The Life Cycle Of A Pencil By- Chloe’ and Zoha

How Long Does It Last? The average pencil can draw up to seven miles if used sparingly. The average pencil can write up to 50,000 english words.

What Materials Are used? Graphite (Lead): Today, all the graphite that we use is a manufactured mixture of natural graphite and other chemicals. Eraser: The erasers consist of pumice and rubber. Wood: The wood used is specifically California Cedar. The wood must also withstand constant sharpening and when cut, no splintering. Ferrule (Metal): A ferrule is a metal case that attaches the eraser to the pencil, held on with either glue or metal prongs.

Packaging How is a pencil packaged? A pencil is packaged in a very thin cardboard box, then piled up with dozens of other boxes into one big cardboard box. Then into the truck, and off to the store they go. 4

Distribution How does a pencil get from the factory to the store? A Pencil gets from the factory to the store by truck. Once the pencils are packaged, they are put in several trucks and shipped off to the stores like Target. Once they are there, the truck goes into the loading dock, unloads and leaves for the next shipment. Once all this is done, the employees stack the shelves with the pencils. 5

Usage Does this product produce any waste? No, this product does not produce any waste. Unless you have written all you could with the pencil and you are forced to throw it away unless you have found a way to reuse this. Does this product use energy? Yes, this product does use energy while writing. The type of energy that you are using is your kinetic energy. Does this product produce greenhouse gas? No, this does not produce greenhouse gas while being used, however during the factory process, they factory is creating greenhouse gas. ‘ 6 Pencil writing causes kinetic energy usage.

Reuse Is a pencil reusable Eraser: Yes, you can gather the eraser shavings and crate a craft. Ferrule: No, the ferrule is not reusable nor recyclable. Wood: Yes, (Like the eraser) You can collect the wood shavings and create a craft. Graphite: Yes, the graphite is reusable because if the lead comes out or breaks, you can put that led in a mechanical pencil and reuse it. So that answers your question. Yes, A pencil is reusable except for the ferrule. 7

Disposal What happens when your pencil is thrown away? When your pencil is thrown away, the garbage men take the garbage (along with your other garbage) and ship it to the landfill. Does your pencil go to a landfill? Yes, your pencil does go to a landfill. Once at the landfill, the pencil is stuffed underneath a thick sheet of dirt. Does the disposial of a pencil affect the enviorment? Yes, because eyour pencil goes into a landfill, the landfill (Most) have gasses called methane. Methane is bad for the enviorment unless prosessed through a power plant. 8

Resources Websites Wikipedia Google Blackle Pencil.com Yahoo answers Madehow.com Usage Information Images Information Images Information 9

10 I hope you liked our presentation, Please let us know if any information is false.