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To watch a sneak peak:[|Group 17-A Sneak Peak] ** Theme: Time ** **Main Guiding Question:** What is the rate of pollution in our school throughout the day? **Collective Guiding Question:** What is the rate of pollution in our school throughout the day and can it be understood by collecting air particles and determining the humidity of the air? **Group 17** **Biology Members:** Nastassja Isabelle 11 HR 3 Pamela Abigail 11 HR 3 Rani Mutiarasari S 11 HR 4 **Physics Members:** Vinska Shabrina 11 HR 3 M. Zaqi Oktavianto 11 HR 4 **__Contents__**
 * Group 4 Project **


 * 1) **Planning**
 * Background Information
 * Research Question(s)
 * Aim
 * Main Hypothesis
 * Collective Hypothesis
 * Variables
 * Equipments
 * Method and Procedure


 * 1) **Action and Data of Peers**


 * Conducting of the Investigation
 * Findings of the Investigation
 * Data of Pollution Particles
 * Processed Data I
 * Data of Humidity of Air
 * Processed Data II
 * Conclusion
 * Reflection and Evaluation
 * Evidences (Images)


 * 1) **__Planning__**

**Background Information** Oxygen is important for the human body as it gives energy to the human body needed for survival. As we breathe in, from the fresh air, our lungs will absorb oxygen from the air and pass it to the blood stream so it can be transported to the whole body. Thus it is important for the human body to have clean air to breathe. People living in the industrial area are more prone to asthma, lung disease, and even cancer. Tiny particles like dust and soot can enter the lungs in the body when we breathe, and it can block the movement of oxygen. Harmful particles can come from pollutants in the air such as smog, dust, smoke, soot, and other chemicals.

**Research Question (Biology):** How does the rate of pollution differ in different locations in Binus? **Research Question (Physics):** How does the rate of pollution differ in different locations and time in Binus? **Aim**: To find out the rate of pollution in Binus, by measuring the humidity and the collected particles on Vaseline with different areas and time. Our aim is to **create awareness for people in Binus and others regarding the pollution level that differs in various area and time which can cause health issues.** **Main Hypothesis:** We think the areas that have more cars especially in noon, such as the entrance of the school and basement will have more rate of pollution, This is because these areas are the busiest for cars to pass by, also because at noon is when people go to lunch by car. **Collective Hypothesis:** We think the areas when cars pass by a lot such as the entrance of the school and basements, there will be more soot particles on the layer of Vaseline. Whereas in places without pollution will result in less or no result of collected particles. This is because there will be more cars passing by producing carbon particles and incomplete burning of inorganic matter. We think the area and time is when cars pass by a lot, which is at noon in the basement and the lobby, the air will be more humid as there are a lot of soot particles and molecules floating in the air, polluting the pure humidity of the air. **Variables** **Independent Variables:** Especially for the Physics students, we will measure the different rate of pollution using a psychrometer, in the air’s humidity, in different times such as 08.40 am, 10.40 am, 12.40 am. This is done in order to know the different rate of pollution throughout the day. For both Physics and Biology student, we will measure the different rate of pollution by observing the soot particles collected on the Vaseline along with using a psychrometer for the Physics students, to measure the humidity for the rate of pollution. **Dependent Variables:** We will measure the rate of pollution by using Vaseline and observing the collected visible soot particles that are stuck on the Vaseline along with the rate of humidity of different areas and different time. **Controlled Variables:** We will control the size of the squares by cutting it in a consistent length and width, which is 8x8 centimeters. This length of the square will be used throughout the experiments, using it on all trials with different time and areas. This will allow the area of exposure for the square to the air to be the same, and that is important, as we want to get consistent results for different trials. We will control the size of the area for the layers of Vaseline by drawing a square in the center of the 8x8 cm infraboard square. This will ensure a similar result in gathering the visible soot particles on the square because the area of the Vaseline spread on the square is the same, which is important because we want to get consistent results in each trial. We will control the amount of Vaseline by taking our fingers and gently swiping it on the surface of the Vaseline, each with attempted similar amount and done three times in one square. This is important as the thickness in Vaseline will affect on how the visible soot particles are caught, and if It is too thick or too thin it will fail in catching a sufficient amount of particles. This is also done to maintain consistency throughout our experiment. We will control how the squares are set on the different areas by sticking it on a wall using tape. This is important as it can determine how the particles are caught on the Vaseline, and we chose the squares to be stuck on a wall using tape so it has a firm hold and is stationary, catching all the soot particles in a consistent manner. We will control how long the Psychrometer is spun by spinning it for 15 seconds, timed using a stopwatch. This is important as it can determine how the humidity is taken up by the psychrometer, and if the apparatus is spun too much it will cause an inaccuracy in the data recording, which can result in a more or less level of the supposed humidity of the area.
 * **Different times (08.40 am, 10.40 am, 12.40 am)**
 * **Different areas (B2, B1, Lobby, and Art Room)**
 * **Rate of Pollution (Determined by visible particles and humidity)**
 * **Size of the squares (8x8 cm)**
 * **Size of the area for Vaseline (3x3 cm)**
 * **Amount of Vaseline (3 thin layers)**
 * **Using tape to stick squares on walls**
 * **Duration of Spinning the Psychrometer – 15 Seconds**

We will control how long for the waiting time to get the results from the Psychrometer by waiting for 60 seconds using a stopwatch. This is important as it can determine the showing of the exact data that would be shown on the Psychrometer’s measurement. If we were to wait for much more than 60 seconds for other trials, the level could have reduced because we waited for too long it adjusted to the default level.
 * **Duration of Waiting Time for the Psychrometer – 60 Seconds**


 * Materials**

**Method and Procedure:** 10.Using a stopwatch, the psychrometer’s results were waited for 60 seconds. 11.The results were recorded by observing the level of humidity shown on the psychrometer. 12.The evidence of our group doing the activities were documented by taking pictures and videos using the digital camera. 13.Wait for the whole day to pass and record the results from the experiment by counting the number of soot particles visible on the Vaseline. 14.The used apparatuses were returned to the teacher and the squares are taken off from the walls. **__2. Action & Data from Peers__** **Conducting of the Experiment** Binus: 27 April 2012 Time: 8.00 am-12.40 pm **Findings of the Investigation** **Raw Data of Visible Particles** ( ± 2) || Trial 2 ( ± 2) || Trial 3 ( ± 2) ||^  ||^   || **Processed Data I (Visible Soot Particles)** __To search for the average data the calculation is done below:__ From the graph above, we could conclude that the highest rate of pollution is found at the lobby entrance area since it has the highest amount of visible particles (35.7). The rate of pollution in B1 and B2 is relatively low as we could see from the graph, reaching a highest point of 5 particles visible. The lowest air pollution is found in the art room where there is 0 particles found in the Vaseline, meaning that there is no air pollution in the area. The trend that can be seen is that as there is more busy cars in busy areas, there are more collected particles such as in Lobby entrance and no collected particles in less polluted areas such as the Art Room. **Data of Humidity of Air** **Processed Data II (Humidity of Air)**
 * Infraboard - (1x1 m, cut into 8x8 cms)
 * Petroleum Jelly (Vaseline) - 200 grams
 * Psychrometer
 * Water – as needed to wet the psychrometer
 * Stopwatch
 * Scissors
 * Tape
 * Black Permanent Marker
 * Magnifying Glass
 * Digital Camera
 * 1) Apparatuses are collected for the experiment, by signing the form of borrowing apparatus from teacher.
 * 2) The Infraboard that was 1x1 m was cut into 12 squares measured 8x8 cm
 * 3) Small squares was drawn with a permanent marker into the center of the cut squares measured 3x3 cm
 * 4) In the back of each square were labeled the locations of the squares’ place of experiment by using a permanent marker.
 * 5) Small fragments of tapes were cut and put on the back of each square.
 * 6) 3 thin layers of petroleum jelly was smeared on the center square (3x3cm) of the infraboard squares (8x8 cm)
 * 7) 3 squares were placed on each area: Basement 2, Basement 1, Lobby, and Art Room.
 * 8) Water was applied to the psychrometer in order to prepare.
 * 9) The psychrometer was spun for 15 seconds.
 * Location |||||| Number of Soot Particles || Total || Average Number of Soot Particles ||
 * ^  || Trial 1
 * B2 || 5.0 || 7.0 || 3.0 || 15.0 || 5.0 ||
 * B1 || 9.0 || 10.0 || 6.0 || 25.0 || 8.3 ||
 * Lobby Entrance || 30.0 || 35.0 || 42.0 || 107.0 || 35.7 ||
 * Art Room || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 ||
 * Locations |||||| Number of Soot Particles || Average Number of Soot Particles || Standard Deviation ||
 * ^  || Trial 1 || Trial 2 || Trial 3 ||^   ||^   ||
 * B2 || 5.0( ± 2) || 7.0( ± 2) || 3.0( ± 2) || 5.0( ± 6) || 2.0  ||
 * B1 || 9.0( ± 2) || 10.0( ± 2) || 6.0( ± 2) || 8.3( ± 6) || 2.1  ||
 * Lobby Entrance || 30.0( ± 2) || 35.0( ± 2) || 42.0( ± 2) || 35.7( ± 6) || 6.0  ||
 * Art Room || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2.0  ||
 * B2 ||  B1  ||  1  ||  4  ||
 * 67% ||  57%  ||  67%  ||  55%  ||
 * 57% ||  45%  ||  66%  ||  47%  ||
 * 51% ||  61%  ||  63%  ||  42%  ||
 * Locations ||||||  Humidity of Air (%)  ||  Average  ||  Standard Deviation  ||
 * ^  ||  Trial 1  ||  Trial 2  ||  Trial 3  ||^   ||^   ||
 * B2 ||  67  ||  57  ||  51  ||  0.6  ||  30.9  ||
 * B1 ||  57  ||  45  ||  61  ||  0.5  ||  8.3  ||
 * Lobby Entrance ||  67  ||  66  ||  47  ||  0.7  ||  11.3  ||
 * Art Room ||  55  ||  47  ||  42  ||  0.5  ||  29.5  ||



The graph explains that humidity are dropping because the increase in heat will evaporate the water that is still in the air and causing the rate of humidity to drop slowly. You can see in the graph that the rate of humidity dropped during a different period of time that we measued for example is that in B2 we measured in the morning at 8:40 the humidity level was at 67%. Then we measure the humidity level again at 10:40 then the humidity level dropped from the original number, we measured it again at 12:40 the humidity level dropped again this time at 51%. The rate of changes in the humidity dropped by 16% since we first start measuring. **Conclusion** After doing the experiment and looking at the results of the experiment, it can be concluded that our hypothesis was mostly correct for the Biology experiment. I have said in my hypothesis that the rate of pollution will increase in certain areas such as basement and lobby entrance, as well as in the afternoon. This will be shown with the visible soot particles on the Vaseline and the humidity of the air in each area and time. As the rate of pollution increases, there will be more particles shown and the humidity will be higher. For the Biology students, we observe more about the different areas with the rate of pollution, as for Physics students they cover both observations of the areas and different times with the rate of pollution. This really did happen with our experiment as can be seen in our data with the table or graph for the Biology experiment, in places with more cars such as Basement and Lobby Entrance it resulted in more visible soot particles. In Basement 1, the average visible particles were 8.3 particles, and in Lobby Entrance the average visible particles were 35.7 particles. We were also correct in our hypothesis when we stated that with places with less or no pollution there will be less or no particles collected by the Vaseline, which is shown in our outcome of the experiment, in the Art Room which generated 0 particles. We did not say that my hypothesis was correct in its entirety because in my hypothesis we have predicted that places such as basement (which includes both B1 and B2) and lobby have around the same amount of particles that will be generated. This is not true in the case of our experiment because Basement 2 and Basement 1 collected fewer amounts of particles as compared to Lobby Entrance. This would be because there are more cars that pass by in Lobby Entrance as compared to Basements, as there will be less movement in cars, where people only park cars. The reason why there will be more collected particles in different areas is because in places busy with cars such as Lobby Entrance as cars travel it will generate soot, which is black particles or flaky substance, which consists of amorphous carbon, produced by incomplete burning of inorganic matter. As for the Physics experiment, we can conclude that our hypothesis was mostly incorrect because we said that humidity will increase through the day until noon and so forth but after doing the experiment, it did not. This is because the air humidity decreases as the day goes by because humidity occurs in the day because the moisture that was in the night before has evaporated through in the morning. So that explains why in our data during 12 pm, as compared to 8 am, the humidity dropped because the moisture in the air has evaporated. **Reflection and Evaluation** The experiment that we have conducted is quite successful, and we had teamwork and we managed to divide the tasks as organized as we can. The results that we have gathered are as expected and showed stable and understandable trend. Even though the experiment is deemed as successful, there were some problems that have arisen when we were doing the experiment. The problems that have arisen are first, in each of the locations, each trials (which is in the form of the board squares) have to be placed in one specific area, near to each trial. We did not do this as planned as in the case of Basement 1, Basement 2, and the Lobby Entrance, what we did was we put 2 squares of trials near each other on the same wall, and one far from the two squares. This is an important step so the trials will have the same exposure to the similar amount of air pollution, where cars pass by in the same area. Even so, we have two trials in the same area so this might help with the problem. Another problem was that even though we had planned and done to smear 3 thin layers of Vaseline, we did not measure the Vaseline taken in an accurate manner, we just did it approximately the same each attempt. This is an important step, as the thickness of the Vaseline will determine the amount of the soot particles that are collected, as if it is too thick it will be too thick to stick on the Vaseline, and if it is too thin, it will be too thin to be able to collect the particles. Another problem is that we did not measure accurately the position of the center square for the area of the Vaseline, in terms of where in the center of the square it is placed. This is also quite important, as a difference in the placement of the Vaseline will result in different exposure to the air pollution and soot particles. There was also a problem with the squares as we did not measure and cut the squares as accurate as possible. This is also an important step as it also affects the exposure of Vaseline to the air pollution. Also, another problem would be we could be mistaken in counting the particles, which results in the inaccuracy of the data collected. This is a vital process, as the data collected will determine the outcome of the overall experiment process. Another problem is that because the Psychrometer has a clear tube and mercury to indicate the measurement of humidity, it was a little invisible making it possible and it did happen in our case that we misread the levels of humidity in an inaccurate manner. This is a vital step as it will influence the overall data that is collected in regards to the rate of air pollution. There was also a problem due to rain, because of the rain it caused some error or inaccuracy in our overall data as the rain washed off some soot particles. This is a vital step to watch out for because it affects the overall results of the experiment. What we could have done to improve or extended study of this experiment is that firstly, we could have done a further conduction of this experiment, such as we do it in afternoon, for example in 1 pm, 2pm and 3 pm in order to find out more about the potential decrease in humidity to add in our observation of the experiment. Another method that can be done for extended study is that to watch out for rain, which can be done to create a simple small umbrella using the unused boards, which is important so we can have an accurate result of the soot particles collected on the Vaseline. Third, we can use a microscope in order to look at the soot in a more accurate manner, and count it properly. This is important as it affects the final outcome of the experiment. We can also be more careful in observing the Psychrometer’s measurement by using a straight apparatus that can be used in order to align the line of measurement to the number of the actual measurement. Another extended study is that we can use a teaspoon in a continuous manner to measure the Vaseline in order to get a more precise, accurate result. This is important as the Vaseline is responsible in collecting the visible soot particles and if it is too thick or too thin it will affect on the amount of the soot particles collected. This experiment has relation to the environments and the surroundings community, which is Binus, and how it has social impacts. The disadvantages of air pollution include; air pollution is harmful to people, animal, and environment. Many students (especially children) go to Binus. Polluted area can bring diseases such as lung disease, heart disease, asthma, and irritation of eyes, mouth, and mouth. Some pollutants also can cause cancer. We can reduce the pollution by cutting down the use of cars in order to get less polluted environments. If possible, Binusians can use public transportation, or bicycle, or walking, instead of using cars. If we really need to drive, there are few driving techniques that can be used. For example, by driving more slowly and smoothly, there will be less fuel generated from the engine. Thus, we need to decrease the usage of cars in order to have a better lifestyle. We need to raise awareness on the harmful effects of air pollution in our surroundings, especially in Binus. **Evidences (Images)** When we were cutting the squares for the Vaseline to be smeared. (8x8 cm) While smearing the Vaseline on the area of the square (3x3 cm) While we were looking at the visible soot particles using a Magnifying Glass. A Close-up photo of our squares with Vaseline smeared on it. Zaqi spinning the Psychrometer