John Graham

9/2/12

Durvasula

Period 4th “What Makes a Cricket Chirp?” Lab

Introduction:

When scientists set out to solve a problem, they follow a series of steps frequently referred to as the Scientific method. There are more than 100 methods scientists use to solve problems. Different types of problems require different approaches and solutions.

The scientific method is not a rigid procedure: rather it is a process of using common sense and logic to solve a problem. The logic used in scientific processes is the same kind of logic used when solving puzzles and experiments.

You always first have to gather the materials, find the problem, make a hypothesis to infer what you think the solution to the problem is, test the variable stated in your hypothesis and make a conclusion stating whether your educated guess was right or not.

Question (2):

1. Is there a single factor that affects the chirping rate in crickets?

2. If so, what is the single factor?

Background Information:

1. Only male crickets chirp. They do so by rubbing one wing against the other, or by rubbing their legs against the wings.

2. Crickets hear with their “elbows.” Their “ears” are small disks near one of the joints on the front leg.

3. Crickets have several chirping patterns. The one we usually hear is the “calling song” used by males to attract females.

4. Some crickets are mute. They do not chirp. Some of the mute crickets live in caves.

5. In parts of Africa, cricket “songs” are believed to have magical powers.

6. The male cricket even “sings” underground.

7. Crickets belong to the order Orthoptera. This is the same order that includes grasshoppers, katydids, walking sticks and roaches.

Hypothesis (2):

John Graham

9/2/12

Durvasula

Period 4th 1. Humidity is the single factor that affects the chirping rate in crickets.

2. Wind Speed is the single factor that affects the chirping rate in crickets.

Materials: Cricket,

Procedure:

Data & Results:

Effect of Wind Speed on Cricket Chirp RateWind Speed (m/sec) Chirp Rate (chirps/min)0 (m/sec) 148 chirps/min1 (m/sec) 148 chirps/min2 (m/sec) 148 chirps/min3 (m/sec) 148 chirps/min4 (m/sec) 148 chirps/min5 (m/sec) 148 chirps/min6 (m/sec) 148 chirps/min7 (m/sec) 148 chirps/min

Effect of Humidity on Cricket Chirp RateHumidity(%) Chirp Rate (chirps/min)

10% 148 chirps/min20% 148 chirps/min30% 148 chirps/min40% 148 chirps/min50% 148 chirps/min60% 148 chirps/min70% 148 chirps/min80% 148 chirps/min

John Graham

9/2/12

Durvasula

Period 4th

Independent Variable (2):

1. Humidity

2. Wind Speed

Dependent Variable (2):

1. How fast the cricket chirps in different humidity’s

2. How fast the cricket chirps in different wind speeds

Constant Variables:

Experiment 1: Experiment 2:

1. Air Temperature 1. Air Temperature

2. Atmospheric Pressure 2. Atmospheric Pressure

3. Number of Crickets nearby 3. Number of Crickets nearby

John Graham

9/2/12

Durvasula

Period 4th 4. Wind Speed 4. Humidity

Control Group:

1. Cricket

2. Lab Environment

Graphs:

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 900

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

Chirp Rates VS. Temperature

Chirp Rate (chirps/min)

Wind Speed (m/sec)

Chirp Rates (chirps/min)

John Graham

9/2/12

Durvasula

Period 4th

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 900

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

Chirp Rates VS. Humidity

Chirp Rate (chirps/min)

Conclusion:

There is no single factor that affects the chirping of a cricket. After testing two of the 5 factors humidity and wind speed, the data has shown that through eight trials on both, the chirping of the cricket is not effected at all by these two factors. Therefore showing the crickets chirping pattern was not affected. The main reason for the change in the crickets chirp could be due honesly to what the cricket may be feeling. Everytime the kid came back and heard the cricket, there is no way to tell for sure if it was the same cricket or not. The cricket(s) could have been chirping differently depending on the age of the crickets or its mood practically. So in essence, there is no affect to the consistency of the crickets chirping through the tests that have been conducted above. And if there is an effect it was not tested in this experiment.

Chirp Rates (chirps/min)

Humidity (%)