Science Investigative Project: May 2011

Tuesday 31 May 2011

Materials gathering

Before I start on my experiment, I need to make sure that all my materials are all ready. So today, I decided to go out shopping and gathering the necessary materials.

Materials:
Balloon, balloon pump: Might be able to find it at NTUC
- Need about 2 packs of balloon or more, just in case
Black paper: For the scale
Silver marker: for the lines

After I got home, I immediately got started working on my scale. I drew about 25 lines, each line separated at a distance of about 1cm.
With my materials ready at hand, I'm now ready to begin my experiment.

However, there seem to still be many problems that needs to be solved.

Wednesday 25 May 2011

Proposal

APPENDIX D

Science Investigative Project

Project Proposal Form

Name:

Guo Wanying ( 7 )

Sec 2/ 10

Topic of investigation

: "Bending" water with

static electricity

A	Observations made
	The stream of water will 'bend' towards the balloon when the balloon charged with static electricity is brought near the stream of water.
B	Research Question
	Does the distance between the stream of water and the balloon affect the degree of ”bend” of the water?
C	Hypothesis statement
	The closer the balloon is to the stream of water, the larger the degree of ‘bend’ of the water.
D	A short summary of research done on the area of investigation
	Short summary of research done on the area of investigation: - Static electricity is developed and accumulated when two objects are rubbed against one another - When they are rubbed together, electrons jump from one object to the other. - Object that loses electrons become positively charged - Object that gains electrons become negatively charged - The balloon and your hair would both acquire opposite charges when rubbed together, causing the charge of the balloon to attract the molecules of water in stream. - This can be done because the molecules in the stream can be moved easily, allowing the stream to bend towards the balloon - Static electricity works better at a place with low humidity as at places with high humidity, the surface of objects are coated with a thin layer of water, which prevents electrons from jumping between the objects
E	Bibliography
	http://scifun.chem.wisc.edu/homeexpts/BENDWATER.html http://chemistry.about.com/od/chemistryexperiments/ht/bendwater.htm

Criteria and requirements

CRITERIA:

1. formulate a research question to your project of interest (state purpose of your

project)

2. construct a hypothesis that is testable within a given time frame

3. identify all variables in your investigation

4. state the materials and apparatus needed to support the testing of the

hypothesis

5. propose a research method

6. show evidence of experimentation

7. collect data

8. organise and present data

9. analyse data

10. discuss & draw conclusions from the data

11. identify the limitation(s) to your investigation

REQUIREMENTS
1. Research Plan
I am to submit a research plan (Appendix D) by Term 2 Week 10. In the
research plan, I should formulate the research question and hypothesis of
the project.
2. Report and Science Lab book
I am to submit a report (both hard and soft copy) and a science lab book
after the completion of the project experimentation, on 27th July 2011.

Tuesday 24 May 2011

Mini experiment

After discussing with my teacher, she suggested that I might further develop my idea by using different types of water. Different types of water have different electrical current and charges.

So, I am going to conduct the same experiment as before but just changing the type of water
Type of water: Tape water, boiled water, alkaline water

Materials: Water, balloon, balloon pump, protractor, ruler, camera, scale, Hose, pail

Hypothesis: The closer the balloon is to the stream of water, the larger the degree of ‘bend’ of the water.

Variables:

Dependent: Degree of ‘bend’ of the water

Independent: Distance between the stream of water and the balloon

Constant: Size of the stream of water, size of the balloon, amount of static electricity produced, material of the balloon, amount of air pumped into the balloon

Experiment procedure:

1. Before starting off, calculate the electrical current of the different types of water with the ammeter

2. Make a scale and place it behind the stream of water (Ensure that the stream of water is flowing straight along the line drawn on the scale)

3. Use the balloon pump to pump up the balloon (about 30 pumps?)

4. Rub the balloon against your hair (about 40 times?)

5. Connect the bottle of water to the hose and invert it (so that water can flow down)
6. Make sure that there is a pail beneath the hose, so as to reuse the water again

7. Place the balloon near the stream (about 5cm)

8. Take a video of the process
9. Repeat the experiment again for 3 times

10. Tabulate the results

11. Repeat steps 2-10 for another 2 times (place the balloon at different distances away from the stream of water each time e.g. 9cm, 15cm)

12. Compare the tabulated results between the different types of water

Background research:

Charges of water

- Ammeter : Used to measure the electrical current

- The electrical current is determined by the charges of the water molecule

- Water molecules contain both positive and negative charges

- (further research need to be done)

Problems:

water need to flow down in a stream, so I was thinking of using a water faucet. However, if I am going to test on the different types of water, then i might need an alternative way to get my stream of water. Maybe I could try pouring the water down a hose (to ensure that the size of the stream is equal.

I would need a lot of water, maybe about 5L of each type. I should also put a pail or something at the bottom to collect the water to be reused.

Accepted idea

My water 'bending' experiment has been accepted!

So from now on, I will be conducting experiments to test out my experiment.

The water "bending" experiment

“Bending” water using static electricity

Research question: Does the distance between the stream of water and the balloon affect the degree of ”bend” of the water?

Materials: Water faucet, balloon, balloon pump, protractor, ruler, camera, scale

Hypothesis: The closer the balloon is to the stream of water, the larger the degree of ‘bend’ of the water.

Variables:

Dependent: Degree of ‘bend’ of the water

Independent: Distance between the stream of water and the balloon

Constant: Size of the stream of water, size of the balloon, amount of static electricity produced, material of the balloon, amount of air pumped into the balloon

Experiment procedure:

1. Make a scale and place it behind the water faucet (Ensure that the stream of water is flowing straight along the line drawn on the scale)

2. Use the balloon pump to pump up the balloon (about 30 pumps?)

3. Rub the balloon against your hair (about 40 times?)

4. On the water faucet to the maximum

5. Place the balloon near the faucet (about 5cm)

6. Take a video of the process
7. Repeat the experiment again for about 3 times

8. Tabulate the results

9. Repeat steps 2-8 for another 2 times (place the balloon at different distances away from the stream of water each time e.g. 9cm,15cm)

* Scale

-> LInes drawn on black paper with a distance about 1cm away from each other

-> To determine the degree of 'bend' => Sometimes the naked eye cannot determine the bend

Background information:
Static electricity
- What is static electricity?

Static electricity is the accumulation of electrical charges on the surface of a material, usually an insulator or non-conductor of electricity. It is called “static” because there is no current flowing, as there is in alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC) electricity. Typically, two materials are involved in static electricity, with one having an excess of electrons or negative (−) charges on its surface and the other material having an excess of positive (+) electrical charges. Atoms near the surface of a material that have lost one or more electrons will have a positive (+) electrical charge.

- How is static electricity generated?

Static electricity is usually caused when certain materials are rubbed against each other—like wool on plastic or the soles of your shoes on the carpet. It is also caused when materials are pressed against each other and pulled apart. The process causes electrons to be pulled from the surface of one material and relocated on the surface of the other material. It is called the triboelectric effect or triboelectric charging.
The material that loses electrons ends up with an excess of positive (+) charges. The material that gains electrons ends up an excess of negative (−) charges on its surface.
http://www.school-for-champions.com/science/static.htm
http://www.school-for-champions.com/science/static_causes.htm

History of static electricity
Ancient times:

This is because everyone has heard the story of Franklin flying his kite during a lightning storm.

○However that was not when electricity was discovered. Electricity was first mentioned in the works of a Greek scientist named Thales of Miletus in about 600BC!

● Thales noticed that if amber (hardened tree sap) was rubbed, it had the ability to pick up dust and leaves. What he was seeing is what we now call “static

electricity”

● Another Greek named Theophrastus noticed in 300BC that

other substances had static electricity if rubbed.

● Unfortunately neither Thales nor Theophrastus had any

scientific explanation for it… they just thought it was

interesting.

Law of charges:

- Like charges repel

- Opposite charges attract

In 1600AD an Englishman named William Gilbert started studying

these phenomena.

● He wanted to come up with a good scientific explanation for

these ancient discoveries.

● Although he had only some success in describing electricity, he

was able to show that there were differences between magnetism and electricity that seemed to indicate that they were completely different things.

○ For example, an amber rod had to be rubbed to have electric effects; a magnet was always a magnet (didn't need to be rubbed).

● Up until that point most scientist had believed electricity and magnetism were just different

versions of the same thing.

Modern theory

Law of Conservation of Charge

The net amount of electric charge produced in any process is zero

This just means that even though you can move around charges, you can’t create or destroy them

Sometimes the atom may lose or gain electrons.

● Nothing happens to the stable nucleus made up of protons and neutrons.

● It is the electrons that are being stripped off or added on because they are on the far outside

edge of the atom.

● If the atom loses electrons it will have a positive charge… if it gains electrons it has a negative

charge.

● Either way, it is now called an ion.

Usually when an object is charged by rubbing, the charge only lasts a little while… where does the

charge go?

● Most of the charge “leaks off” to water molecules in the air

○ Water is a polar molecule, which means one end is more negative and the other

is more positive.

○ The positive end can temporarily pick up electrons.

http://www.studyphysics.ca/2007/30/06_forces_fields/06_statichistory.pdf

Monday 23 May 2011

Brainstorming idea 2

Idea 2

Permanent ink experiment

Research question: How permanent are permanent markers? What solvents (water, alcohol, vinegar, detergent solution) will remove the ink?

Materials: Sharpie permanent marker, water, rubbing alcohol, vinegar, detergent solution, hard plastic cover, cotton wool, timer

Hypothesis: Rubbing alcohol may have to highest chance in removing the ink compared to the others.

Variables:
Dependent: time taken for ink to be removed

Independent: the type of solvent used (water, rubbing alcohol, vinegar, detergent solution)

Constant: amount of pressure applied, amount of each solvent used, type of permanent marker, surface written on, size and type of cotton wool used

Short summary of research done on the area of investigation:
- Alcohol may have the highest posibility of removing the the ink as it is found in many cleaning agents
- Sharpie permanent marker is alcohol based
- Rubbing alcohol mixes with the alcohol within the ink so a visible change is can be observed
- A marker is considered permanent if it sticks to most surfaces, is water resistant, or uses dyes or pigments
- Permanent markers contain three main ingredients: a colorant, a carrier, and a resin.
- A colorant (dyes/pigments) is what gives markers their permanence and their colour.
- A carrier is a solvent such as hydrocarbon organic chemicals, like xylene.
- These chemicals may provide a desirable permanency but they are foul-smelling and toxic
- Xylene is now replaced with alcohol solvents
- Alcohol (isopropyl) more environmentally friendly and smell better, evaporates fast (ink dry faster)
- Resin sticks like glue to most surfaces, causing the pigment to attach to surfaces

Bibliography:
- http://www.odec.ca/projects/2008/chau8v2/home.html
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isopropyl_alcohol

Brainstorming idea 1

Idea 1:
The water "bending" experiment
“Bending” water using static electricity

Research question: Does the distance between the stream of water and the balloon affect the degree of ”bend” of the water?

Materials: Water faucet, balloon, balloon pump, protractor, ruler,( camera)

Hypothesis: The closer the balloon is to the stream of water, the larger the degree of ‘bend’ of the water.

Variables:
Dependent: Degree of ‘bend’ of the water

Independent: Distance between the stream of water and the balloon

Constant: Size of the stream of water, size of the balloon, amount of static electricity produced, material of the balloon, amount of air pumped into the balloon

Short summary of research done on the area of investigation:
- Static electricity is developed and accumulated when two objects are rubbed against one another
- When they are rubbed together, electrons jump from one object to the other.
- Object that loses electrons become positively charged
- Object that gains electrons become negatively charged
- The balloon and your hair would both acquire opposite charges when rubbed together, causing the charge of the balloon to attract the molecules of water in stream.
- This can be done because the molecules in the stream can be moved easily, allowing the stream to bend towards the balloon
- Static electricity works better at a place with low humidity as at places with high humidity, the surface of objects are coated with a thin layer of water, which prevents electrons from jumping between the objects

Bibliography:
http://scifun.chem.wisc.edu/homeexpts/BENDWATER.html

http://chemistry.about.com/od/chemistryexperiments/ht/bendwater.htm