Science Fair Project Comparison in Strength of Wet Paper Towels Bella Valenzuela and Jessika Zanotti

Statement of the Problem How does the amount of water affect the strength of the paper towel.

Project Overview Our experiment consist of placing 5 paper towels on a table and placing water according to groups. Then we dragged each sheet across the eight foot long table. We then counted how many tears and pieces left behind.

Research Paper towels absorb liquids through capillary action Capillarity is the tendency of liquids to rise or move through small tubes or openings of porous material Paper towels are made of cellulose, the main substance in plant fibers. Cellulose makes paper towels so durable

Variables Independent Variable: the amount of water that was added to the paper towel. Dependent Variable: strength of the paper towels. Constant Variables: same amount of paper towel sheets, same water temperature, same mass, same type of paper towel, the way we drag the sheets. Control Group: the paper towel without any water.

Hypothesis The less water on a paper towel, the more mass it will be able to hold a weight that is placed onto the paper towel.

Materials Teaspoon Red Value Paper Towels Water Seven gram weight A notebook A pencil Glass of water

Procedure Gather all materials. Fill 16 once glass with tap water. Place five sheets of paper towel on the table. Fill the teaspoon with water. Place the amount of drops according to group on the first sheet. Place 7 gram weight on the wet paper towel.

Procedures 7. Drag paper towel across the table with a constant speed. 8. Record data including rips, tears, and pieces that are left behind. 9. Repeat steps 4-7 with a different amount of water until all sheets have been used.

Photos

Data\Observations Quantitative: Number of tears per trial Trial 1 Averages O tsp 3 tsp 1 0.4 6 tsp 3 5 4 2.6 9 tsp 7 6 8 6.4 12 tsp 17 14 12 15 15 tsp 22 18 19 17.8 Qualitative: We saw white wet paper towels ripping and leaving behind a path of water and left over pieces.

Data/Observations

Conclusion We discovered that with wet paper towel that it is very difficult to drag it across a table without pieces being left behind. We believe the data that we have collected proves our hypothesis is correct.

Possible Experimental Errors How you pored the water Constancy of pulling the paper towel The speed of pulling the paper towel Placing the weight in a different area

Applications and Recommendations Improvements could be that no pulling errors and being more precise. For the future experiments you could design it differently. You use paper towel in your everyday life, you use it when you wash the dishes, clean up messes, and dry your hands.

Work Cited "Best Paper Towels - Paper Towel Reviews - Paper Towel Coupons - Strongest Paper Towel." Galt Technology: Technology Reviews, Internet Guides, Product Reviews, Travel Guides. 23 Jan. 2010. Web. 24 Jan. 2011. <http://www.galttech.com/research/buying-online/best-paper- towels.php>. Chow, Darren W. "Why Are Kitchen Paper Towels So Absorbent?" Ezine Articles. 9 Apr. 2010. Web. 22 Jan. 2011. http://ezinearticles.com/?Why-Are-Kitchen-Paper-Towels-So- Absorbent?&id=4085740. Harty, Erin. "Difference in Absorbency of Paper Towels | EHow.com." EHow | How To Do Just About Everything! | How To Videos & Articles. 29 May 2010. Web. 27 Jan. 2011. <http://www.ehow.com/ facts_6565111_difference-absorbency- paper-towels.html>. Mann, Paul. "What Makes Paper Towels Absorb Liquid? | EHow.com." EHow | How To Do Just About Everything! | How To Videos & Articles. Web. 27 Jan. 2011. <http://www.ehow.com/about_5483761_paper- towels-absorb-liquid.html>.