Emily Griffin
Biology
10/14/09
p.7
Scientific Method
Purpose
 To practice the steps of the Scientific Method
 To learn how to use an Online Lab simulation
 To determine which environmental variables influence how fast a cricket chirps
 To practice constructing data charts and graphs.
Hypothesis:
Cricket chirps are affected by the surrounding temperature of the area they are living in.
Materials:
Lab report template
Online Scientific Method Website
Procedure:
1. Go to https://www.gc.maricopa.edu/biology/glacier/scientific_method/
2. Click continue
3. Follow instructions below for how to get into the site
4. Do the tutorial on scientific method first if you want to review the steps (optional)
5. Follow the instructions for investigating the role of environmental variables on cricket chirps.
6. Write your results in the data charts below
Values in red are the baseline (control values)
For your investigation, choose values that are higher and lower than those indicated in red.
You may add rows to the data chart as needed.
You need to record as you go because this online site does not work well if you use the back
button!
7. Graph your results using Create-a-Graph (http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/graphing/) or by hand.
Hint: Cricket Chirp Rate is the dependent variable and will be on the y-axis on all graphs!
Results: (Data Charts and Graphs)
Discussion:
In this lab, I first made a hypothesis, then tested it on the online website
that was provided. I performed many experiments that tested temperature’s and
air pressure’s effects on the number of cricket chirps per minute. The purpose of
the lab was met, and the results of the experiment support my hypothesis. After
the tests, I proved my hypothesis correct.
Conclusion:
The temperature of the area that the cricket is living in will affect the
amount of chirps per minute that the cricket makes.
Data Chart A: Effect of Temperature on Crick
Chirps
Temperature
Cricket Chirp Rate
(oC)
(chirps/minute)
5
25
45
4
148
292
Data Chart B: Effect of Atmospheric Pressure
on Crick Chirps
Atmospheric
Cricket Chirp Rate
Pressure
(chirps/minute)
(mm Hg)
680
700
790
148
148
148
Data Chart C: Effect of Humidity on Cricket
Chirps
Humidity
Cricket Chirp Rate
(%)
(chirps/minute)
10
50
80
148
148
148
Data Chart D: Effect of Wind Speed on Cricket
Chirps
Wind Speed
Cricket Chirp Rate
(m/sec)
(chirps/minute)
0
5
7
148
148
148
Reflection:
I learned that the number of chirps that a cricket produces per minute is
directly affected by the temperature of the place the cricket is in. It is not affected
by air pressure or time of day. In addition, I learned how to complete an online
lab activity, post it to the class website, and make graphs and data tables online.