Name: ____________________________________
Period______
Bubble Gum Lab 7/O
PURPOSE:
With the information that you have learned so far in class, you will use your scientific inquiry skills
to determine what will happen to bubble gum as you chew it over time and which brand of gum
produces the biggest bubble. This exercise will strengthen your ability to record two types of
observations: quantitative and qualitative.
MATERIALS:
Electronic Balance/Triple Beam Balance, Ruler, Wax Paper, Bubble Gum, String, Graduated
Cylinder.
SAFETY:
Please keep the bubble gum on the paper that is provided to you to prevent contamination. If you
drop your gum on the floor, please do not pick it up and place it in your mouth. Ask the instructor
for a new piece! You should double check and see that you have “zeroed” a piece of wax paper on
the balance before you place YOUR gum on the balance. No goggles or lab aprons are required,
just extreme caution in handling your gum.
HYPOTHESIS:
In the space below, write a hypothesis about what you think will happen to bubble gums’
appearance, volume, mass, and density after you chew it over time. Use the “if…then…because”
statement.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
IDENTIFY THE VARIABLES:
INDEPENDENT VARIABLE:
______________________________________________________________________________
DEPENDENT VARIABLE:
______________________________________________________________________________
CONTROLS/ CONSTANTS:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
PROCEDURE:
1. Obtain a piece of bubble gum and a piece of wax paper. Predict what will happen to the
appearance, volume, mass, and gum after you chew it.
Name: ____________________________________
2.
Period______
BEFORE chewing, determine 2 qualitative and 2 quantitative observations. Record
these observations on your data sheet.
a. Qualitative = describe appearance. Write as detailed of a description as possible
(texture, color, shape, etc.)
b. Quantitative measurements:
i. Mass (g) - Use the digital electronic balance/triple beam balance to
measure mass. Units are in grams (g). Make sure you use the wax paper
to place your gum on the balance or you could contaminate your piece of
gum! Record the mass on your data sheet.
ii. Volume (cm3) = length (cm) x width (cm) x height (cm). The height is the
same as saying how thick is this piece of gum? Record the measurements
to calculate the volume and the volume on your data sheet.
mass/volume.
RECORD THE DATA IN THE CHART BELOW. RECORD MEASUREMENTS IN CM.
QUALITATIVE DATA
BEFORE
1.Brand A
QUANTITATIVE DATA (*UNITS*)
1.Mass = ______g
2.Brand B
2. Volume = _____ (cm) x _____ (cm) x _____ (cm)
Volume = _______ cm3
1.Brand A
AFTER
1.Mass =______g
2.Brand B
2. Volume = _____ mL
.
GRAPHS:
Make TWO BAR GRAPHS – one for mass and one for volume, comparing the data from before
and after chewing. Be sure to label your axes properly, title your graph, and use the correct units.
ATTACH YOUR TWO GRAPHS TO THIS LAB. YOUR GRAPHS WILL BE DIFFERENT FROM
YOUR PARTNER.
Name: ____________________________________
Period______
PART II:
1. Write a hypothesis predicting which bubble gum will produce the largest bubble. Use the
“If...then...because” statement.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
2. Write a list of steps (1, 2, 3, 4…) you will follow in order to test your hypothesis. Blow a bubble
for your piece of gum three times. Measure in cm.
RECORD THE DATA IN THE CHART BELOW. RECORD MEASUREMENTS IN CM
Number of Blows
BRAND A
BRAND B
1
2
3
PART I:
ANALYSIS: Answer all questions in COMPLETE sentences!!
1. Describe your findings.
2. What did you notice about the before and after mass of your gum?
3. Why do you think these results occurred?
4. Distinguish between qualitative and quantitative measurements. Which type of
measurement is easier to make and why?
5. Which type of data are you more likely to have mistakes in, quantitative or qualitative?
Why?
Name: ____________________________________
Period______
PART II
6.
Which gum produced the biggest bubble and why?
7.
Why are some students blowing bubbles while others require more chewing. Explain.
8.
Why are some bubble gum brands hard to the touch and other brands are soft? Explain.
9.
Why different brands of gum have different properties. Explain.
10. Are all pieces of bubble-gum the same size (weight in grams)? Explain.
11. Why do some gums need to be chewed longer than others before one can blow a bubble?
Explain.
CONCLUSION:
12. Restate your hypothesis and explain if your hypothesis was correct. Summarize the
experiment in 4-5 sentences.