General Science/Biology Files for the Mac/PC
General Science/Biology Files for the Mac/PC
The programs are FREE for distribution and the author welcomes suggestions for repairs and improvements.
Each program link will supply you with a file that can uncompressed. This file will contain the executable and associated documentation file which can be accessed for on-screen help, edited or printed with your word processor. To download the file, click on the appropriate link. You will need to download the file(s) onto your hard drive.
The following are laboratory examples designed for grades 5 through 8.
Cells
(1.1 MB)MACCells (2.4
MB)WIN :
This exercise compares plant and animal cells.
Science Objectives:
Compare the onion plant cell with the human cheek cellCompare the sizes of the two different cells
Identify the various cellular structures and their relative sizes
Learn to distinguish between plant and animal cells
Image Processing skills:
Copy and paste between images
Set image scales
Measure length, width, and area
Elodea
(2.2 MB)MACElodea (2.6
MB)WIN :
This exercise examines the plant cell Elodea
Identify typical plant structures
Compare the elodea plant cell before and after the process of plasmolysis
Identify plant cellular structures both before and after plasmolysis
Calculate the size of the plant's vacuole based on this experiment
Copy and paste between images
Set image scales
Measure length, width, and area
Density
Slice (312 K)MACDensity Slice
(255 K)WIN :
This is an area measurement exercise
Measure the area of typical plant and animal structure
Compare area measurements between different objects
Determine what percentage an individual object is compared to the entire set.
Copy and paste between images
Set image scales
Use density slicing techniques to calculate area
EcoAnalysis
(404 K)MACEcoAnalysis
(363 K)WIN :
Project Result Analysis
Tabulate the distribution of a particular plant species
Convert this tabulation into a 3-D analysis of the data
Import Files
Surface plotting
Fibers(3.3
MB)MACFibers (3.5
MB)WIN :
Length/Area measurement & Calculating Percent
Compare photographs of fabric pieces with light and SEM views.
Measure the length/area of typical pieces of fabric
Compare length/area measurements between different objects.
Determine the percentage of open area in different fabric samples
Record, analyze and interpret data
Measure length
Copy and past between images (Optional)
Set image scales (Optional)
Use density slicing techniques to calculate percent open area
A collection of everyday images
The PREVIEW1 function will generally show a single image of what is being discussed while the PREVIEW2 will have a composite of several images. Once you have the PREVIEW you can click on it to Save it, Print it, or what have you.
.
Paper:
There seems to be almost unlimited possibilites when it comes to paper. The paper that we use in copying work has a rough tangle of fibers PREVIEW1 - PREVIEW2 compared to a more orderly weave that you would find in something like "Kleenex" PREVIEW1 - PREVIEW2. In the science laboratory we use a coarser form of the this popular tissue for cleaning equipment and generally "mopping-up" various stains. This material has a trade name of KimWipe PREVIEW1 - PREVIEW2.
Filter paper is composed of several different "grades". The first example is termed #1 PREVIEW - PREVIEW2) while the second grade that we have is #5 PREVIEW1 - PREVIEW2. Compare the relative compactness of the fibers. Which type would you use for "fine" filtering something?
Should you make a mistake in on your sheet of paper; well you can always use white-out correcting fluid.PREVIEW1 - PREVIEW2
Finally, we can take a look at the sticky side of all those Post-It notes.PREVIEW1 - Post-It Download (500 K) (The download portion contains a comparison with the "non-sticky" portion.
Needles:
Included, along with the biblical camel going through a needle are various images of needles, needle and thread PREVIEW1 - PREVIEW2 and a calibrated camel image going through a needle. (The average came/ by the way is 7 feet tall at the hump. How much would you have to reduce the camel in size to get it through the needle?)
Potato Chips :
When potato chips are fried, as part of their production process, the hot oil causes internal water in the chip to vaporize, forming air pockets internally. (Some of these pockets may contain oil) This makes for a certain "crunchiness" on eating. PREVIEW1 shows a very "crunch" chip while PREVIEW2 shows a more mundane chip. However, overly crunchy chips can burst inside the bag and produce a great amount of less desirable fragments.
Last updated: June 12, 2000
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