Quicker Picker Upper Formal Lab Report
PRE-LAB
I.
Framing the Investigation:
Purpose: Which paper towel is the most absorbent?
Hypothesis: When testing different brands of paper towels for absorbency, Brawny will be
the most absorbent because it will hold to greatest number of water drops.
Independent variable: Name (brand) of paper towel
Dependent variable: number of drops of water that the paper towel will hold.
Control: school paper towels
Constants: dropper, size of each paper towel, liquid, surface under the paper towel
Materials: different brands of paper towels, medicine dropper, water
Explanation of Experiment:
1. Cut a 3 X 3 cm square of each paper towel that will be tested.
2. Collect water in the medicine dropper.
3. Drop water on drop at a time, counting the drops, onto the paper towel until the
paper towel is covered with water.
4. Record data in the table.
5. Repeat with each brand of paper towels.
POST-LAB
II.
Collecting and Presenting Data:
Relationship between Brand of Paper Towel and Number of Drops of Water Held
Bounty
Brawny
School
Trial 1
12
8
4
Trial 2
11
7
3
Trial 3
13
6
5
Average
12.0
7.0
4.0
The number of drops needed to saturate a 3 x 3
cm square of various paper towels
14
12
Drops of Water
10
8
Bounty
Brawny
6
School
4
2
0
Type of Paper Towel
III.
Analyzing and Interpreting Results:
Questions and Answers:
-None for this lab
Discussion: The hypothesis states “If using different brands of paper towels affects how
much water can be absorbed, then Brawny will absorb the most water.” The purpose of the
lab was to determine which paper towel is the most absorbent. Absorbency is defined as to
“take in”. The paper towels selected were Brawny, Bounty and the school paper towel. The
liquid selected to support the hypothesis was water. How much water will the paper towels
take in or hold? Drops of water were dropped on each paper towel until the entire square
was covered. All paper towels were cut the same size and the same dropper was used to
insure uniform drops. Three trials were run to reinforce consistency. As the data shows in
the first trial the school towel held 4 drops, Brawny held 8 drops and Bounty held 12 drops.
In the second trial the school towel held 3 drops, Brawny held 7 drops and Bounty held 11
drops. The final trial showed the school towel with 5 drops, Brawny with 6 drops and Bounty
12 drops. The data shows after 3 trials Bounty held the greatest number of drops of water
and Brawny held the second greatest number of drops. This proves the hypothesis is not
supported. Bounty was the most absorbent. The data on the bar graph supports the fact
that Bounty was actually the most absorbent and Brawny was the second most absorbent of
the three brands of paper towels.
Experimental Error:
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Lost count of water drops
H2O drops may have been different sizes
Slight variation in sizes of paper towels
Going Further:
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Made a template for cutting out paper towel squares (more accurate)
Used other liquids like milk, ketchup, syrup
Used Viva, Hi-Dry, HEB brand of paper towels