Science Fair ProjectComparison in Strength of Wet Paper Towels

Paper TowelsBella Valenzuela and Jessika Zanotti

Statement of the Problem

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

Project OverviewOur 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.

ResearchPaper 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

VariablesIndependent 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.

HypothesisThe less water on a paper towel, the more mass

it will be able to hold a weight that is placed onto the paper towel.

MaterialsTeaspoonRed Value Paper TowelsWaterSeven gram weightA notebookA pencilGlass of water

Procedure1. Gather all materials.2. Fill 16 once glass with tap water.3. Place five sheets of paper towel on the table.4. Fill the teaspoon with water.5. Place the amount of drops according to group

on the first sheet.6. Place 7 gram weight on the wet paper towel.

Procedures7. 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\ObservationsTrial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4 Trial 5 Average

sO tsp 0 0 0 0 0 03 tsp 0 1 1 0 0 0.46 tsp 3 5 0 1 4 2.69 tsp 7 5 6 6 8 6.412 tsp 17 14 12 17 15 1515 tsp 22 15 15 18 19 17.8

Qualitative: We saw white wet paper towels ripping and leaving behind a path of water and left over pieces.

Quantitative: Number of tears per trial

Data/Observations

O tsp 3 tsp 6 tsp 9 tsp 12 tsp 15 tsp0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

Averages

Amount of Water

Amou

nts

of T

ears

ConclusionWe 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

1. How you pored the water2. Constancy of pulling the paper towel3. The speed of pulling the paper towel4. 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>.