Paper Towel
Competition
EXAMPLE FOR SCIENTIFIC METHOD PROJECT
STEP 1: STATE THE PROBLEM
State your problem in the form of a question.
Include the product brand names you are using.
___(2pt.)
Problem:
Which brand of paper towel, Brawny, Scott
or CVS, will absorb the most water?
___(2 pt.)
STEP 2: PREDICTION OR HYPOTHESIS
Gather information about your product(s):
o Where can you look for data about your product?
Package, tv ads, internet, 1-800#s
o What claim does your product make? (at least 1 claim per product)
Bounty-quilted quicker, picker upper
Brawny-strong manly man
CVS-fast absorbing ridges
___(2 pt.)
o
o
Hypothesis:
What is your hypothesis about how the experiment will turn out?
Make an educated guess based on information you gathered and prior knowledge. (If, then)
If the amount of water absorbed is related to the brand of
paper towel then Brawny will absorb the most water because it
is the most expensive of the three brands.
___(2 pt.)
STEP 3: PLAN YOUR EXPERIMENT
Materials:
o Determine your materials.
o What do you need to conduct your experiment?
o How much do you need? (include quantity):
2 sheets of each brand of paper towel
450 mL of water
6 250 mL beakers
3 100 mL graduated cylinders
___(1pt.)
Variable
What is the independent variable in
your experiment?
Brand of paper towel
___(3pt.)
Controls
List 3 controls in your experiment.
Amount of paper towel
Amount of time left in water
Amount of water
Test/Experiment:
o
o
o
o
You will test the hypothesis by performing an experiment.
Write out step by step how the experiment will be conducted. Be VERY SPECIFIC!! (Include things like how much to use, how many time
something should be done, the method (way) that you did each step, etc.)
Number each step.
Make sure the experiment can be repeated over and over again by anyone. (Have someone that did not see you perform the test read you
procedures. Make sure they know exactly what you did.)
___(10pt.)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Procedures:
Gather and set up materials
Label two beaker with the name of a different paper towel brand
Pour 150 mL into 3 beakers
At the same time, put 1 sheet of paper towel in corresponding beaker
Allow each paper towel to sit for 30 seconds
Lift paper towel from beaker. Allow towel to drip for 10 seconds
Squeeze as much water from each paper towel as possible into the properly
marked empty beaker
Pour water from beaker into a graduated cylinder and measure
Record the data for each paper towel
STEP 4: RECORD AND ORGANIZE DATA
___(5pt.) (attach separately)
Water (in mL
Paper Towel Absorbency
1
2
3
4
Paper Towel Brands
water (mL)
STEP 5: ANALYZE AND CONCLUDE
o
o
o
Include a summary of your results and what they prove in regards to your
hypothesis.
Did your conclusion support or disprove your hypothesis?
Must follow guide of How to Write a Conclusion
___(5pt.)Summary (Use paragraph format)
My hypothesis was that Brawny would absorb more
water than the other brands. I based my hypothesis on
the idea that Brawny was the more expensive brand.
The results indicate that this hypothesis should be
considered………
Because of the results of this experiment, I wonder…..
If I were to conduct his investigation again I would…..