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PURPOSE
The purpose of this experiment was to determine which type of paper
decomposed the most in the least amount of time.
I became interested in this idea when I was watching the news and I
heard that the disposal of solid waste was becoming a problem so I decided
to test this problem to find a solution.
The information gained from this experiment would be useful to consumers
and manufacturers to tell them which type of paper is less harmful to the
environment if disposed of.
HYPOTHESIS
My first hypothesis is that the newspapers would decompose the most
in the least amount of time.
My second hypothesis is that the magazine paper would decompose the
least.
I base my first hypothesis on my personal observation that magazine
pages are thick, and have a waxy surface. I base my second hypothesis on
my personal observation that the fibers in newspaper are not woven tightly
together, therefore it would come apart more easily.
EXPERIMENT DESIGN
The constants in this study were:
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Amount of water
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Amount of each kind of paper used
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Same size and type of container used
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Amount of manure used
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Number of thermometers used in each container
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Number of times temperature was taken daily
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Time temperature was taken
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Location of containers
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Equal amount of light
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Method of shredding paper
The manipulated variable was the types of paper tested.
The responding variable was the temperature due to decomposition.
To measure the responding variable I placed a thermometer in each container
along with the manure and different types of shredder paper. This thermometer
stayed in the same container throughout the experiment. Once a day the
temperature was taken. After 14 days, I compared the results with the other
types of paper and with the constant.
MATERIALS
| QUANTITY |
ITEM DESCRIPTION |
| 6 |
Sheets of computer printer paper |
| 3 |
Sheets of newspape |
| 6 |
Sheets of paper from magazines |
| 6 |
Sheets of paper towels |
| 1000mL |
Water |
| 10 |
Cups Manure |
| 2 |
Pair of plastic gloves |
| 5 |
Thermometers |
| 5 |
14 Quart containers |
PROCEDURES
Project Setup
1. Gather all materials
2. Label one of the containers "control."
3. Label other 4 containers by the contents inside
4. Put all magazine paper through paper shredder to shred into smaller
strips.
5. Repeat step 2 for each kind of paper (newspaper, paper towels, and
computer printer paper. Keep types of paper separated from each other.
6. Add no paper to the container labeled "control."
7. After strips have been cut, spread the magazine strips evenly along
the bottom of the container labeled magazine.
8. Repeat step 7 with all types of paper in different containers.
9. In all containers add (10 cups) of manure. Spread evenly along the
top of the paper.
10.In each container, place one thermometer in the center of paper
mixture. Standing up if possible
Experiment
11.After all containers have been set up, take temperature of the mixture
in all containers.
12.Let all containers sit untouched for 24 hours.
13.After 24 hours take temperature of all containers again.
14.Repeat step 12, and 13 for 14 days.
RESULTS
The original purpose of this experiment was to determine which type
of paper would decomposed the most in the least amount of time.
The results of the experiment reveal that the computer printer paper
decomposed the most, followed by the magazine paper, and the newspaper.
The results reveal that the paper towels decomposed the least.
See the table and graph below.
View my data, and graphs
CONCLUSION
My first hypothesis was that the newspaper would decompose the most
in the last amount of time.
My second hypothesis was that the magazine paper would decompose least.
The results indicate that both my first and second hypothesis should
be rejected.
Because of the results of this experiment, I wonder what the results
would reveal if the room temperature of the room where the experiment was
conducted would have been warmer or colder.
If I were to conduct this project again I would have a larger sample
size, more accurate thermometers to get a more accurate reading, a non-varying
room temperature, more trials to get more accurate results, and larger
sample sizes of each type of paper tested.
Research Report
Solid waste
Solid waste consists of paper, plastic products, glass, metal, food,
garden waste, and spoil. Spoil is left over materials from industrial,
agricultural, and mining processes. Some of these types of solid waste
can be harmful to the environment if disposed of improperly.
There are several methods of disposal for solid waste, landfills, recycling,
and burning.
Landfills are an open area of land that solid waste is disposed in.
Landfills are the least expensive way to dispose of solid waste. Some landfills
may collect harmful toxins that could seep through the soil into the ground
and into water supplies. For this reason landfills are required to place
two layers of a non-porous material such as clay or plastic at the bottom.
Each year billions of tons of solid waste are disposed of into landfills.
Landfills are the most visible kind of solid waste. Landfills that are
improperly kept can spread disease. Landfills are a home to rats and mice
that may carry disease.
Burning is one of the most harmful ways to eliminate solid waste. By
burning solid waste such as plastics, hazardous chemicals are released
into the air. Although burning some types of solid wastes can be harmful,
burning other types can be helpful. Heat from the incinerators is used
to provide heating for some homes and business.
Recycling is a method of disposal that is least harmful to the environment.
Almost every type of solid waste can be recycled. Recycling is the process
in which a used product is collected and made into a new product and re
sold so that the same product is re used over and over again. Using this
process decreases the amount of solid waste disposed of each year. Paper
is collected and then shredded. By using this process the used paper can
be made into a new sheet of paper. Glass is ground and made into new glass
products. Plastic can be melted to be molded into a new plastic product.
The average family in one year produces about one ton of solid waste
to be disposed of. Annually in the United States billions of tons
of solid waste is disposed of.
Cellulose
Cellulose is a major part of the cell walls in plants like trees, grasses,
and vegetables. The cellulose from these plants is used in making paper,
plastic, and textiles. Cellulose is a carbohydrate. It is found in all
fruits and vegetables. Cellulose is formed from glucose, and comes as a
paste. The human body can not digest cellulose. The more cellulose used
to make paper the higher the paper quality.
Glucose
Glucose is a type of sugar commonly known as grape, or blood sugar because
it is found in grapes. Glucose if formed from the process of photosynthesis.
Glucose is a source of energy for many living organisms including humans.
Glucose is three fourths as sweet as regular table sugar. The chemical
formula for glucose is C16 H12 O6. Blood is about .1% glucose. Glucose
is a carbohydrate. Just as cellulose, glucose can be turned into a paste.
Pure glucose is crystal white in coloring. Glucose is used in plants to
make cellulose. Many plants produce more glucose than they can use. The
extra glucose is stored as a paste or other carbohydrates in their roots,
stems, and leaves. Each year photosynthesizing organisms produce 170 billion
metric tons more glucose than they use.
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is the process in which plants take energy from the sun
and combine it with Carbon Dioxide, glucose, and water to make food. The
word photosynthesis means putting together with light. The light absorbed
by the plants during photosynthesis is stored in the green pigment cells.
Each of these cells contains a green substance called Chlorophyll. The
product of photosynthesis is a simple sugar used as food. The energy from
light is turned to chemical energy. In a plant the chloroplast is where
light is trapped, where the carbon dioxide and water mix to create the
process of Photosynthesis. The formula for photosynthesis is, 6CO2+12H2O+Light
C6H12O6+6O2+6H2O. Joseph Priestly discovered photosynthesis.
Paper
Paper consists of cellulose fibers mixed with water. These fibers are
filtered through a fine screen. The fibers are entangled and compacted
together to form a sheet of paper. The process of making paper has not
changed a lot in more than 2,000 years. Paper can be made two ways, both
by hand and with machine. These two processes are almost identical. The
first piece of paper made was in about AD 150. It was made of rags.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Blackwell, John "Cellulose" The World Book Encyclopedia 1998. Volume
3, pp.341
Chertow, Martin "Environmental dos and don’ts" World Book Encyclopedia
1999 Volume 6 pp. 337-339
Daemmrich, Robert "Solid waste" World Book Encyclopedia 1998 . Volume
19, pp. 213
"Environmental pollution" World Book Encyclopedia 1999 pp. 330-336
Freigl, Dorthy M. "Glucose" The World Book Encyclopedia 1998. Volume
7, pp. 236
"Glucose" Encarta Encyclopedia http://encarta.msn.com/find/conscise.asp
Graham, Larry L. "Paper" The World Book Encyclopedia1998. Volume 15,
pp. 134-137
Huang, Jerry "Solid waste disposal" Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 1998
"Photosynthesis" Young Students Learning Library, January1996
Wagner, David H. "Photosynthesis" The World Book Encyclopedia1998. Volume
15, pp. 430
"Wastes and Recyclings" The DK Science Encyclopedia.1993.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This science project would not have been completed with out the help
and assistance of several people. I would like to think each of them for
their help.
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My mother for driving me to buy the supplies needed for this project
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My father for helping me to make sure that I got every thing needed
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Mr. Baranowski for giving me possible ideas and advice on how to conduct
this project
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Mr. NewKirk for giving me advice on my project, and how to conduct it
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