tracking atmospheric haze project

[juancarlvi]

Ok so im planning on doing my science fair project on tracking atmospheric haze but what should i do well what my purpose for doing this? i have no idea what to do?

[deleted-71417]

Hi

I gather you want to track air polution where you live.So where do you live(City & state only, not your address)? Is there an air quality control district there? If so the probably already measure this and may publish it on their website, so that may handle your data collection issue. Try ccpmtactomg them for information on why they meaure it, and how, and what the implications of high values ar.

You need to read the entire Science Buddies Project Guide:

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... ndex.shtml

To figure out what you are doing. First you need to decide on exactly what question you want to answer, then go from theree.

Then check out these project ideas:

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... A&from=TSW

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... 34&start=0

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... f=3&t=2081

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... 4&start=15

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... 4&start=30

This should get you started at least.

Good luck and psot back if you have further questions>

Best regards,

Barrett L Tomslinson

[juancarlvi]

I bought all the materials needed for my project. But noe i rant into trouble because i don't know how to build it. please anybody that can assist please do i need all your help.

[juancarlvi]

well i have another quick question. Well you see i bought all of the parts needed which i the name of all the parts from a magazine but i still don't understand how to build it.
all help is needed please..
and thanks for the previous help.

[deleted-71417]

Hi:

Here is a site I found from another discussion thread that has detailed instructions on how to build the hze meter:

http://haze.concord.org/spbuild.html

And the discussion thread that may be useful to you for the other questions it answers:

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... 34&start=0

You might also find this discussion useful in interpreting the data you will collect:

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... 4&start=15

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... 4&start=30

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... 4&start=45

This sounds like a an interesting but challenging project. I wish you every success with it!

Best regards,

Barrett L. Tomlinson

[juancarlvi]

Thanks for the previous help.
I got another problem now though you see i bought the 275-652 model from radioshack which does not have the screws as said on the website. I do not know how to connect the wires.Please i need all the help possible

[juancarlvi]

i got this small problem the magazine in which i got all my parts states that the toggle switch model number 275-652 is just right for this experiment. but in the wesite that is telling me how to conduct this experiment it shows me that i need one with screws not with flat connectors so now what i need to know is how do i install the wires on that radio shack model.

the page that is helping me conduct this experiment is http://haze.concord.org/spbuild.html

[juancarlvi]

i have another problem noee when i went to buy the breadboard at radio shack i bought the board that was bigger how can i install it on the big one instead of the small one.

[kgudger]

Is the larger breadboard too large for the case? Even if you turn it the other direction? If it's too big, you either have to exchange the breadboard for the smaller one or find a larger case. The experiment says that any case will do as long as

the distance from the roughened end of the LED to the hole in the case and the diameter of the hole remain exactly 6.5 cm and 7.0 mm, respectively

HTH
Keith

[kgudger]

I assume flat connectors are the type with a small hole in them? These type of connectors are meant for soldering the wire in the hole. If you don't have the capability to solder the wires in, you can twist them through the hole and then electrical tape them to insulate them. This will not provide a very good mechanical / electrical connection, but it might work for a while.

Keith

[deleted-71417]

Hi,

Please use one thread to ask questions about your project. It makes it much easier for experts to understand the whole problem you are asking about.

As to the breadboard size, Radio Shack is fairly good about helping people get what they want, at least in my experience. In your shoes I would take the incorrect parts back to the store and see if they can exchange them for the specified ones. If that won’t work, then you could try to cut the circuit board down to the correct size for the design. If neither of these ideas work, you will have to figure it out on your own. In the future I suggest you pay close attention to the parts list part numbers before buying, to avoid the kinds of problems you are encountering. Otherwise you will have to be ingenious in adapting what you have to what you need. There is little way the experts here can advise you on how to adapt a wrong part to the original design when we cannot see or handle the project.

Best regards,

Barrett L. Tomlinson

[MelissaB]

Hi,

As Barrett said, please keep all your posts about this experiment in this topic. To do that, you can hit 'post reply' near the top left of your screen when you are looking at this thread. Good luck!

[juancarlvi]

sorry fro all of my questions but i seem to have another problem in my hands So i bought the 276-003 bread board model but the instructions given in the website state to place the black wire from the output terminal in hole x5 the circuit board does not say x on it and i am sure that i got the right breadboard model.
All help will be appreciated.

[juancarlvi]

Now i need to get a volt meter what kind of volt meter would be apprpriate for this or evn the model number from a store.
please try to give me a cheap model

[deleted-71417]

Hi:

I just wanted to point out to you that the same website with sun photometeer assembly instructions has a wealth of other data about your project. Here, if you have not already discovered it, is a link to the main page:

http://haze.concord.org/101.html#manual

As to finding an inexpensive voltmeter, I found this comment in one of our project write-ups:

“voltmeter or multimeter,
Note: you will need a volt meter or multi-meter. If you don't have one or cannot borrow one, they range in price from about $14 to several hundred dollars. Radio Shack has them, as do most hardware stores. You can get analog or digital meters. The digital meters are easier to read, but are a little more expensive. The lower-priced meters will work pretty well for this experiment. In general, look for a meter that will measure volts and resistance. If you can find a meter that measures current on a 200 μA scale this could be useful, but it is not really necessary. In general, the price starts to go up as you look for meters that can measure smaller amounts of current. “

A trip to Radioshack will probably solve your problem. ScienceBuddies does not generally recommend or endorse specific brands or pieces of equipment., and I don’t have personal experience with any recent voltmeters.

Best regards,

Barrett L. Tomlinson

[juancarlvi]

Thanks for the help Barrett so i was just checking the readings on the multimeter and the multimeter displayed .03 but then it started going down even though i didn't change the light getting to the LED. I doubled check my connections and i think they are alright the only thing im not sure about is where the x row is on the bread board which is item # 276-003. I also am sure that the multimeter is on the DC measurement.
all help is appreciated



Sincerely,
juancarlvi

[deleted-71588]

As far as a 30 mV reading that decreases: What do you know about Capacitance and Capacitors? Do a little research on them as that property is likely part of the reason for your measurement change.

What do you know about the impedance of your meter on the DC Volt scale you were using? In order to measure voltage, some current has to flow through the meter. The impedance of the meter for the scale being used affects the amount of current the meter draws from the circuit for any given voltage being measured.

For example, if the impedance is 100Kohms, the meter will require 10 uA to measure 1 volt. I=V/R derives from Ohms Law (Read about Ohms law if you haven't already). If the photo cell under the lighting conditions you had was capable of producing 1 volt but wasn't capable of supplying 10 uA, then the meter represented too much of a load for the photo cell to develop 1 volt. Most photo cells exhibit some capacitance. Without the meter attached, the circuit is "open" and the photo cell charges its internal capacitance. Once the meter is attached, the meter draws current and the charge stored internally starts to flow. If the photo cell is incapable of producing electrons at the same or greater rate than they are flowing through the external measurement circuit, the voltage will decrease.

This is one possible explaination for what you observed.

What photo cell are you using and have you found a data sheet for it online somewhere that you can post a URL to so that we can look at it? What model meter are you using and have you found a data sheet for it online somewhere that you can post a URL to as well. With the data sheets, we can better evaluate what you are working with and better assist you by knowing what the components are capable of.