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Discovering Diffusion In AP Biology

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What do diffusion and osmosis inside living cells mean? If you don't know the answer, simply ask the students in Dr. Finneran's AP Biology class, who recently completed a hands-on lab on the topic.

 "The AP exam requires that students not only understand biological concepts," explained Dr. Finneran, "but also requires simulation of cellular processes that require students to analyze data and draw conclusions. It provides a real-life application and a more in-depth understanding of a popular AP Biology topic." 

It all started when students measured dialysis tubings that were pre-filled with varied concentrations of sucrose solutions. The tubing bags were placed in distilled water overnight and were re-measured to determine how the rate of diffusion varied with different molarities of sucrose.

Students then took porous tubes filled with starch solution and placed it in a small cup filled with distilled water and iodine. As students looked on as spectators, they began to see the once cloudy water inside the dialysis tubing turn an inky black.

This evidence that diffusion, movement of molecules from high concentration to low concentration, was taking place, reinforcing the AP Big Idea of cellular transport.

Junior Bess Weinheimer said, "I learned a lot from [this] hands-on experiment... in this lab, I was able to watch diffusion happen!"

Thanks to the technology of the iPad, those who were zooming in from home were also able to observe, with a little tablet angling help from their fellow classmates. All of the students wrapped up their day with a better understanding of diffusion as they watched the concepts in their textbooks come to life.

 

Cross Country Teams Take 1st & 2nd In Region Championships!!!

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The Cross Country teams competed in the Region II-AA Championships last Wednesday at Patriot's Park in Sumter and performed very well. The girls finished second in the team standings behind Northside Christian. Addison Hewitt led the Lady Eagles with a 3rd place finish and was joined in the top 10 by Ella Banks (5th) and Tabitha Hewitt (6th). The boys team was crowned as Region Champions with an exciting 32-33 victory over Thomas Sumter. As the runners were coming to the finish, there was a feeling that the team scores would be extremely close. In reality, the team championship was epitomized by Thomas Patrick beating a runner from TSA by 1 foot!  Hans Payne earned the title of Individual Region Champion with a time of 17:19. Three other Eagles joined him in the top 10:  Ethan Gawryluk (4th), Gabe Moser (7th), and Thomas Patrick (9th). 

Addison Hewitt, Ella Banks, Tabitha Hewitt, Hans Payne, Ethan Gawryluk, and Gabe Moser were all named to the All-Region team. Congratulations Eagles!

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