Approved Plan + Materials, Method and Risk Assessment

Last Wednesday I handed in my experiment and in today's lesson we got I got my SRP plan back and it was approved! With a mark of 4 out of a total 4 marks, I was given constructive, helpful feedback that will guide me for my 'experimental report'. My teacher told me that I need to include the different variables in brackets in my method, so whilst doing my experiment I am aware of what variables I need to control. I am grateful for the feedback i received and will definitely take it into consideration when writing up my experimental report.

I am very glad that my experiment was approved meaning that I can begin to prepare for my experiment. But before I start my experiment, I would like to give you a brief outline of my plan including my materials list, risks involved with the experiment and a brief method. In my SRP Plan I have made sure to include the word 'repeat' in order to achieve reliable results. I look forward to completing my experiment on the 3/03/16 and the 4/04/16. 

Materials:

Natural Water Filter

   2L soft drink bottle (with the bottom cut off)

·       Large beaker

·       Cup measurement

·       Bowls x4

·       1 cups fine sand

·       1 cups course sand

·       1 cups small pebbles

·       10-12 cup coffee filter paper

·       Rubber bands

Experiment

·       Turbidity meter with attached Data Logger

·       Liquid measuring cup

·       1 Teaspoon measurement

·       1 Tablespoon measurement

·       Plastic cups; clear (9~ 2 for each of the 4 liquids and 1 for a comparison water sample)

·       Small bowl of garden dirt

·       2 tablespoons of washing detergent

·       ¼ teaspoon of vegetable oil

·       Tap water

·       1 cup of soft drink (Coca-Cola)

·       1 tea bag (English breakfast)

·       Electric kettle

·       1 Mug

·       Plastic spoons (1 box approx)

·       Medicine dropper

·       Timer 

Risk Assessment:

( here are just a few of the main risks that are involved in my experiment)

Risk	How this risk will be minimised
Spillage of different liquids can cause slipping hazards.	Clean up split liquids immediately after they are spilt.
Handling the kettle can cause danger of burns from appliance, hot water or steam. Danger of electrocution, especially in wet areas or if wiring is defective.	Handle the kettle with care and check fittings and wiring for damage each time before use. Test and tag at regular intervals.
Breaking the ceramic mug could cause cuts on hands and fingers	Do not handle broken cups with bare fingers. Sweep up the broken pieces immediately using a brush and dustpan, do not use finger.
Boiling water can cause burns	Handle boiling water with care and pour gently away from yourself

Method: (I have split it into two sections, one where i construct the filter and one where i carry out the experiment)

Constructing the Filter

1.        Use the rubber band to secure the filter paper to the mouth of the bottle with it bottom cut off. Place the filter upside down in the beaker.
2.       Rinse the gravel in the water carefully three times to remove any dust. Put the sand in another bowl. Rinse the sand in water carefully three times. Swish the sand in the water then let it settle before your drain off the water. Open a packet of active carbon and put it in a clean bowl. Clean the active carbon the same way as you have cleaned the sand. Repeat these steps to clean the pebbles the same way that you have cleaned the sand, removing any dust.
3.          Pour the activated carbon in the bottle. Then pour the pebbles on top of that. Then pour the fine sand on top of the course sand.
4.        Carefully pour clean tap water through the filter (to test it), being careful not to disturb the top layer of sand. Pour the rinsed water out of the beaker.

Testing the Filter

1.         Make a contaminated water sample: Using a clean plastic spoon, mix 1 cup of water in a small bowl with garden dirt. Add ¼ teaspoon of vegetable oil with a medicine dropper to the water mixture, approximately 4-6 drops. Mix the oil and the dirt together until everything is combined into the water. Pour the dirty water into a clear plastic cup.
2.         Test the turbidity of the contaminated water using a turbidity meter. Record the turbidity of the water sample and then begin the filtering process.
3.         Carefully place the filter upside down in the beaker. Slowly pour half of the water mixture into the filter. The water should move between each section of the filter drop by drop. Meanwhile, continue to mix the contaminated sample with a spoon so the dirt doesn’t settle at the bottom of the cup.
4.         Once the contaminated water is filtered retest the turbidity of the water and compare the turbidity of the contaminated water to the turbidity of the filtered water. You should also record any other observations that you make about the filtered water. For example, if the filtered water has any grit or dirt still visible in it after it has been filtered. Place the filtered water in a plastic cup and rinse the beaker.
5.         Boil 1 cup of water in an electric kettle. Place the teabag in the mug and pour the cup of boiling water into the mug and let it sit for 15 minutes (timed) undisturbed. Remove and discard the tea bag and let the tea cool down as you proceed with the following steps.
6.         Place 1 cup of soft drink in a clear plastic cup. Test the turbidity of the soft drink using a turbidity meter. Carefully place the filter upside down in the clean beaker. Slowly pour half of the soft drink into the filter, and watch as it moves between the filter drop by drop.
7.         Once filtered, test the turbidity of the filtered soft drink and compare it to the turbidity of the unfiltered soft drink. Making notes about whether the soft drink is as clear as water or is still colored and not clear at all and pour into a clear plastic cup. Rinse the beaker.
8.      Repeat steps 6-8 using 1 cup of tea (prepared earlier), recording the turbidity of the liquid before and after it is filtered. Pour the filtered tea into a plastic cup and rinse the beaker.                                        
9.    Repeat steps 6-8 using 1 cup of water mixed with washing detergent, to create bubbles, recording the turbidity of the liquid before and after it is filtered. Pour the filtered soapy water into a plastic cup and rinse the beaker.
10.    Repeat steps 1-12 two more time using clean materials (you can wash and reuse the plastic cups and use the remaining liquids you've already prepared), testing the turbidity before and after filtering each liquid and rinsing the beaker each time you have filtered a liquid by pouring the liquid into a clear plastic cup. This will make sure your results are reliable, reproducible and repeatable.                                                                       

Final Idea/ Hypothesis

Hi all, I have finally decided on a science experiment problem that I am happy with and that will work with all the guidelines of the experiment. My idea follows 'Does the turbidity of different liquids change when they are naturally filtered?'. 


My hypothesis for this idea is 'The turbidity of the dirty water will change the most drastically when it is filtered.' 

I have arrived at this hypothesis due to the background research I have completed. In the dirty water I will be adding a small bowl of garden dirt to 1 cup of water and 1/4 teaspoon of vegetable oil. The turbidity of a liquid is the cloudiness or haziness of a fluid caused by large numbers of  particles that are generally invisible to the naked eye. The measurement of turbidity is a key test of water quality. When a liquid is filtered (such as dirty water) the particles are removed during the filtration process and commonly you are left with clear water. The particles have been removed when the liquid is filtered therefore making the liquid clear with decreases the turbidity of the water. The other liquids I am testing such as soft drink, black tea and soapy water  do not contain as large particles as the dirty water (as the soil does not dissolve) therefore when these liquids are filtered they may not change there turbidity as drastically as the dirty water. This is the reasoning for arriving at my suggested hypothesis. I look forward to completing this experiment.  

New Ideas

After much consideration, thinking and research I have decided to change my problem idea, whilst still keeping the same theme of filtration. Instead of testing the purity of the water extracted from different liquids when they are filtered, I have decided to investigate 'If filtering different liquids causes the pH of the substance to change'. I feel as though when researching how to complete different elements in my experiment such as 'how to test the purity of water' and 'how to extract water from different liquids' I released that these processes would have taken me a lot of time and are complex. I am confident with my new experimental problem and have begun my plan. I look forward to completing this experiment to the best of my ability. 

Some websites which I have used to research my experimental problem include: 

- http://www.dataloggerinc.com/tutorials/data_logger_ph_measurement.php 

- http://cas.umn.edu/assets/pdf/Harris%20-%20Water%20Filtration%20Competition.pdf

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMZpzcItQkc

Brainstorming Ideas

Today I decided to brainstorm some ideas for my SRP. These ideas included:

-Which substance keeps apples the freshest for the longest amount of time
-If the angle of a shot taken in basketball affects the chance of getting it into the hoop
-From which liquid can the purest water be extracted (Water Filtration) 
-Determining the effectiveness of different amounts of sugar as preservatives for flowers

With much consideration and thought I have decided to test the problem 'From which liquid can the purest water be extracted (Water Filtration) '. I feel as though this experiment is very interesting, complex and uses a wide range of scientific techniques. I did not choose the other experiments as I felt they were either too easy or did demonstrate my full scientific ability. I look forward to completing this experiment to the best of my ability. 

Welcome

Welcome to my Science Research Project Blog. 
This will be a webpage where you will be able to access my brainstorming, research and information about my practical science problem. I hope whoever visits my blog will gain information about my science research problem and learn something new. 
Enjoy, Anna.