Can Crickets Tell the Temperature?
Question: Some say that if you listen to the sound of a cricket chirping, you can determine the temperature. Is this true
or is it just an urban legend? Do any other factors affect how fast a cricket will chirp, such as humidity, wind,
atmospheric pressure, or nearby crickets?
Procedure: You will use a virtual lab to test a cricket subject.
http://www.gc.maricopa.edu/biology/glacier/scientific_method/index.swf
You will write and turn in a short lab report. The report should include:
1. Problem: What factor affects how fast a cricket will chirp?
2. Hypothesis: Which factor do you think affects cricket chirp rate (humidity,
wind, atmospheric pressure, nearby crickets or temperature). Explain why you
think the factor you choose is correct.
3. Define your independent (what you are purposely testing or changing) and
dependent (what you are measuring) variables.
4. Data: Collect and organize data into the tables provided. (Be sure to take
enough data for each factor to draw accurate conclusions.)
5. Analysis: State your conclusions. Restate the original problem/question and
your hypothesis. Indicate whether you support or reject your hypothesis. BE
CLEAR in your analysis about what factors affected cricket chirps and exactly
HOW chirps were affected (show a relationship - increased, decrease, etc.)
Discuss your data specifically.
Name ________________________________________________ Period _____ Date _________________
Cricket Lab
Problem: What factor affects how fast a cricket will chirp?
Hypothesis:
Independent Variable: _________________________________________
Dependent Variable: __________________________________________
Analysis:
Once you have finished collecting data and are awarded the Golden Cricket Award, show your teacher the award and
have him/her initial here: _____________
Data Tables:
Effect of Wind Speed on
Cricket Chirp Rate
Wind Speed
Chirp Rate
(m/sec)
(chirps/min)
Effect of Nearby Crickets on
Cricket Chirp Rate
# of
Chirp Rate
Crickets
(chirps/min)
Effect of Atmospheric on
Cricket Chirp Rate
Pressure
Chirp Rate
(mm Hg)
(chirps/min)
Effect of Temperature on
Cricket Chirp Rate
Temperature
Chirp Rate
(Celsius)
(chirps/min)
Effect of Humidity on Cricket
Chirp Rate
Humidity
Chirp Rate
(%)
(chirps/min)