amount of water remaining.
Answer all questions in COMPLETE sentences. Make sure your sentences express your
understanding of the material. Upload both your chart as well as your completed sentences into
the lesson. Please include photographs of your experiment with your charts and answers.
Unit 7 Assignment 10 Project Air Circulation
This project identifies air circulation patterns and helps to relate pressure and temperature to air
flow.
Directions: Conduct the activity and answer the questions in complete sentences.
Unit 7 Assignment 14 Project Greenhouse Effect
This lab demonstrates the greenhouse effect and relates your “greenhouse” to the global
greenhouse effect.
Materials
 2 shoe boxes or 2 boxes of similar size
 Sheet of clear plastic (plastic wrap), or pane of glass
 2 thermometers made for measuring air (not for body temps)
 Watch or stop watch
 Pen and paper to record temperature results
 2 lamps (if it is cloudy)
21
Open box
Greenhouse
Open box
Greenhouse
Minutes
(In Sun)
(In Sun)
(No Sun)
(No Sun)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Use complete sentences as you answer the questions in the lesson. Upload your complete
sentences, your completed data chart, and your photographs of the experiments into the lesson.
Unit 8 Assignment 2 Project Weather or Climate
This project distinguishes between weather and climate conditions.
Directions: Read each example and determine if the example is weather, climate or both and
WHY.
Weather, Climate or both?
Why?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
22
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13
14.
15.
Write your answers in the chart using complete sentences. Cut this chart, paste it into your own
document, and upload it when you are done.
Unit 8 Assignment 4 Project Weather and Climate
This project has you identify different types of clouds and relate clouds to weather conditions.
Directions:
Follow the directions in the lesson. Answer the questions in the lesson, in complete sentences.
Each question is worth 20 points.
Unit 8 Project 18 Special Project Making a Barometer
In this lab you will be creating a barometer.
Watch the following instructional videos
Material:
You will need the materials seen in the first instructional video plus a digital camera.
1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7hafGGgluM&NR=1 (supplies needed)
***Note: You do not have to decorate the barometer***
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGoVCvLqoBI (making the barometer)
3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2R1H1OxT4s&feature=related (sealing the
barometer)
4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0j7IfDtv7o&feature=channel (making barometer
needle)
23
5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKUbkFHfRRI&feature=related (how to mark the
barometer gauge)
6. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrAKlqjcZLI&feature=channel (explanation of how a
gauge works)
Build your barometer and record changes in pressure over three days. You must have at least 3
readings from your barometer and the local weather data through each day for a total of 9. (Go to
http://weather.com and enter your zip code). Your reading will not be numeric but will be either
“falling, rising or the same as prior reading.” The data from weather.com will have a numeric
value as well as rising, falling, or the same. Make a chart to record your data to include the date,
time, your barometer’s data, the official data, and the general weather outside.
Official Barometric
Pressure
Your
Barometer
Current
Weather
Day 1
Time 1
Time 2
Time 3
Day 2
Time 1
Time 2
Time 3
Day 3
Time 1
Time 2
Time 3
You will be required to write a formal lab report for this project. Please include photographs of
your experiment in the data section of the report.
Unit 9 Assignment 2 Project: Scale of Solar System
This lab compares the sizes of the Sun and the planets. This lab looks a little difficult, but it is
not. Although the scale used in the lesson converts to kilometers, we are going to convert to
24
meters in order to save a step. The scale in this lesson is 1.0 = 0.0000072 meters. Consider the
following example. Jupiter = 142,984km x 0.0000072 meters = 1.02948 (round to the thousandth
place). The diameter in meters is 1.03 meters. The next step is to convert this answer to inches.
Since 1 meter equals 39.37 inches, we need to multiply meters x 39.37. What common round
object is about that size?
***If you need help with any of the calculations please call the LUOA office for assistance. The
teacher line is 1-866-418-8741 option 4 for teacher 3 for science.***
Heavenly
Body
Diameter (meters)
Diameters (inches)
Sun
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
When you are done, upload the chart into the lesson.
25
Common Round
Object
26
Unit 9 Assignment 5 Project Newton’s Law
This lab examines Newton’s laws of gravity and motion in an experiment.
Materials:
 Water
 Bucket with handle
 A willing volunteer
Follow directions from the lesson. Answer the questions and upload both the questions and a
photograph of your experiment in the lesson.
Unit 9 Assignment 11 Project Identifying Galaxies (virtual)
This lesson distinguishes between the different types of galaxies.
Follow directions from the lesson. Please clearly explain WHY you are choosing that particular
category.
Unit 10
Review and Semester EXAM
NO LABS 
27
Appendix A- Model Science Lab Report
Your Name
Date
Course
Unit &Assignment Numbers
Instructor
Lab Title
Purpose
What is the intent of this experiment? “What will happen to ____________ if I change
_____________?”
Research
Record here your background knowledge and research on the topic. While this should not be as
detailed as it may be with a Science Report, it still needs to include more than just a reference
that you did research. The teacher needs to see what you learned. At least two sources should be
included at the end of this section.
Hypothesis
This statement should answer the question in the Purpose section. “Based upon my research, I
think that ___________ will occur if I change ______________.”
Materials

Please format this to be a

Bulleted

List
Methods
1. Please format this to be a
2. Numbered List
28
Data & Observations
Insert your data table here. Any observations may be included in a well written paragraph.
Photographs, if required, may also be in this section.
Analysis
(Insert your graph here)
Conclusion
This paragraph should do two things. First, it answers your Purpose based upon your experiment
and the data you collected in the experiment. Second, it should make references to that data.
Reflections and Applications
This is a very important section. It also has two purposes. The first is that it looks back on your
experiment and critiques that experiment. What worked well and, conversely, what could have
been improved with this experiment? The second purpose is that this section also discusses any
possible applications your new knowledge may have in practical ways.
29