Which paper soaks up most water?

Which paper soaks up most water?

Pencil and paperOnline interactive
Overview
Using this Resource
Connecting to the Curriculum
Marking Student Responses
Further Resources
This task is about designing a fair test.

testing paper for soaking
You want to find out which paper will soak up water the best.
You have three types of paper:
  • Paper towels
  • Brown paper bags
  • Newspaper

Question 2Change answer

a)  What are you trying to find out?

Question 2Change answer

b)  How will you know which paper is best?

Question 2Change answer

c)  What things will you need to keep the same to make sure the test is fair?
 
Ask your teacher to check your work, then carry out your "fair test". 
Plan checked by teacher?   check box

Question 1Change answer

d)  Write down your results and what you see here.

Question 1Change answer

e)  What do your results tell you?
Task administration: 

This task can be completed with pencil and paper or online with other equipment.

Equipment:

Large jam jar; pencil; bulldog clip; water; strong-coloured dye; unequal sized pieces of 3 types of paper (e.g., paper towel, paper bag, and newspaper); scissors; clock with second hand; ruler.

  • You will need to tell the students they will be planning and carrying out a "fair test" which shows which type of paper will soak up water the best.
  • Give the students the equipment.
  • You will need to check students' plans before they carry out the "fair test" to ensure that their designs are workable.
  • To ensure that the paper is held in the water at the same level students will need to put a pencil through the bulldog clip and hang it in the jam jar with the dye and water in it.
  • When this task was trialed the paper was held in the water for three minutes.
Level:
3
Curriculum info: 
Science, Investigating in science, Material World
Keywords: 
properties, physical properties, paper, fair testing, investigation, planning investigations
Description of task: 
This practical task requires students to plan and carry out a fair test to find out which paper type will soak up water the best.
Curriculum Links: 
Science capabilities
The capabilities focus is brought about by the conversations you have and the questions you ask.
 
Capability: Gather and interpret data
This resource provides opportunities to discuss the importance of controlling variables when using fair testing for an investigation.
Science capabilities: 
Gather and interpret data
Making Better Sense: 
Physical Change
Answers/responses: 
a) Which paper soaks up water the best.
b) For a possible measurement, e.g., measuring how far the dye will travel up the 3 papers when they are dipped into the dye (in a given time).
c) For keeping any 3 of these factors the same in the plan:

  • The same size pieces of paper.
  • Papers all dipped into the same level/water level.
  • Papers all in the water for the same length of time.
  • Concentration of the dye.
d) For accurate measuring and recording of results for the 3 different papers.
e) Accurate conclusion drawn from results, e.g.,
the paper towel soaked up the most water.