Biology Class Experiments
Water is an essential resource for life. Living things are an average of 70% water. Water is a reactant in photosynthesis the chemical reaction that produces sugar, the substance all living things get their energy from. Water cushions our organs and allows our blood to flow, as it cycles itself along with many other natural resources all over the world. To celebrate World Water Day with our community this year, Biology students designed experiments aimed at discovering ways to conserve water and help protect it.
Meghan Teeters, Kayleigh Walker, Brynn Shriener, and Chloe Jividen researched and tested the Bokashi Bucket, a type of composting that can be done in a person’s kitchen and has the ability to break down materials that include meats with only the help of bacteria, therefore requiring no outside energy source.
All Accelerated Biology students were successful in convincing the Acme on Manchester Road to begin recycling retired produce and our efforts have diverted an estimated 250 pounds of organic materials from landfills each week! Senior Devin Todd currently is spearheading the efforts to bring the retired produce from the Acme to Manchester High School for composting and to feed the livestock of Joe Hercules, local school board member and self-made farmer.
Cooper Briggs and Matthew McNeill built a tumbler composter which aerates the decomposing organic material allowing it to break down quicker.
Kate Caster, Natalie Cain, and Megan Montgomery tested the algae growth in pond water with organic detergent run off and regular detergent run off. They discovered algae grew in both, but hypothesized the organic detergent would still be a better choice because it breaks down quicker than the non organic detergent.
Rhiannon Boyle, Emily Le, and Mady Nathanial tested how the build up of grease in the drain disrupted the flow rate.
Courtney Carpenter, Jenna Lesher, and Olivia Paljich tested other house hold cleaner’s negative effect on pond water microorganisms. Each of the four cleaners tested killed most of the microbes in the pond water, which is further evidence that organic choices can be better choices for protecting water ecosystems.
Haley Robinson, Brooke Esterle, Andrew McNeill, and Barbie Trippett tested the negative effects of aspirin on an ecosystem.
Jeremiah Bergum, Lauren Douglas, Christian French, and Josey Jackovitch tested an over-the-counter strong chemical drain cleaner’s ability to dissolve grease, against an organic method of baking soda and white vinegar’s ability to dissolve grease. The results were that both methods measured that they had dissolve equal amounts. However baking soda and white vinegar cause no long term water pollution, unlike the regular drain cleaner which does.
Hayley Pilblad, Haley Olson, Kylie Truan, and Sarah Jungman tested how much water could be saved by covering a source of water. The results of their experiment were that they saved twice as much water from evaporating when covering the water sources.
Kevin Duckett, Tyler Bumgarner, and Tyler Dinker discovered that you can grow more green beans than you can pumpkins with an equal amount of water.