PASCO ME-6936 Metabolism Chamber - Manual (Page 2)

M o d e l N o . M E - 6 9 3 6 S a m p l e A c t i v i t i e s
2
Sample Activities
1) Introductory Cell Respiration Lab
Teacher Preparation
• Get Alaska pea seeds (or lima beans) - about 100 per lab group. Get glass beads approximately the
same size as the pea seeds (about 25 per lab group).
• Three or four days before the lab, soak the pea seeds in a pan of water overnight. Soak approximately
25 seeds per lab group.
• Twenty-four hours later, remove the seeds from the water and place them on a moist paper towel.
• Place the seeds and towel into a plastic bag or plastic, lidded storage container and leave in a warm,
dry place for twenty-four hours. NOTE: Do not seal the bag or the plastic storage container.
• Provide each lab group with 25 glass beads, 25 dry seeds, and 25 germinating seeds.
Data Collection
1. Start a new experiment on the data collection system.
2. Connect a carbon dioxide (CO
2
) gas sensor and an oxygen (O
2
) gas sensor to the data collection system.
Use the sensor extension cable to connect the CO
2
sensor to the collection system.
3. Calibrate the CO
2
sensor and calibrate the O
2
sensor.
4. Change the unit of measurement for the O
2
sensor from “%” to “ppm”.
5. Set up two graphs to display simultaneously. One one graph, display CO
2
concentration on the y-axis
and Time on the x-axis. On the other graph, display O
2
concentration on the y-axis and Time on the
x-axis.
6. For the first trial, place 25 glass beads into the Metabolism Chamber.
7. Start recording data.
8. Insert the CO
2
sensor into the top of the Metabolism Chamber and the O
2
sensor into the hole on the
side of the Metabolism Chamber. Firmly press the rubber stoppers of the sensors into the chamber. The
Metabolism Chamber must remain vertical; do not lay it on its side.
9. Adjust the scale of the graphs to show all data.
10. After 10 minutes, stop recording data.
11. Name the data run.
12. Remove the sensors and the glass beads from the Metabolism Chamber. Wave the chamber so that the
air in the chamber mixes with air in the room.
13. For the second trial, place 25 dry seeds into the Metabolism Chamber.
14. Start recording data. Replace the sensors into the Metabolism Chamber. Remember that the chamber
must remain vertical.
15. Adjust the scale of the graphs to show all data.
NOTE: Do not seal the
plastic bag or plastic
storage container.