Potato Lab
Hypothesis:
The higher the molar solution of the water, the heavier in weight the potato pieces will get. Starting with the 0.0 molar solution, the weight of the potatoes when introduced to the water will incrementally increase when more and more sugar is introduced. The potatoes will start to increase in weight at the 0.0 molar solution because there will be more water in the potatoes. The sugar and the water will diffuse into the potatoes.
Our hypothesis was not accurate for our data. It was accurate for most of the class' data though. Our data was most likely comprised of a lot of outliers, thus proving our hypothesis with our data inaccurate. As our data did not show any correlation to a patten, this backs up our theories that most of our data were outliers. If we did the experiment again, chances are that our data would follow up with our hypothesis. Our hypothesis proved true in some instances, as four out of the six vials had their potato weights rise. The potatoes that grew heavier did so because they absorbed the water from the solution as well as the sugar. Some of the potato pieces may have lost weight due to some of the potato diffusing into the water or some moisture getting squeezed out of the potato when it was taken out if the vial.
The lab relates to diffusion and osmosis because the water was supposed diffuse into the potato cells. The water would diffuse into the cells via passive transport of water. (Osmosis) The sugar would most likely go into the cell via active transport. It would go through either pores in the cell membranes, or through carrier proteins to get into the cells of the potato. The sugar and water would have to get into the cell through active or passive transport.
The variables that affected our data were the amount of sugar in each vial, the time the potatoes were in the solution, and the amount of solution that diffused into the potato depending on how dry each of the potato cells were. All of these variables could have changed the results drastically, even to the point of negative growth as we observed in out data. These variables all had a role in the final results.
What factors govern the size of a cell?
The surface area compared to the area of the cell interior can play a role in the size of a cell. If a cell has too little surface area relative to its size, then it will not be able to get enough nutrients in and out the cell. This is why cells are small and not large. They also can be smaller because they have a lack of materials inside, and to get larger they will absorb more nutrients through active and passive transport. The size of a cell is also governed by the amount of nutrients within a cell.
Final mass - initial mass
Over
Initial mass
All times 100%
Initial weights
Vial 1 is 1.37 grams Goes to 1 molars
Vial 2 is 1.71 grams goes to .8 molars
Vial 3 is 1.13 grams goes to .6 molars
Vail 4 is 1.27 grams goes to .4 molars
Vial 5 is 1.25 grams goes to .2 molars
Vial 6 is 1.26 grams goes to 0 molars
each vial weighs 37.43 grams
Collection of final mass
Vial 1 is 1.26 grams
Vial 2 is 1.84 grams
Vial 3 is .96 grams
Vial 4 is 1.52 grams
Vial 5 is 1.27 grams
Vial 6 is 1.44 grams
Percentage change
VIAL 1 (1 molar in solution) -8.73%
VIAL 2 (.8 molars in solution) 7.6%
VIAL 3 (.6 molars in solution) -15%
VIAL 4 (.4 molars in solution) 19.69%
VIAL 5 (.2 molars in solution) 1.57%
VIAL 6 (0 molars in solution) 14.29%
The higher the molar solution of the water, the heavier in weight the potato pieces will get. Starting with the 0.0 molar solution, the weight of the potatoes when introduced to the water will incrementally increase when more and more sugar is introduced. The potatoes will start to increase in weight at the 0.0 molar solution because there will be more water in the potatoes. The sugar and the water will diffuse into the potatoes.
Our hypothesis was not accurate for our data. It was accurate for most of the class' data though. Our data was most likely comprised of a lot of outliers, thus proving our hypothesis with our data inaccurate. As our data did not show any correlation to a patten, this backs up our theories that most of our data were outliers. If we did the experiment again, chances are that our data would follow up with our hypothesis. Our hypothesis proved true in some instances, as four out of the six vials had their potato weights rise. The potatoes that grew heavier did so because they absorbed the water from the solution as well as the sugar. Some of the potato pieces may have lost weight due to some of the potato diffusing into the water or some moisture getting squeezed out of the potato when it was taken out if the vial.
The lab relates to diffusion and osmosis because the water was supposed diffuse into the potato cells. The water would diffuse into the cells via passive transport of water. (Osmosis) The sugar would most likely go into the cell via active transport. It would go through either pores in the cell membranes, or through carrier proteins to get into the cells of the potato. The sugar and water would have to get into the cell through active or passive transport.
The variables that affected our data were the amount of sugar in each vial, the time the potatoes were in the solution, and the amount of solution that diffused into the potato depending on how dry each of the potato cells were. All of these variables could have changed the results drastically, even to the point of negative growth as we observed in out data. These variables all had a role in the final results.
What factors govern the size of a cell?
The surface area compared to the area of the cell interior can play a role in the size of a cell. If a cell has too little surface area relative to its size, then it will not be able to get enough nutrients in and out the cell. This is why cells are small and not large. They also can be smaller because they have a lack of materials inside, and to get larger they will absorb more nutrients through active and passive transport. The size of a cell is also governed by the amount of nutrients within a cell.
Final mass - initial mass
Over
Initial mass
All times 100%
Initial weights
Vial 1 is 1.37 grams Goes to 1 molars
Vial 2 is 1.71 grams goes to .8 molars
Vial 3 is 1.13 grams goes to .6 molars
Vail 4 is 1.27 grams goes to .4 molars
Vial 5 is 1.25 grams goes to .2 molars
Vial 6 is 1.26 grams goes to 0 molars
each vial weighs 37.43 grams
Collection of final mass
Vial 1 is 1.26 grams
Vial 2 is 1.84 grams
Vial 3 is .96 grams
Vial 4 is 1.52 grams
Vial 5 is 1.27 grams
Vial 6 is 1.44 grams
Percentage change
VIAL 1 (1 molar in solution) -8.73%
VIAL 2 (.8 molars in solution) 7.6%
VIAL 3 (.6 molars in solution) -15%
VIAL 4 (.4 molars in solution) 19.69%
VIAL 5 (.2 molars in solution) 1.57%
VIAL 6 (0 molars in solution) 14.29%
Membrane and Transport (Inquiry and Research)
1. The Fluid Mosaic Model is a model that describes the structural features of biological membranes. It was created by S. J. Singer and Garth Nicolson in 1972.
2.
a. Hydrophobic molecules can easily pass through the plasma membrane. This relates to model because in the phospholipid bilayer that the model shows, the phospholipids each have a hydrophobic head that repels water and a hydrophilic head that attracts water. The hydrophobic tails are on the inside of the bilayer.
b. Hydrophilic molecules are on the outside of the phospholipid bilayer. They attract water and relate to the model because they are shown as the outside molecules in it.
c. Macromolecules are what the plasma membrane is composed of. They are large molecules and are shown in the model as the building blocks of the cell membrane.
3. Diffusion is the movement of molecules to create an equal balance. Passive diffusion is the diffusion without energy applied by the cell. An example is the diffusion of air from areas of higher concentration to lower concentration. This creates wind. Active diffusion occurs when the cell uses energy to move molecules. An example is the active transport across the cell membrane for ions. Certain transport proteins carry the ions across using ATP for energy.
4. Osmosis is the diffusion of water. It is passive transport that occurs to create and equal density of water levels.
5. Homeostasis relates to cells and the Fluid Mosaic Model because the cell needs diffusion of molecules to keep balance. The balance is created when molecules leave or enter the cell through the plasma membrane displayed in the model.
2.
a. Hydrophobic molecules can easily pass through the plasma membrane. This relates to model because in the phospholipid bilayer that the model shows, the phospholipids each have a hydrophobic head that repels water and a hydrophilic head that attracts water. The hydrophobic tails are on the inside of the bilayer.
b. Hydrophilic molecules are on the outside of the phospholipid bilayer. They attract water and relate to the model because they are shown as the outside molecules in it.
c. Macromolecules are what the plasma membrane is composed of. They are large molecules and are shown in the model as the building blocks of the cell membrane.
3. Diffusion is the movement of molecules to create an equal balance. Passive diffusion is the diffusion without energy applied by the cell. An example is the diffusion of air from areas of higher concentration to lower concentration. This creates wind. Active diffusion occurs when the cell uses energy to move molecules. An example is the active transport across the cell membrane for ions. Certain transport proteins carry the ions across using ATP for energy.
4. Osmosis is the diffusion of water. It is passive transport that occurs to create and equal density of water levels.
5. Homeostasis relates to cells and the Fluid Mosaic Model because the cell needs diffusion of molecules to keep balance. The balance is created when molecules leave or enter the cell through the plasma membrane displayed in the model.