Reader's Guide

Experiment Central: Understanding Scientific Principles Through Projects provides in one resource a wide variety of experiments covering nine key science curriculum fields—Astronomy, Biology, Botany, Chemistry, Ecology, Geology, Meteorology, Physics, and Scientific Method—spanning the earth sciences, life sciences, and physical sciences.

One hundred experiments and projects for students are presented in 50 subject-specific chapters. Chapters, each devoted to a scientific concept, include: Acid Rain, Biomes, Chemical Energy, Flight, Greenhouse Effect, Optics, Solar Energy, Stars, Volcanoes, and Weather. Two experiments or projects are provided in each chapter.

Entry format

Chapters are arranged alphabetically by scientific concept and are presented in a standard, easy-to-follow format. All chapters open with an explanatory overview section designed to introduce students to the scientific concept and provide the background behind a concept's discovery or important figures who helped advance the study of the field.

Each experiment is divided into eight standard sections designed to help students follow the experimental process clearly from beginning to end. Sections are:

  • Purpose/Hypothesis
  • Level of Difficulty
  • Materials Needed
  • Approximate Budget
  • Timetable
  • Step-by-Step Instructions
  • Summary of Results
  • Change the Variables

Each chapter also includes a "Design Your Own Experiment" section that allows students to apply what they have learned about a particular concept and create their own experiments. This section is divided into:

  • How to Select a Topic Relating to this Concept
  • Steps in the Scientific Method
  • Recording Data and Summarizing the Results
  • Related Projects

Concluding all chapters is a "For More Information" section that provides students with a list of books with further information about that particular topic.

Special Features

  • A "Words to Know" section runs in the margin of each chapter providing definitions of terms used in that chapter. Terms in this list are bolded in the text upon first usage. A cumulative glossary collected from all "Words to Know" sections in the 50 chapters is included in the beginning of each volume.
  • Experiments by Scientific Field index categorizes all 100 experiments by scientific curriculum area.
  • Parent's and Teacher's Guide recommends that a responsible adult always oversee a student's experiment and provides several safety guidelines for all students to follow.

  • Standard sidebar boxes accompany experiments and projects:

    "What Are the Variables?" explains the factors that may have an impact on the outcome of a particular experiment.

    "How to Experiment Safely" clearly explains any risks involved with the experiment and how to avoid them. While all experiments have been constructed with safety in mind, it is always recommended to proceed with caution and work under adult supervision while performing any experiment (please refer to Parent's and Teacher's Guide on page xvii).

    "Troubleshooter's Guide" presents problems that a student might encounter with an experiment, possible causes of the problem, and ways to remedy the problem.

  • Budget Index categorizes experiments by approximate cost. Budgets may vary depending on what materials are readily available in the average household.
  • Level of Difficulty Index lists experiments according to "Easy," "Moderate," "Difficult," or combination thereof. Level of difficulty is determined by such factors as the time necessary to complete the experiment, level of adult supervision recommended, and skill level of the average student. Level of difficulty will vary depending on the student. A teacher or parent should always be consulted before any experiment is attempted.
  • Timetable Index categorizes each experiment by the time needed to complete it, including set-up and follow-through time. Times given are approximate.
  • General Subject Index provides access to all major terms, people, places, and topics covered in Experiment Central.
  • Approximately 150 photographs enhance the text.
  • Approximately 300 drawings illustrate specific steps in the experiments, helping students follow the experimental procedure.

Acknowledgments

Credit is due to the general editors of Experiment Central who lent their time and expertise to the project, and oversaw compilation of the volumes and their contents:

John T. Tanacredi, Ph.D.
Adjunct Full Professor of Ecology Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Polytechnic University
Adjunct Full Professor of Environmental Sciences, Nassau Community College, State University of New York
President, The Science Museum of Long Island

John Loret, Ph.D., D.Sc.
Professor Emeritus and Former Director of Environmental Studies of Queens College, City University of New York
Director, The Science Museum of Long Island

A note of appreciation is extended to the Experiment Central advisors, who provided their input when this work was in its formative stages:

Linda Barr
Editor and Writer for Book Builders Incorporated

Teresa F. Bettac
Middle School Advanced Science Teacher
Delaware, Ohio

Linda Leuzzi
Writer, Trustee of The Science Museum of Long Island

David J. Miller
Director of Education
The Science Museum of Long Island

Gracious thanks are also extended to science copyeditor Chris Cavette for his invaluable comments, expertise, and dedication to the project.

Comments and Suggestions

We welcome your comments on Experiment Central. Please write: Editors, Experiment Central, U•X•L, 27500 Drake Rd., Farmington Hills, Michigan, 48331–3535; call toll free: 1–800–877–4253; fax: 248–414–5043; or send e-mail via http://www.galegroup.com.