Transcript Paper Towels: Absorbing the Facts

Paper Towels: Absorbing the Facts
Sarah Jean Hendra
1st Grade, Age 6
April 30, 2006
Misawa, Japan
Scientific Investigation
Objective
Determine which paper towel absorbs the
most water.
 Determine which paper towel can hold the
most weight.
 Document results
 Have fun
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Scientific Investigation
Research
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Internet Google Search provided Several
Different Sites with Similar Projects
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Keyword: “Paper Towel Science Project”
– 1,120,000 results in 0.09 seconds
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Chose the following (1st Returned Result):
http://www.selah.k12.wa.us/soar/sciproj2001/SamanthaP.html
Scientific Investigation
Search Results
Scientific Investigation
Background
Living in Japan, we tried to compare US
paper towels to Japanese paper towels.
 Search of Japanese grocery store (Universe)
yielded NO Japanese paper towels.
 Settled on three different US brands

– Bounty, Viva, and Mardi Gra

Student observations:
– Viva is the softest.
– Mardi Gra is the roughest.
Scientific Investigation
Most Absorbent
Procedure (1)
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Measure 100ml of water in beaker.
Fold paper towel and place in graduated cylinder.
Carefully pour water into cylinder while starting timer.
After 15 Seconds, carefully wring all water from the
paper towel in the cylinder.
Pour the remaining water from the cylinder into the
beaker.
Measure the remaining water.
Document results.
Scientific Investigation
Strongest
Procedure (2)
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Measure 100ml of water in beaker.
Tightly seal container with paper towel around top.
Put 20 metal balls on the towel.
Pour 100ml water onto the paper towel.
Add 20 additional balls.
Pour an additional 100ml water onto the paper towel.
Add additional balls until the paper towel broke.
Document results.
Scientific Investigation
Most Absorbent Results
Test
1
Bounty
14ml
Viva
16ml
Mardi Gra
7.5ml
2
10ml
13ml
7ml
3
13.5ml
12ml
7ml
AVG
12.5ml
13.66ml
7.16ml
Strongest Results
Test
Balls
Bounty
205
Viva
99
Scientific Investigation
Mardi Gra
60
The Absorbent Experiment
Starting the Experiment
The Scientist
Measuring
Wringing Excess WaterScientific Investigation
Preparing to Measure Results
The Strongest Experiment
The Scientist
Counting out the Metal Balls
The Experiment
Scientific Investigation
Experiment Observations
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Viva was the most absorbent
Mardi Gra was the least absorbent
Bounty was the strongest
“Paper towels are used more to wipe stuff up.”
Experiment Conclusion
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Which paper towel would you buy?
– “Bounty because it is strongest.”
– “Viva because it is the most absorbent.”
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Which paper towel is better?
– “Probably Viva because it absorbs more.”
Scientific Investigation
The Display
Scientific Investigation