Diffusion and Osmosis Gummy Bears (Jess Herr)

Research Question and Hypothesis

How will the mass of a gummy bear change after being submerged in water or corn syrup?

Possible Hypotheses:

• 1. If the H2O concentration in tap water is (higher , lower) than the H2O concentration in a Gummi Bear, then Gummy Bears placed in tap water will (increase, decrease, remain the same) mass.

  2. If the H2O concentration in corn syrup is (higher , lower) than the H2O concentration in a Gummi Bear, then Gummy Bears placed in corn syrup will (increase, decrease, remain the same) mass.

Standards

HS-LS1-2. Develop and use a model to illustrate the hierarchical organization of interacting systems that provide specific functions within multicellular organisms. [Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on functions at the organism system level such as nutrient uptake, water delivery, and organism movement in response to neural stimuli. An example of an interacting system could be an artery depending on the proper function of elastic tissue and smooth muscle to regulate and deliver the proper amount of blood within the circulatory system.] [Assessment Boundary: Assessment does not include interactions and functions at the molecular or chemical reaction level.]

HS-LS1-3. Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence that feedback mechanisms maintain homeostasis. [Clarification Statement: Examples of investigations could include heart rate response to exercise, stomate response to moisture and temperature, and root development in response to water levels.] [Assessment Boundary: Assessment does not include the cellular processes involved in the feedback mechanism.]

Experimental Design

Students will measure the change in mass over time of gummy bears in various liquids.

Independent variable, dependent variable, and series

What is the change in mass (dependent variable) as a function of time (independent variable) in various liquids (series).

Constants and Controls

- Amount of liquid

- Beakers

- Temperature and light

Materials

2– 50 or 100 ml. beakers (and something to label them if necessary)

2 – plastic forks or small sieves

Waxed paper or paper plates

2 - Gummy Bears (different colors)

Tap water

Corn Syrup

Electric balance

Timer

Procedures

• 1. Obtain two beakers, two different colored Gummy Bears and an electric balance.

  2. Label one Beaker "TAP WATER" and the other "CORN SYRUP".

  3. Measure and record the mass your bear (in grams) using the electric balance. Be sure to use the tare function if necessary.

  4. Place 100ml of tap water into the beaker labeled 'tap water' and 100ml of corn syrup into the beaker labeled 'corn syrup'

  5. Drop one gummy bear into each beaker and be sure both gummy bears are submerged.

  6. Place the beakers on the counter and measure at various intervals or overnight if possible.

  7. When ready to measure changes in the gummy bears carefully remove each bear using a sieve, plastic fork or tweezers. Place on paper towel or waxed paper.

  8. Blot dry by placing bear on a paper towel and rinse the corn syrup gummy bear if necessary. (Be sure there is no extra water or corn syrup left on the bears as this will affect the mass.)

  9. Carefully find the mass of the bears. Record the measurements and observations

Sample data and graphs