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INTRODUCTORY TEXT TO THE LESSON Local mythology claims that the Rock of Cashel was formed by the Devil biting a piece of the Devil's Bit range in North Tipperary and carrying it to Cashel.
The Devil's Bit is the area of North Tipperary studied by St Joseph's College Borrisoleigh. The students obtained soil samples from both sites and the tests they carried out, as well as their conclusions, are described in the lesson.
The students describe how they carried out the following tests to compare soil samples taken from the two geographical sites (which are 28km apart).:
Measuring inorganic matter: a weighed soil sample is burned in a crucble and then reweighed before further heating until no further change in mass. The percentage inorganic matter is calculated.
Measuring soil pH: a sample of soil was mixed with distilled water, filtered and the filtrate tested using the pH probe.
Measuring nitrogen content: The soil samples were again mixed with distilled water, filtered, and the filtrates tested in a nitrogen comparison chamber.
Testng the soil texture: The soil samples were seived and the relative particle sizes compared.
Testing the filtration rate: Soil samples were placed in filter funnels and the rate at which a measured quantity of water passed through them was measured.
