Meeting AP Biology Lab Objectives

Free Downloadable AP Biology Labs

Meeting AP Biology Lab Objectives with Biology with Vernier, Biology with Computers/Calculators Experiments

Lab 1 - Diffusion and Osmosis
Experiment 4 - Diffusion
Experiment 22 - Osmosis

Relate osmotic potential to solute concentration and water potential.
Measure the water potential of a solution in a controlled experiment.
Determine the osmotic concentration of living tissue or an unknown solution from experimental data.
Describe the effects of water gain or loss in animal and plant cells.

Sensors used:
Conductivity Probe (CON-BTA)
Gas Pressure Sensor (GPS-BTA)

Use a computer or calculator and a Vernier interface with a Conductivity Probe to measure the conductivity of various solutions.
Study the effect of temperature on diffusion.
Study the effect of concentration gradients on the rate of diffusion.
Determine if the diffusion rate for a molecule is affected by the presence of a second molecule.
Use a computer or calculator and a Vernier interface with a Gas Pressure Sensor to measure the change in gas pressure in a potato well when filled with increasing concentrations of sugar water.
Determine the rate of pressure change in a potato well.
Examine the relationship between rate of pressure change and sugar concentration.

Lab 2 - Enzyme Catalysis
Experiment 6 - Enzyme Action: Testing Catalase Activity

Measure the effects of changes in temperature, pH, and enzyme concentration on reaction rates of an enzyme catalyzed reaction in a controlled experiment.
Explain how environmental factors affect the rate of enzyme-catalyzed reactions.

Sensors Used:
O2 Sensor (O2-BTA) or Gas Pressure Sensor (GPS-BTA)

Use a computer or calculator and a Vernier interface with an O2 or Gas Pressure sensor to measure the destruction of hydrogen peroxide by the enzyme catalase at various enzyme concentrations.
Measure and compare the initial rates of reaction for this enzyme when different concentrations of enzyme react with H₂O₂.
Measure the destruction of hydrogen peroxide by the enzyme catalase at various temperatures.
Measure and compare the initial rates of reaction for the enzyme at each temperature.
Measure the destruction of hydrogen peroxide by the enzyme catalase at various pH values.
Measure and compare the initial rates of reaction for the enzyme at each pH value.

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Lab 3 - Mitosis and Meiosis
no equivalent lab

Lab 4 - Plant Pigments and Photosynthesis
Experiment 7 - Photosynthesis

Compare photosynthetic rates at different light intensities.
Separate pigments and calculate their Rf values.
Describe a technique to determine photosynthetic rates.
Explain why the rate of photosynthesis varies under different environmental conditions.

Sensors Used:
Colorimeter (COL-BTA)

Use a colorimeter to measure color changes due to photosynthesis.
Study the effect of light on photosynthesis.
Study the effect that the boiling of plant cells has on photosynthesis.
Compare the rates of photosynthesis for plants in different light conditions.
Separate plant pigments.
Calculate the Rf value.

Download a pdf version of this lab for Computers or Calculators or Palm OS® Handhelds

Lab 5 - Cell Respiration
Experiment 11 - Cell Respiration

Calculate the rate of cell respiration from experimental data.
Relate gas production to respiration rate.
Test the effect of temperature on the rate of cell respiration in non-germinated versus germinated seeds in a controlled experiment.

Sensors Used:
O2 Sensor (O2-BTA) or CO2 Gas Sensor (CO2-BTA) or 2 Gas Pressure Sensors (GPS-BTA)

Use computer or calculator and a Vernier interface with an O2 Gas Sensor or CO2 Gas Sensor to measure concentrations of oxygen or carbon dioxide or two Gas Pressure Sensors to measure gas pressure changes.
Study the effect of temperature on cellular respiration.
Determine whether germinating peas and non-germinating peas respire.
Compare the rates of cellular respiration in germinating and non-germinating peas.

Lab 6 - Molecular Biology
no equivalent lab

Lab 7 - Genetics of Organisms
no equivalent lab

Lab 8 - Population Genetics and Evolution
no equivalent lab

Lab 9 - Transpiration
Experiment 10 Transpiration

Test the effects of environmental variables on rates of transpiration using a controlled experiment.
Make thin sections of stem, identify xylem and phloem cells, and relate the function of these vascular tissues to the structures of their cells.

Sensors Used:
Gas Pressure Sensor (GPS-BTA)

Observe how transpiration relates to the overall process of water transport in plants.
Use a computer or calculator and a Vernier interface with a Gas Pressure Sensor to measure the rate of transpiration.
Determine the effect of light intensity, humidity, wind, and temperature on the rate of transpiration of a plant cutting.

Lab 10 - Physiology of the Circulatory System
Experiment 27 - Heart Rate & Physical Fitness

Measure the heart rate in a human volunteer.
Describe the effect of changing body position on heart rate.
Explain how exercise changes heart rate.
Determine a human's fitness index.
Measure blood pressure in a human volunteer.
Analyze cardiovascular data collected by the entire class.

Sensors Used:
Hand-Grip Heart Rate Monitor (HGH-BTA)

Determine the effect of body position on heart rates.
Determine the effect of exercise on heart rates.
Determine your fitness level.
Correlate the fitness level of individuals with factors such as smoking, the amount of daily exercise, and other factors identified by students.

Lab 11 - Animal Behavior
no equivalent lab

Lab 12 - Dissolved Oxygen and Aquatic Primary Production
Experiment 19 - Dissolved Oxygen
Experiment 25 - Primary Productivity

Measure primary productivity based on changes in dissolved oxygen in a controlled experiment.
Investigate the effects of changing light intensity on primary productivity in a controlled experiment.

Sensors Used:
Dissolved Oxygen Probe (DO-BTA)
Stainless Steel Temperature Probe (TMP-BTA)
pH Sensor (PH-BTA)

Use a computer or calculator and a Vernier interface with a Dissolved Oxygen Probe to measure the concentration of dissolved oxygen in water.
Study the effect of temperature on the amount of dissolved oxygen in water.
Predict the effect of water temperature on aquatic life.
Measure the rate of respiration in an aquatic environment.
Determine the net and gross productivity in an aquatic environment.

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