Measure a Bean, Why?
Overview: The purpose of this lab is for you to become familiar or reacquaint yourself with the
names and uses of common laboratory equipment and to apply the scientific process. This
investigation will cover several class periods.
Day One Procedures:
1. Number 5 beans 1 through 5 with a PENCIL.
2. Measure the length and width of each bean with a ruler in millimeters and record
measurements in the data table.
3. Measure the mass of all 5 beans and record this measurement in the data table.
4. Fill a 50 mL beaker about half way. Pour the water in the beaker into a graduated cylinder to
measure 5 mL. Record this in the data table as the initial volume. Add all 5 beans to the
graduated cylinder and record how high the water level was raised. Record this in the data
table and the final volume.
5. To find the volume of the beans, subtract initial volume from the final volume.
(Final volume – initial volume[5 mL] = bean volume)
6. Create a table to record the data you are collecting.
Day One Questions:
Answer these questions and be ready to discuss your responses BEFORE you begin the
investigation.
1. Describe the difference between a beaker and a graduated cylinder. (Drawing a diagram of
each and describing them is OK)
2. A “unit” is a term that describes a set quantity. The unit of length, meters, measures a
distance or length. What are the units for a. mass? b. volume?
3. Examine a ruler. How many millimeters are in a centimeter?
4. If a bean measured 2 cm, how many millimeters is it?
5. Describe the difference between mass and volume (use a textbook if you need assistance).
6. What tool is used to measure volume? Mass?
7. If a beaker is filled with 200 mL of water and a goldfish is added, the water level rises to
240 mL. What is the goldfish’s volume?
8. If a beaker is filled with 400 mL of water and a tennis ball is added, the water level rises to
620 mL. What is the volume of the tennis ball?
Day Two Procedures:
1. Remove the beans from the water, pat them dry with a paper towel, and record their lengths
and widths on the data table.
2. Record the volume of the 5 beans.
3. Record the mass of the 5 beans.
4. Make a graph of the data table.
Day Two Questions:
1. Describe how the bean’s dimensions (length and width) changed after soaking.
2. Describe how the bean’s mass changed after soaking.
3. Describe how the bean’s volume changed after soaking.
4. How do you account for these changes?
5. In your composition book, sketch and label each piece of laboratory equipment used.
Measured a Bean, So What Is Next?
Overview: The purpose of this portion of the lab is to practice setting up your own investigation
to answer your (group’s) question. You will be using similar laboratory equipment and
procedures to help you investigate an answer to your questions.
Here is a list of possible questions you and your group may want to investigate.
Do all bean types respond the same way to these conditions?
Do other liquids cause the same responses in bean size when soaked?
Does putting the beans in the dark or light cause the bean change sizes more? Less?
Does heating up the liquid change the size of the bean more? Less?
Does cooling the liquid change the size of the bean more? Less?
Perform the Scientific Process to Find a Solution/Test Your Hypothesis
All work should be written and recorded in your composition book.
What is your problem/question?
What is your hypothesis/prediction?
Using the materials provided, design an investigation to provide a solution to your
problem/question and see if the results support your hypothesis. Create some method to record
your data.
Analyze the collected data. What does this information tell you about beans? How does it help
you answer your problem/question? Did the results support your hypothesis? Do any new
questions arise from this investigation?
Written Report
Review all the material from the Measure a Bean, Why? Investigation and write a laboratory report
following the report writing rubric. The report must be typed. This is be scored and recorded in the
formative category of the grade book.