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Comparing the Strength of Different Types of Fishing Line |
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Researched by Brittney S.
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The purpose of this experiment was to compare the strength of different types of fishing line.
I became interested in this idea because my father loves to go fishing and just about every time his line breaks and he looses the fish.
The information gained from this experiment could benefit society because it would tell if 50 pound test could really hold up to 50 pounds. My study would tell just how many pounds the lines could hold.
HYPOTHESIS
My first hypothesis was the Braided Fishing line would be stronger than the Monofilament fishing line.
My second hypothesis was Microfilament fishing line would be stronger than the Monofilament fishing line.
My third hypothesis was Monofilament fishing line would be the weakest line out of all of the types of line tested.
I based my hypothesis on information on the Internet about fishing line. The sites said that the less the stretch the better the line is.
EXPERIMENT DESIGN
The constants in this study were:
- Type of Knot used (Palomar)
- Diameter of line used
- Testing device, all components
- Testing done at room temperature
- Speed at which gained tension was applied
- The procedure in which line was attached to winch
- Indicator calculates in kilograms
The manipulated variable was type of fishing lines used.
The responding variable was the force needed to break the different type of fishing line.
To measure the responding variable I made a device that increased line tension and transferred the force to the load cell. The load cell then sent information to the indicator. The indicator then displayed the force in kilograms from zero to breaking point.
MATERIALS
QUANTITY ITEM DESCRIPTION
96’’ 11/4’’x1/4’’ flat bar steel
49’’ 3’’x3’’x1/4’’
10’’ 13/8’’ Sch. 40 pipe
1 3/8”x41/2’’carrage bolt with nut
1 1/2’’x9’’carrage bolt with nut
4 5/16’’x1’’grade 8 bolts with nut
1 1500 lb oat wench
1 500 lb s-type load cell
1 Idicator 1000 lbs.
450’ Monofilament fishing line 50pound
450’ Braided fishing line 50pound
450’ Fluorocarbon Fishing line 50pound
1 Fishing hook
2 Cans of primer
2 Cans of caterpillar yellow paint
1 1/2’’x3/4’’ fine thread bolt
4 2x4x8 number 2lumber
3 1x6x6 cedar fencing
4 2’’ hinges
2 caster wheels
4 table leg supports
2 barrel bolts
3 lbs. Deck screws
1 10’’ metal fiber cutting blade
1 10’’ compound miter saw
2 lbs. .030 Mig. Welding wire
1 Wire feed Mig. Welder
2 6’’ handles
1 5/16’’ drill bit
1 3/8’’ drill bit
1 1/2’’drill bit
1 4’’ grinder
PROCEDURES
1. Build testing device
a. Get a 1.2 cm. solid, long piece of metal.
b. Put on safety glasses.
c. Put on leather gloves.
d. Measure 15 cm three times in the metal and mark at 15 cm.
e. Measure up the mark at the 15 cm to the saw blade.
f. Turn on the saw and cut the metal in the three spots you marked it.
g. Turn off the saw.
h. Weld two of the pieces of metal together in the center on the long side.
i. Put on your welding helmet so you don’t hurt your eyes.
j. Put on a leather, welding chest and arm coat.
k. Weld third piece in center where you had already welded the other two.
l. Weld the third piece on the long side.
m. Weld it sitting up on its side.
n. On the metal tube cut a 1.27 cm wide cut in it.
o. Cut it in a straight line.
p. Smooth out the edges and the sharp pieces of metal where you had cut the straight 1.27 cm wide cut.
q. Fit the half, inch wide cut to be just wide enough so that the metal piece you made in step eight has a little extra space to slide.
2. Tie the Palomar knot
a. Double about 5 inches of line, and pass through the eye.
b. Tie a simple overhand knot in the double line, letting the hook hang loose. Avoid twisting the lines.
c. Pull the end of loop down, passing it completely over the hook.
d.
Pull both ends of the line to draw up the knot.
3. Cut each type of fishing line at 152 cm.
4. Conduct trials.
a. Take the fishing line.
b. Put fishing line in the hole in winch that has an indent in it that is facing the bar at the end of the device and tie a knot in it so it doesn’t slip out.
c. Turn the winch forward so there are two loops all the way around it then put the line in the middle of the two and go around it only one time.
d. Tie the Palomar Knot in the middle of the fishing line at end of the fishing line tie it off on the solid metal triangle holding the bar.
e. Switch the scale to measure kilograms.
f. Turn the winch slowly while carefully reading the force on the indicator until the line breaks.
g. Record the data.
h. Repeat 4a-g with same type of line 4 more times.
5. Record all the data.
6. Average all trials for each knot type.
a. Add all the data for one type of line and the divide it by five, because that is how many recordings there should be
b. Repeat 5-6b with each type of fishing line.
RESULTS
The original purpose of this experiment was to compare the strength of different types of fishing line.
The results of the experiment were that the Monofilament was the strongest fishing line I tested. To my surprise the Braided fishing line was the weakest.
See the table and graph below.
CONCLUSION
My first hypothesis was the Braided Fishing line would be stronger than the Monofilament fishing line.
The results indicate that this hypothesis should be rejected because the Braided fishing line was the weakest
My second hypothesis was Microfilament fishing line would be stronger than the Monofilament fishing line.
The results indicate that this hypothesis should be rejected because the Monofilament fishing line was the strongest line tested.
My third hypothesis was Monofilament fishing line would be the weakest line out of all of the types of line tested.
The results indicate that this hypothesis should be rejected because the Monofilament fishing line was the strongest line tested.
After thinking about the results of this experiment, I wonder if the type of knot used would change the results of the strength of the fishing line.
If I were to conduct this project again I would do more trials and make sure I used the same amount of line for each type of fishing line.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to thank the following people for helping make my project possible:
- My parents for paying for all of the materials that I needed and helping me build the test device.
- My science teacher for telling me what to do and when to do it.
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