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Topic: Using a light sensor to study air pollution (Read 12123 times)
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Vernier Forum Admin
Administrator
Full Member
Posts: 108
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Posted on: 2002-02-26 14:34:00 by Fernando Espinoza
A 'detector' can be built with simple materials (e.g. a plastic container and transparent adhesive tape that can trap pollution particles. The detector is placed over the vernier light sensor and a reading taken when the tape is clean is the reference point. When the tape has been exposed, the 'dirty' readings can be compared to the clean ones to get a percentage of deposition of pollution on the detector. I have used it to develop projects that last several months and that enable students to get very good results when compared to the data published by the EPA.
Reference: Espinoza F. (2000). The Light Meter: A Powerful Tool in Physical Science. Science Activities. Vol.37, No.1. (10-15).
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Vernier Forum Admin
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Posts: 108
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Posted on: 2002-03-14 10:54:00 by Robyn Johnson
I have done this as well and it works like a charm. I have wanted to study cigarette smoke and indoor air pollution as well, but haven't done it yet. Let us know if any of you out there try something!
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leannaaker
Newbie
Posts: 9
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What a cool idea. We are starting a project next year to collect local data and relate it to problems of local interest (like light intensity and seasonal affective disorder....we live around Seattle), etc. This would be a cool thing to add in. I hadn't thought of the tape idea to capture particulates. Neat!
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rickr
Newbie
Posts: 1
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It might be cool also to use a ProScope (or other digital microscope) to take pictures of the particulates collected by the tape
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demco25
Guest
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Posted on: 2002-03-14 10:54:00 by Robyn Johnson
I have done this as well and it works like a charm. I have wanted to study cigarette smoke and indoor air pollution as well, but haven't done it yet. Let us know if any of you out there try something!
well, i must say that it is a very interesting choice.
it will help not only people from the harmful effect of smoking but also mother nature will surely benefit on this study of yours.
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MelOlbeira
Newbie
Posts: 1
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The light sensor idea is cool. Is there any where to get the results of the reports on the internet?
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loleina16
Newbie
Posts: 1
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This is definitely a good idea especially the testing of cigarette smoke on our evironments. I would be interested in seeing the results of the test.
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rjohnson
Vernier Specialist
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Posts: 111
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I don't know if anyone has done cigarettes yet, but we did general particulates in our classroom, on the building roof, and on the lawn outside the building. The procedures we used can be found at :
http://tinyurl.com/yznr3zt
The results of one test are:
Test Card Control Location 1 Location 2
Location Name classroom roof of building tree on west side of building
Illumination Test Circle A (lux) 1397 1239 1138
Illumination Test Circle B (lux) 1337 1239 1095
Illumination Test Circle C (lux) 1308 1223 1103
Illumination Test Circle D (lux) 1297 1214 1050
Average (lux) 1335 1223 1097
Percent light transmittance 100% 92% 82%
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kabonegro
Newbie
Posts: 1
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Posted on: 2002-03-14 10:54:00 by Robyn Johnson
I have done this as well and it works like a charm. I have wanted to study cigarette smoke and indoor air pollution as well, but haven't done it yet. Let us know if any of you out there try something!
I would like to propose the same kind of study to my schoolmates. This particular study especially the indoor air pollution, opens up a lot of opportunities, we can submit the same study to "air purifier companies" and from then work on a case study regarding the effectiveness of such purifiers.
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