Investigating Osmosis with Potato Slices

Miacademy & MiaPrep Learning Channel

In this hands-on laboratory demonstration, students explore the biological process of osmosis using common kitchen materials: potatoes and water. The video guides viewers through a complete scientific experiment, comparing how potato slices change in mass when submerged in water versus being left in the air. The host clearly explains the setup, execution, and analysis phases, allowing students to either follow along at home or use the video's data for analysis. Key themes include cellular transport, the properties of semipermeable membranes, and the scientific method. The video breaks down complex concepts like concentration gradients and passive transport using clear animations and the tangible example of the potato cells. It also emphasizes critical experimental design components, such as identifying independent and dependent variables, establishing control groups, and formulating hypotheses. This video is an excellent resource for middle school science classrooms as it bridges the gap between abstract cellular processes and observable macroscopic changes. Teachers can use it to introduce cell transport, reinforce the steps of the scientific method, or as a virtual lab alternative for students without access to equipment. The clear visuals of the scale readings and the step-by-step calculations make it easy for students to practice data collection and analysis skills.