Lab: Surface to Volume Ratio
Names___________________________
Objective:
In this lab you will use bubble gum to determine the relationship between
surface area and volume.
Materials:
3 sticks of bubble gum, calculator, ruler or meter stick
Procedure: Find out which partner can blow the largest bubble:_______________ (name). Have
your lab partner measure the diameter of a bubble this person can blow using 1,2 and 3 sticks of gum.
Collect data for 3 bubbles each with 1, 2 and 3 sticks. Try not to make a mess, and use metric (cm).
Equations:
Radius = Diameter/2 Volume = (4/3) R3 Surface Area = 4R2
1 Stick of Gum
Bubble Diameter: Trial 1 _______ Trial 2 _______
Trial 3_______ Ave. Diameter________
Radius of bubble _________
Surface Area ______ (use formulas!)
Ratio: Surface Area
Volume
Volume ________
Ratio for
1 stick of gum
(i.e. SAV)
2 Sticks of Gum
Bubble Diameter: Trial 1 _______ Trial 2 _______
Trial 3_______ Ave. Diameter________
Radius of bubble _________
Surface Area ______ (use formulas!)
Ratio: Surface Area
Volume
Volume ________
Ratio for
1 stick of gum
(i.e. SAV)
3 Sticks of Gum
Bubble Diameter: Trial 1 _______ Trial 2 _______
Trial 3_______ Ave. Diameter________
Radius of bubble _________
Surface Area ______ (use formulas!)
Ratio: Surface Area
Volume
Volume ________
Ratio for
1 stick of gum
(i.e. SAV)
Analysis: Make a graph of the surface area to volume ratio versus the number of sticks of gum. Sticks
of gum should be your independent variable.
What happened to the surface area to volume ratio
1
as you used more gum?
Ratio
0
1
2
3
Dispose of your gum in the garbage when you are finished.
Sticks of gum