Variables
Control of Variables
We controlled the variables by keeping the same amount of solution using a measuring cylinder, same size of chipped potatoes using the ruler and same size of borer, the same type of blackcurrant squash and distilled water throughout the experiment for consistency and accuracy of data.
Apparatus
Materials
- 6 test tubes
- 1 test tube stand
- 1 cylinder (50 ±1 ml)
- 1 cylinder (10 ml ± 0.2 ml)
- Distilled water
- Borer
- Cutting knife
- Black currant Squash
- Tweezers
- Paper towel
- 1 potato
- Electronic balance (± 0.01 g)
Protocol Setup
Procedure
- Label test tubes with the concentrations of blackcurrant squash.
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Measure out the blackcurrant squash using the measuring cylinder for the dilutions to create a 30.00 cm3 solution using the table below.
- Collect a potato to cut up and make the chipped potatoes using the borer and cut the chipped potatoes into about 1.00 cm long each.
- Dry the chips on a paper towel
- Weigh the chips using the electronic balance and record the masses.
- Place the chips in the test tubes and leave for at least 15 minutes.
- Collect the chips using the tweezers from the test tubes.
- Dry the chips on paper towel.
- Reweigh the chips using the electronic balance and record the results.
- Calculate the change in mass and the percentage change in mass of each set of potatoes.
- Repeat the experiment for 3-5 times.
Data
Raw Data
Initial and Final Mass of Chipped Potatoes in Different Concentrations of Blackcurrant Squash
Processing Data
Change in Mass and the Percentage Change in Mass of Chipped Potatoes in Different Concentrations of Blackcurrant Squash
Average Change in Mass and the Percentage Change in Mass of Chipped Potatoes in Different Concentrations of Blackcurrant Squash
Conclusion
From this experiment, increasing the blackcurrant concentration decreases the mass of the chipped potatoes. This is shown with the decrease in the change in mass of the chipped potatoes in different concentration of the blackcurrant squash successively. We could also observe this by looking at the graph. As concentration of the blackcurrant increases, the percentage change in mass also increases. This is because the water has moved out in all the blackcurrant solutions which are from high concentration (inside the potato chips) to low concentration (the blackcurrant solution in the beaker). In conclusion, as the concentration of blackcurrant increases, the mass of potato chips decreases. Our results support our hypothesis.
Compare data with professionals
Evaluation
From our experiment, we noticed that one of the chipped potatoes fell apart in this increase the surface area of the chipped potatoes. Therefore, in one of the trials become an unfair experiment since the size of the chipped potatoes is inconsistent and not controlled. Another error made was using a different measuring cylinder. Instead of using the same using measuring cylinder, we used two different scale of measuring cylinders with different uncertainties.Therefore, systematic errors are increased.The data may be inaccurate due to human error. The degree of concentration and organization whilst conducting the experiment may result in chips getting mixed up before and after weighing.
For improvement, we could do one potato chips at a time to increase accuracy and reliability of data and to avoid mixing up the potato chips.By doing the experiment one at a time, we could also measure the time of the potato chips in the solution. In addition, we could do more repetitions to compare our data and take average value; therefore there are less random and systematic errors. Another improvement is to use the same scale of measuring cylinder at all times during the experiment. This would reduce the systematic errors. In addition, we could increase the size of the chipped potatoes because in this experiment, the ratio between the size of the chipped potatoes and the amount of the solution is too big in difference. By increasing the size of the chipped potatoes, the difference of the ratio would be decreased and the experiment would be moreaccurate.
