New version of method

Today, I asked Ms Zhang to paste my newly written method on my report.

Report

I have finished writing my report in the long weekends and today I have written my method in a new way (without using numbers).

Thoughts about the results

My hypothesis turned out to opposite to the results because I proposed that the square aluminium would be the strongest but it turned out it was the weakest. I thought it was the strongest because it contained metal which made me think of the strength of steel. However, plastic is flexible and circle has the largest general width which is the diameter of 5.6cm (2.8cmX2). The square and the rectangle have about the same strength so the large range of results were mainly due to the weakness of aluminium foil. Bags distributed from shops are made of plastic with circular endings which is more environmentally friendly than paper bags as they are biodegradable. Also, this agreed with my results because circular plastic was the strongest material and/or shape. Cling wrap is a thinner form of plastic which clings together for strength.

This is the setup of my experiment.

This is a picture of me testing the strength of a 12.5cmX2cm paper by using it to hold the plastic bag containing the weight. I had a stopwatch to make sure this is a fair experiment.

This is a picture of me testing the strength of a piece of 5cmX5cm aluminium by using the paper to hold onto the plastic bag containing 200g weight. I have a stopwatch to make sure I hold it for 10 seconds to ensure a fair experiment.

This is a picture of me weighing the plastic bag in which the weights are held and what the material/shape holds on to. This is to make the results more accurate by using the weight of the bag as the starting weight and adding it on to the other weights.

Controlled Variables

Controlled variables in my experiment were as follows:
.time each shape of material held on to the weight (10s)
.the size of each shape of material (25 square centimetres)
.where the material was held (by the edges)
.the quality of the material before experiment (no rips
.the plastic bag used to hold each weight (same bag with weight of 6g).
.the dimensions for each shape were kept the same (12.5cm X 2cm rectange)
.the impact of the sudden weight on them (gently lifted from carpet after starting
stopwatch)

Risk assessment

This shows some ways to minimise the risk of investigating the strengths of different materials and shapes.

Raw results

Let W be the strength the material and shape can hold.
6g is added to every weight because that is the weight of the plastic bag which is holding the weights, and lifted by the materials.
You need to click on the image and then enlarge it to see the results.

Material strength experiment done and repeated

I conducted the experiment recording 3 sets of results during the long weekend.
Aim: To find how much weight each material and shape will hold.
Hypothesis: As the weight increases, the square paper will take the longest to break.
Equipment:
Ktichen scale
100g weight
200g weight
500g weight
1kg weight
Materials:
2 Plastic bags
Roll of aluminium foil
Roll of cling wrap
Paper
Method:
1) Cut the plastic bag, cling wrap, aluminium foil and paper into three shapes each; square, rectangle and circle.
2) Weighed the plastic bag where the weights would be put on.
3) Held up the plastic bag with each material of each shape for 10 seconds.
4) If it didn't break, then repeated step 3 with 100g weight and if broken, then recorded down the weight it can hold and the weight at which it broke.
5) Repeated steps 3-4 with 200g, 300g (100g+200g), 500g, 600g(100g+500g), 700g(500g+200g), 800g(500g+300g), 1kg, 1.1kg(1kg+100g), 1.2kg(1kg+200g), 1.3kg(1kg+300g), 1.5kg(1kg+500g), 1.6kg(1kg+500h+100g), 1.7(1kg+500g+200g)kg and 1.8kg(1kg+500g+200g+100g) weights.
6) Repeated steps 3 to 5 with all the different materials and their shapes.

Climate Graph

I drew my climate graph by hand and scanned it.

Strength of materials experiment

I have cut up samples of aluminium foil, cling wrap, paper and plastic in shapes of circles, rectangles (12.5 X 2) and squares; each 25 square centimetres as the materials for my experiment.
I have decided to borrow a kitchen scale to measure weights put on the materials, from a friend. The weights will start off from 10g and progress depending on how much the materials can hold.
My hypothesis is that the square piece of paper will be the strongest.

New road

I have searched many science specialty stores for convex lenses.
Some websites are:
http://www.chemsupply.com.au/custompage.aspx?custompage=distributors
http://www.camartech.com.au/
Also, I have rung more than 5 companies but none of them gave me suitable convex lenses.

This is why I've decided to change my experiment idea into testing the strength of different types and shapes of materials. The independent variable would be the type or shape of material and the dependent variable, the weight it takes for the material to break.
Method 1:
I would do this by cutting the same size of each material, e.g. plastic bag (5 square centimetres). Next, I will measure the extra weight, e.g. sheet of 5cm X 5cm cardboard. Then, I would peg it onto a clothes hanger with a peg at the bottom with an extra weight.There will be a slit 2cm long on each fabric to allow for the peg to go through (at the bottom so the weight can be attached). The extra weight and pegs would be kept the same for all the materials. I would then time how long it takes for each material to show a sign of breaking (e.g. for the plastic bag it would be stretching). I would repeat this with different shapes of each material.
Method 2:
I can use blutack to stick the material under the weight hanging it on a clothes line and observe the breakage. I will make sure the whole are of the fabric is attached to the weight. It will be repeated for different shapes of each material.
Method 3:
I might clip the material onto the clothes line sidewards and then (standing on a chair), throw the weight onto it from a fixed height. The height and weight will stay the same. The breakage will be observed. This will be repeated for different shapes of each material.

Please post any suggestions and/or opinions.

Attempts to purchase convex lenses within Australia

One of the most challenging tasks in the experiment is purchasing convex lenses. I have searched online for organisations including Scientrific Pty Ltd and Francis Lord Optics to get a chance at finding convex lenses.

Discarded websites:
http://www.surplusshed.com/pages/category/educationaloptics_1.html
http://www.nextag.com/concave-and-convex-lenses/compare-html

I am still trying to get better results off ebay but it doesn't show the focal lengths and most of the products are for headlamps. Unfortunately, I might have to make my own by cutting off the handles on magnifying glasses.

If you have any suggestions where I can look for convex lenses and/or opinions please comment.

More thoughts...

Ideas
How much water different fabrics can absorb, whether the colour of the fabric affects its temperature and how well different liquids stick to a particular fabric.
Investigate whether the viscosity of water is affected by the base area and depth it is contained within.
Most likely astronomical experimental idea
Build two telescopes (reflecting and refracting)which requires purchases of two convex lenses different in diameters and focal lengths.These will be used to visualise the sun while looking at the graph paper, so the sun wouldn't damage my eyes. This will test the accuracy of the telescopes to see which one is better at measuring the size of the sun. The time of viewing, place of viewing, approximate size of telescopes, experimental telescopes and measuring equipment will be kept the same. The independent variable would be the type of telescope and the dependent variable, the error in contrast to the stated size of the sun .

Alternate ideas....

I have looked up the internet and found many interesting experiment ideas including how permanent are permanent markers in different solvents and brands
, and whether the evaporation is affected by the amount and type of plastic wrap.
My own ideas are investigating the buoyancy of different types and sizes of balloons, and explaining how long it takes for different shapes and brands of soap to dissolve in water.
My preference is the solubility of different shapes and brands of soap. For this I would need at least four beakers filled up with the same amount of water. First, I would experiment with the shapes of soap keeping the brand,room temperature, time in water and shape of beaker the same. Next, I will experiment with different brands and keep the same controlled vraiables, except changing keeping of the same brand to keeping the same shape.The dependent variable would be the cm cubed of the soap dissolved and the independent variable, the shape of the soap. For my next experiment the dependent variable will remain the same but the independent variable will change to the brand of soap.
I can spend approximately 40 minutes per day, one day testing the experiment on the shapes of the soap, and another day testing the experiment on the brands of soap. This experiment will be repeated at least 5 times before the science report is due.
Please comment on your opinions.

Experiment Ideas

I've been pondering and researching for experiment ideas. The part of Science that fascinates me most is astrononomy, unfortunately to experiment on stars and planets I would require at least a telescope which is too much fuss to get. To compromise I have found an experiment that shows me how to make clouds which is the nearest thing to space I can find so far. Other ideas are testing the chemistry of oils and making soap. Aside from the facts I know about making an experiment, there must be other obstacles in obtaining equipment. I have searched the availability of hydrogen peroxide and potassium iodide. They can be purchased from pharmacies for $5-$25 and I will be able to get quantities of 80mL to 100mL. The rest of the material for making clouds should be found at home.
Please contact me if you know any experiments that I'll enjoy now that you know I like things associated with astronomy.

Hello World

Hello World