Intro
The goal of the project was to observe how homeostasis is maintained in the body. Many things in the body need to be keeped at a control level to keep the body alive this is called keeping homeostasis. Many systems need to be kept at homeostasis, one of them being the body's pH levels. pH levels are changed in a couple of key ways the main one is the foods being eaten. Depending on how acidic the food is or how alkaline the food is the pH levels of the blood will fluctuate from homeostasis, 7.4, to slightly acidic, 6.8, or slightly alkaline,8. This is fluctuation from eating food was what the experiment was founded on. A subject would eat an acidic or alkaline food then at regular intervals record the bodies pH to see how much it changed and how long until homeostasis returned.
Terms:
Homeostasis: The tendency toward a relatively stable equilibrium between interdependent elements, especially as maintained by physiological processes. This was the overall subject that we were studying and testing in this project, which is why it is so important.
Negative feedback loop: A feedback loop which dampens and buffers the situation.
Positive feedback loop: A feedback loop which enhances and amplifies the situation.
pH: a scale that measures the acidity or alkalinity of substances from 0-14. 0 being acidic. 7 being neutral. 14 being Alkaline/Base.
Chemical buffer: A chemical compound released into the blood to raise or lower pH levels.
Alkaline: Substances that fall on the pH scale from 7-14 (vegetables, legumes, nuts)
acidic: Substances that fall on the pH scale from 0-7 ( Sugar, flours, milk)
Negative feedback loop: A feedback loop which dampens and buffers the situation.
Positive feedback loop: A feedback loop which enhances and amplifies the situation.
pH: a scale that measures the acidity or alkalinity of substances from 0-14. 0 being acidic. 7 being neutral. 14 being Alkaline/Base.
Chemical buffer: A chemical compound released into the blood to raise or lower pH levels.
Alkaline: Substances that fall on the pH scale from 7-14 (vegetables, legumes, nuts)
acidic: Substances that fall on the pH scale from 0-7 ( Sugar, flours, milk)
Scientific Method:
Step 1: Ask A Question.
Step 2: Do Some Research.
Step 3: Formulate a Hypothesis.
Step 4: Test with Experimentation.
Step 5: Record and Analyze Results.
Step 6: Draw a Conclusion.
Step 2: Do Some Research.
Step 3: Formulate a Hypothesis.
Step 4: Test with Experimentation.
Step 5: Record and Analyze Results.
Step 6: Draw a Conclusion.
Reflection
This was a great project with a lot of good things and a couple of bad things. The first parts of the project I enjoyed was being able to work independently without adult supervision. This made a weight lift off my shoulders allowing me to do my work at my pace and conduct my own experiments. Another thing I enjoyed by the project was being able to test pH because it was defiantly not my first choice to forcing me to work with it allowed me to understand it better.
The parts I disliked about the project was the decision in topics and timeline. I thought deciding the topics was totally unfair because it forced people to work with stuff they absolutely did not want to choose making a really fun project a let down. In the future groups should be allowed to double up on topics to best interest the students and teachers favorites did run into this situation where certain groups were allowed to double up while others weren't. Another thing I disliked was the lack of a timeline. This project initially started out fun and exciting because multiple trials were going to be able to be conducted this was all let down when the project timeline was cut to a week. Overall the project was alright but still looking for my favorite in the future.
The parts I disliked about the project was the decision in topics and timeline. I thought deciding the topics was totally unfair because it forced people to work with stuff they absolutely did not want to choose making a really fun project a let down. In the future groups should be allowed to double up on topics to best interest the students and teachers favorites did run into this situation where certain groups were allowed to double up while others weren't. Another thing I disliked was the lack of a timeline. This project initially started out fun and exciting because multiple trials were going to be able to be conducted this was all let down when the project timeline was cut to a week. Overall the project was alright but still looking for my favorite in the future.