4.4: Procedures
- Page ID
- 29135
You will investigate and compare the properties of paper towels.
Absorbency
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Choose the four brands of paper towels you will be testing and obtain 2 sheets of each. Label the sheets with the brand name.
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Draw the table for absorbency data. Do not fill in data until you have read the instructions for obtaining that data.
Paper Towel Brand |
Predicted Absorbency Ranking |
Dry Mass (grams) |
Wet Mass (grams) |
Amount of Water Absorbed (grams) |
Measured Absorbency Ranking |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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List the brand names of the paper towels your team chose, in your table. Number the predicted rankings for the paper towels, in your table; give a 1 to the paper towel you expect to have the best absorbency and a 4 to the paper towel you expect to have the least absorbency.
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Cut an equal size piece of each brand of paper towel. Label these pieces with the brand name.
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Devise a process for testing the absorbency, which includes measurements of the dry mass and wet mass for the paper towel pieces. Follow the process and complete your table.
Clean-up
- Throw away wet paper towel pieces
- Completely dry Triple Beam Balance
- Use classroom paper towels to dry the team table
Speed
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Draw the table for speed data and list the brand names of the paper towels your team chose. Read the instructions for obtaining your speed data.
Paper Towel Brand |
Predicted Speed Ranking |
Time to Absorb Water |
Measured Speed Ranking |
---|---|---|---|
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Cut an equal size thin strip of each brand of paper towel. Label these pieces with the brand name.
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Number the predicted rankings for the paper towels, in your table; give a 1 to the paper towel you expect to have the fastest absorbency time and a 4 to the paper towel you expect to have the slowest absorbency time.
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Devise a process for testing the speed at which each strip absorbs water, which includes time measurements. Follow the process and complete your table.
Clean-up
- Throw away wet paper towel pieces
- Use classroom paper towels to dry the team table
Strength
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Draw the table for strength data and list the brand names of the paper towels your team chose. Read the instructions for obtaining your strength data.
Paper Towel Brand |
Predicted Strength Ranking |
Observed Strength Ranking |
---|---|---|
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Cut an equal size piece of each brand of paper towel. Label these pieces with the brand name.
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Number the predicted rankings for the paper towels, in your table; give a 1 to the paper towel you expect to be the strongest and a 4 to the paper towel you expect to be the weakest.
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Devise a process for testing the strength of the wet paper towel pieces, using the materials provided (clothespins and/or various masses), which includes specific observations. Follow the process and complete your table.
Clean-up
- Throw away wet paper towel pieces
- Use classroom paper towels to dry the team table
Cost
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Draw the table for cost information and list the brand names of the paper towels your team chose. Read the instructions for obtaining your cost data.
Paper Towel Brand |
Cost per Roll |
Square Feet per Roll |
Calculated Cost per SQ FT |
---|---|---|---|
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Use the information from the packaging to calculate the value of each paper towel (SQ FT per penny), and record this value in your table.
Clean-up
- Throw away any remaining pieces of paper towels at your team table
- Discard water outside (water plants)
- Use classroom paper towels to completely dry beaker