Natue of Science

Science Report (Nature of Science)

Aim

To find out the effect of the thickness of a biscuit on the ability of the biscuit to support a finite amount of weights

Apparatus

o Weights

o Biscuits

o Thread

Background Information

"Biscuits are designed to be strong so that they do not crumble easily."

(http://www.nzmaths.co.nz/Number/CrossStrand/biscuits.htm) A biscuit consists of flour, oil and other ingredients, which are packed together into a brittle solid. Therefore, biscuits can stand up to a finite amount of weight before it breaks.

Hypothesis

The thicker a biscuit, the more weights it can support.

Variables

Independent

o Increment of Thickness

o Method of applying weights

o Type of Biscuit

o How the Biscuit/Biscuits are placed

Method of Control (Independent Variables)

o Increment of Thickness - Regular increment of 1 biscuit thickness

o Method of applying the weights - Placing the weights gently onto the biscuits, increasing the weight by 100g each time, until the crackers break.

o Type of Biscuit - Use identical Khong Guan Cheese Crackers

o How the Biscuit/Biscuits are placed - The biscuits will be strung tightly together and hung on a hook. (Refer to diagram 1.1)

Dependent

o The number of weights that can be hung on the biscuits

Procedure

1) Drill a hole in the middle of the biscuit with a needle.

2) Hang the weight holder on the biscuit.

3) Place 100g weights one by one, until the biscuit breaks (Refer to diagram 1.1)

4) Repeat the experiment with 2,3,4 and 5 biscuits

5) Repeat