USE OF SPREADSHEETS IN SCIENCE – PRACTICAL ACTIVITIES.

Solve the following problems with the help of a spreadsheet (Excel). Classify the problems according to
the approach used to solve each one (algebraic, trial/error, graphic, etc.)

1) A Chemistry problem: solutions

a) Two solutions of the same salt are mixed. The first one has a volume of 125 ml and a
concentration 11% V/V. The second has a volume of 218 ml and a concentration of 17%V/V.
What is the concentration of the mixture.
b) Some results are easy to anticipate (for example if both solutions have the same volume or
concentration, or if volumes are doubled). Make a guess and compare with the results of the
spreadsheet.

2) A Biology problem: populations

A population of bacteria is reproducing at a given rate. Make a Excel sheet that allows you to calculate
the size of the population at any given time. You don´t know how to use exponential functions.
a) Using the sheet, calculate the size of the population if the starting number of individuals is 10000
and the grow rate is 50% an hour, and 5 hours have passed.
b) How could you use the sheet to answer rhe following questions?
i) What would be the population after 5 hours if the initial population were one half of the
original?
ii) What would be the population after 5 hours if the grow rate were one half of the original?

3) A Maths problem: maximising/minimising

a) You have 700 cm2 of cardboard and want to make a box 5 cm high. Base and lid will be square.
Find the dimensions of the box that use the whole cardboard. (Suppose you can cut the
cardboard without wasting anything and that you don’t know how to solve quadratic equations).
b) Does the solution change if the box has no lid?
c) You have 400 cm2 of tin to make a cylindrical can. You have 700 cm2 of cardboard and want to
make a box 5 cm high. Base and lid will be square. Find the dimensions of the can that make the
volume a maximum. (Suppose you can cut the tin without wasting anything and that you don’t
know how to solve quadratic equations).

4) A Physics problem: boundary (initial) conditions

a) An electron will be forced in a path in which it will be given 5 different (known) accelerations so it
can make it in a fixed time.

# measurement Distance Acceleration

1 15m 3m/s2
2 24m -2m/s2
3 5m 5m/s2
4 10m -8m/s2
5 2m 3m/s2
a) How much time does the particle need to go all the way with initial speed of 30 m/s? 20 m/s?
10m/s?
b) Which should be the initial speed to go all the way in 5 seconds.?
c) Can the particle make it in 10 seconds? Why?

5) A Maths problem [2]: roots (zeros)

a) Find the values that make zero the equation y = 10 x 4 − 7 x 3 − 9 x 2 + 7 x −1

6) A Physics prolbem [2]: Waves

a) A sound wave can be representes as the sum of 3 different sinusoidal disturbances, each one of
the form y = A ⋅ sin ( 2π ⋅ f ⋅ t ) . Graph the result of the superposition of 3 waves of different
frequencies and same amplitude
b) The same, but 3 different amplitudes and same frequency.
c) What do frequency and amplitude represent?SCIENCE I

SCIENCE I