pH |
A Corning PS 15 pH meter was
used and the value was recorded when the reading stabilized. |
Conductivity |
A Casio Data Analyzer EA-100
was used. The two probes were placed 1 inch apart under the water
surface. The voltage was recorded when the reading stabilized. |
Mass of dissolved solids |
A 100 ml sample was collected,
filtered, and poured into a pre-weighed beaker. The water was allowed
to evaporate. The beaker was then remassed and the mass change was
recorded. |
Mass of suspended solids |
When filtering the sample to
determine the mass of dissolved solids (above), the filter paper was
first weighed. Then the sample was filtered. The filter paper was
allowed to dry and was remassed. The mass change was recorded. |
Air temperature |
The temperature was measured
approximately 4 ft above the water surface. The temperature probe on
the Casio EA 100 was used and compared to temperatures obtained with a
standard laboratory thermometer. The readings by the two methods were
in agreement within one degree. The Casio values are the values
recorded in the above table since the students were consistently able
to get readings to the tenths place with this instrument. |
Water temperature |
The temperature was measured by
submersing the Casio EA-100 temperature probe in the water without
touching the bottom of the stream. As describe above, the accuracy was
also tested with a standard thermometer agreement of less than 1
degree difference. |
Turbidity |
Fill a clear tube with stream
water. Pour out water until you can just see a black washer on the
bottom of the tube through the water. Measure the depth of the water
in the tube. |
Nitrates, Dissolved Oxygen, Phosphates |
All were measured using Hach
brand test kits.
|
Flow rate |
1. |
Measure distance across the
stream. |
2. |
Use a meter stick to determine
the water depth in three places going perpendicular to the stream
direction. Mark this as your starting position. |
3. |
Go a few meters down stream
(measure this distance) and repeat step 1+2. Use this as your ending
position. |
4. |
Toss a tennis ball in the water
at your starting position and record how long it takes to go from the
starting to position. |
5. |
Repeat step 4 three times and
find the average of the three readings. |
6. |
Calculate speed in meters per
second. |
7. |
Calculate the flow in meters
cubed per second. |