Paper Towels Absorbing the Facts Sarah Jean Hendra

Paper Towels: Absorbing the Facts Sarah Jean Hendra 1 st Grade, Age 6 April 30, 2006 Misawa, Japan Scientific Investigation

Objective Determine which paper towel absorbs the most water. n Determine which paper towel can hold the most weight. n Document results n Have fun n Scientific Investigation

Research n Internet Google Search provided Several Different Sites with Similar Projects n Keyword: “Paper Towel Science Project” – 1, 120, 000 results in 0. 09 seconds n Chose the following (1 st Returned Result): http: //www. selah. k 12. wa. us/soar/sciproj 2001/Samantha. P. html Scientific Investigation

Search Results Scientific Investigation

Background Living in Japan, we tried to compare US paper towels to Japanese paper towels. n Search of Japanese grocery store (Universe) yielded NO Japanese paper towels. n Settled on three different US brands n – Bounty, Viva, and Mardi Gra n Student observations: – Viva is the softest. – Mardi Gra is the roughest. Scientific Investigation

Most Absorbent Procedure (1) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Measure 100 ml 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) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Measure 100 ml of water in beaker. Tightly seal container with paper towel around top. Put 20 metal balls on the towel. Pour 100 ml water onto the paper towel. Add 20 additional balls. Pour an additional 100 ml water onto the paper towel. Add additional balls until the paper towel broke. Document results. Scientific Investigation

Most Absorbent Results Test 1 Bounty 14 ml Viva 16 ml Mardi Gra 7. 5 ml 2 10 ml 13 ml 7 ml 3 13. 5 ml 12 ml 7 ml AVG 12. 5 ml 13. 66 ml 7. 16 ml Strongest Results Test Balls Bounty 205 Viva 99 Scientific Investigation Mardi Gra 60

The Absorbent Experiment Starting the Experiment The Scientist Measuring Wringing Excess Water. Scientific Investigation Preparing to Measure Results

The Strongest Experiment The Scientist Counting out the Metal Balls The Experiment Scientific Investigation

Experiment Observations n n 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 n Which paper towel would you buy? – “Bounty because it is strongest. ” – “Viva because it is the most absorbent. ” n Which paper towel is better? – “Probably Viva because it absorbs more. ” Scientific Investigation

The Display Scientific Investigation