How Does Surface Area Affect the
Dissolving Time of a Life Saver?
Prepared by
____________________________
6th Grade
Haymon-Morris Middle School
Submitted to
Mrs. Guillebeau
December 4, 2009
1
Table of Contents
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Title Page
Table of Contents
Purpose and Hypothesis
Materials
Variables
Background Information
Procedure
Data Log
Data Table
Conclusion
References
Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Pages 6-8
Page 9
Pages 10-12
Page 13
Page 14
Page 15
2
Purpose and Hypothesis
• Purpose: The purpose of this experiment is to simulate how
surface area affects the chemical and mechanical weathering
process of a rock in a warm, moist environment. The life
saver represents the rock and the mouth is the warm, moist
environment-not unlike the one that Winder has experienced
in the recent past.
• Hypothesis: As the surface area if the life saver increases, the
dissolving time will __________________
3
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•
•
•
Materials
9 life savers candies
– 3 whole
– 3 broken into 4 pieces
– 3 crushed
1 clock, watch, or stopwatch with second
hand
1 person
Logbook with data table
4
Variables
• Manipulative or Independent
Variable
• Surface area of the candy
• Responding or Dependent
Variable
• Dissolving time of candy
• Controls
• Type of candy
• Size of candy
• Dissolving technique
– Allow candy to sit on tongue
without sucking until
dissolved.
5
Background Information
• Read the enclosed pages from two science
textbooks about how surface affects chemical
reactions and how it affects weathering rocks.
Also read pages 278-286 in your hardback red
textbook. Write a brief description in your own
words about the information in each of the
resources. You need to make the connection
between your experiment and how the rate of
mechanical and chemical weathering are affected
by the surface area of the rock. Page 285
specifically defines and explains surface area.
6
Procedure
Procedure
1.
2.
Prepare life savers for trials
Gather materials
–
3 whole
–
3 broken into 4 pieces
–
3 crushed
3.
Place whole life saver on tongue and allow to dissolve without sucking too
much on the candy.
4.
Record time in data table.
5.
Repeat steps 3 and 4 two more times.
6.
Place all four pieces of life saver on tongue at the same time. Allow candy to
dissolve just like the whole life saver.
7.
Record time in data table.
8.
Repeat steps 6 and 7 two more times.
9.
Place entire crushed life saver on tongue and allow to dissolve in the same
manner as the other 2 tests.
10. Record time in data table.
11. Repeat steps 9 and 10 two more times.
7
Data Table
• Manipulative
or
Independent
Variable
Surface
Area of
Candy
Responding or Dependent Variable
Time Rounded to the Nearest Whole Minute
Trial
1
Trial
2
Trial
3
Mean
Whole
Fourths
Crushed
8
Graph
9
Conclusion
• I _____________ my hypothesis. The data
show ______________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
10
References
• Chemical Interactions. Upper Saddle, New
Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2002. Print. Science
Explorer.
• Earth Science. Georgia ed. Orlando:
Holt,Rinehart, and Winston, 2008. Print. Holt
Science and Technology.
• Earth's Changing Surface. Upper Saddle,
New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2002. Print.
Science Explorer.
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