Experimentation

So basically, I did my experiment today. Using all the equipment I had at home, besides the thermometer I borrowed from school, I followed the method I created and recorded all the results from it. I made some observations whilst doing the experiment and I thought of some safety precautions that are associated with it. I'll update more a bit later.

Doubts and Indecision

For a while I've been having some doubts and indecision about the topic of my science research project. Yesterday, I started looking up alternative ideas. I tried searching for projects which only required equipment found in every day homes. This is some ideas that I found that I'm interested in:

• Does the temperature of candles affect it's burning time?
• Does the quality of soap affect the time it takes before bubbles pop?
• Does colour affect the burning time of candles?
• Does the width of a candle affect it's burning time?
• What is the most effective way to keep a balloon from popping?

A lot of the ideas had something to do with candles because basically I found candles interesting and for that moment I wanted to do an experiment on candles. 

Today, after the science lesson, I asked sir whether or not the experiment on the width of candles would be okay. He approved of it and offered an alternative which was "whether the quality of candles will affect it's burning rate."

For some reason, after I asked my teacher, I felt like doing the experiment on the effect of salt on the boiling temperature of water again. I'm probably just going to do that. I already have all the information and method and such. It was probably just a moment of indecisiveness. I'm going to see if I have time to do the experiment today.

Clarifications

During science class, the teacher went around asking every student about their science research project and if they needed help. I made a few clarifications, which are:

• It is good scientific practice if during the experiment, the pot is emptied and cooled, and new water is added and boiled again with the different measurements of salt.
• The highest temperature reading is what should be measured and noted.

This will help me in the creation of my method as well as in the execution of the practical part of the experiment.

Fourth Week Mind Map

Mind map for the experiment. It's still a work in progress.

~ Fourth Week Project Report

This week was mainly about seeing whether or not my science experiment was approved of and getting the equipment for it. Since it was approved of, I also started on the background research for it. I found this really good website that describes some aspects of my experiment topic (located here) but I had to use other resources as well. Questions that I looked for answers to whilst researching include:

• What is salt?
• How does table salt differ from other salts?
• Will this affect the water in a different way?
• What is the effect of salt on the boiling temperature of water?
• Where is this applicable in everyday life?
• Why does salt affect the boiling temperature in this way?
• Does salt affect anything else?

I was planning to do the experiment in the last few days but it didn't exactly go to plan so I'll do it when I get the chance to this week. I also started writing the method and all the variables and safety precautions. I found an experiment similar to my own but I changed quite a bit. 

I made a mind map on this experiment alone which I will upload when I have the chance.

Equipment Gathering

I spoke to my science teacher today and I was able to borrow a thermometer for my experiment. Hopefully I can do it by the next few days but if not I'll just do it later in the week. I'm choosing to do the experiment at home rather than at school. This is mainly just because I find it easier and there will be less time restraints, meaning I can take my time with it rather than rushing. I'm going to use all the equipment that I have at home but I'm just wondering whether in the equipment list in my report, I'm supposed to list all the pots and kitchen equipment and what not or do I have to list beakers and such. I'll run the whole report by my teacher when I'm finished with it, which will probably be in a couple of weeks.

Experiment Topic

So today I asked my science teacher as to whether or not the experiment I chose was okay. It was approved of, which is good, but I still have quite a lot to do. I want to do the experiment over the weekends, so I will have to do all the background research and create the experiment really soon. Once I hopefully, catch up to the timeline given to us, then I'll be able to time things more efficiently.

Third Week Mind Map

Only a few more ideas were added. Click to enlarge.

~ Third Week Project Report

After a long period of searching for an experiment, I think I've finally figured out what I'm going to do. This past week, I have continued looking for something that I could do my research project and after some consideration, I have decided to do this:

• What is the effect of salt on the boiling temperature of water?

I found this topic interesting and the experiment not that difficult to do. The equipment needed is not that difficult to obtain too, so that will make things simpler. 

For this topic, the aim of my experiment would be:

• Aim: To determine the effect of salt on the boiling temperature of water.

It's simple, and basically what I have to do is have a control, which is the temperature of the boiling water without salt, and then add an amount of salt into the water, boil it and then record the temperature. i'll have to repeat the experiment with different amounts of salt. That is roughly what will have to be done, but a lot of other things have to be researched and found out.

I still have to do some more thorough background research but from what I've read so far, my hypothesis will probably be:

• The higher the amount of salt put in, the higher the boiling temperature of the water.

I hope I can do this experiment. I still have to run it by my science teacher but I think it'll be fine. Whilst searching the internet, I came across other experiment ideas which I considered. They are quite similar to the one I'm doing. They are:

• What is the effect of salt and sugar on the freezing point of water?
• What is the effect of dissolved salt or sugar on the melting rate of ice?

I seriously considered them but chose to do the one on boiling water. I think they will probably be my back up plans - the ice one especially, because it's really simple and not time-consuming. 

My next science lesson is on Wednesday, so I'll talk to my teacher about it by then. I'll also have to ask if I can borrow a thermometer because besides that, I think I have all the equipment at home. 

Second Week Mind Map

My  mind map with added ideas. Click to enlarge.

~ Second Week Project Report

I'm still trying to find an idea for a science experiment. I didn't think it would be this difficult. I'm trying to find an experiment that I'll be interested in but is not too time-consuming. I've looked through various websites and the experiments that have interested me are:

• What is the effect of salt on the boiling time of water?
• Do lemons really have more sugar than oranges?
• In which citrus fruit is the Vitamin C content the highest?
• Does an ice cube melt faster in air or water?

I think that I'm leaning towards an experiment that has something to do with water or ice. I just find it more interesting. That's just my opinion at the moment - it might change the more I research. If all else fails, however, I might end up doing a plant experiment. Though I'll have to find a plant that grows extremely fast and the more time I spend choosing, the less likely I'll be able to carry out the experiment due to time restraints. I want to find an experiment to do as quickly as I can though.

First Week Mind Map

My current mind map of ideas. Click to enlarge.

~ First Week Project Report

There's a few ideas in my head on what to do for this project. I've been considering doing an experiment on the growth of plants, the freezing or boiling of water, the absorbancy of paper towels or the effect of caffeine on reaction time. I'm not really certain on what my experiment will be about just yet so I'm not ruling anything out. I know that when deciding on what to do, I have to take some things into consideration, such as not damaging the environment, involving explosions or poisonous or flammable substances and other stuff. With this experiment I also have to think about the variables, like what I would change and what I would keep the same.

Hopefully by next week, I'll have a topic for my experiment that's approved by my teacher.