Airborne Particulate Experimental Design Challenge, Part 1

Experimental Design Challenge

Airborne particulates are among the unhealthiest components of air pollution to humans. Very small particulates can lodge deep inside lung tissue where they can stay throughout the life of a person. The sources of particulates can be natural as well as anthropogenic. Airborne dust, pollen, soil, or particles from the smoke and exhaust of automobiles, factories, and power plants all contribute to the total amount of particulates in the air.

Part 1. Your task

Design an experiment to test the levels of particulates in the air in various places. You could test levels of indoor vs. outdoor particulates, distance from the freeway or major road, levels in various indoor buildings, levels in homes with various pets, distance from a heating/air conditioning vent, street vs. backyard, Distance from trees and plants etc.

1. Write your initial problem (the specific question you are testing) and hypothesis.

2. Explain your experimental design (where is each dish going, how long, etc)

3. What are your variables? Contents, Dependent Variable, Independent Variable, etc.