SRP method- for blog submission 2 :)

Heyy everyone! :)
This is the method for my SRP experiment:

Aim: to investigate the effects of variables on the evaporation of water from swimming pools; and to as a result investigate what is the best solution for minimisation of water evaporation from swimming pools.

Hypothesis: That the water in the glass with no cover and no chlorine content will evaporate the fastest, followed by the chlorinated water with no cover, followed by the chlorinated water with the liquid pool cover and finally the chlorinated water with the solid pool cover will evaporate the slowest.

Equipment:

• 4 clear kitchen glasses (there are no set dimensions of the glasses- just as long as they are all the same size)
• water beaker with litre measurings to measure the water chlorinated water (taken from a chlorine filled swimming pool)
• liquid pool cover
• sample of solid pool cover
• red sticker/ little red cut out of post it note (to show the original marking of liquid in the glasses)
• ruler (for measuring water level)
• camera
• labels for the different glasses
  

Method:
1. Set up the 4 clear kitchen glasses in a sunroom (you want the glasses exposed to a sufficient amount of natural heat/light so sufficient evaporation will occur- enough for you to make observations and conclusions). Make sure that the glasses are: a) away from constant action and movement, b) away from pets and c) in a location where sunlight is equal to ensure fairness and equality.
2. Measure 2/3 water in a beaker and pour this in Glass 1.
3. Place a label- "Glass 1 filled with water" next to glass.
4. Measure 2/3 chlorinated water in a beaker and pour this in Glass 2.
5. Place a label- "Glass 2 filled with chlorinated water" next to glass.
6. Measure 2/3 chlorinated water in a beaker and pour this in Glass 3.
7. Pour the liquid pool cover onto the surface of the chlorinated water in Glass 3. The liquid will disperse evenly and float to the surface of the water, forming an invisible pool cover.
8. Place a label-" Glass 3 filled with chlorinated water and liquid pool cover" next to glass.
9. Measure 2/3 chlorinated water in a beaker and pour this in Glass 4.
10. Place your solid pool cover sample onto the surface of chlorinated water (sample should fit neatly on the surface and fit the dimensions of the glass) in Glass 4, the solid pool cover will float.
11. Place a label- "Glass 4 filled with chlorinated water and solid pool cover" next to glass.
12. Accurately mark the current water level in all 4 glasses with a red marker or small red sticky note.
13. Place a pH strip into Glass 1- immediately dip and remove strip. Then wait and hold the strip for 15 seconds. Compare the alkalinity or acidity of the liquid against the chart on the back of the "pH strip bottle".
14. Repeat step 13 for Glasses 2,3 and 4.
15. Construct a results table.
16. Check the water level (using a ruler) and rate of evaporation in all 4 glasses on a daily basis (every 24 hours). Record these results in the result table daily. Plot a line graph using excel showing change in water level in each of the 4 glasses over a daily (or if this is too frequent, then weekly) period.
17. Repeat step 13 for all 4 Glasses on a daily basis. Record level in results table.
18. Keep all of the 4 glasses in the same setting to ensure all glasses are exposed to an even amount of heat/ sunlight. This needs to be done correctly to ensure the controlled variables are maintained.

Method Discussion:

VARIABLES:
Independent: amount of water used, chlorine content of water, liquid pool cover and solid pool cover.
Dependent: Water evaporation rate.
Controlled: The environment. All of the glasses simulating the pool water will be kept inside at the same place. This will ensure that the ‘mini pool’ water is exposed to identical temperature, heat, humidity etc.

Why Have I Chosen to Use Ordinary Kitchen Glasses Instead of Beakers?
I have chosen to do this because ordinary kitchen glasses are a lot more accessible and readily available to utilize as opposed to science beakers. They are also regular household equipment, so everyone should have them already.

By conducting my “pre-SRP” experiment, this ensured that regular kitchen glasses were acceptable to use for my actual SRP experiment, as they both served the same purpose. And so because my “pre-SRP” experiment was conducted fairly and successfully, I have therefore decided to opt for the plain kitchen glasses as opposed to beakers- which was what I was going to use.

Why Have I decided to Place the Kitchen Glasses Inside as Opposed to Outside?
I have decided to do this, once again because of the results shown from my successful “pre-SRP” experiment. Originally I was going to place the glasses outside because I thought this would have been a better option. But now, after completing my pre srp experiment and considering all of the environmental factors involved, I have decided to place the glasses inside, in the sunroom, exposed to plenty of heat and sunlight.

As I previously mentioned, one of the main reasons I did not want to place the kitchen glasses outside was because of all of the uncontrollable environmental factors involved such as wind, rain, hail, humidity etc. Although I would have placed the glasses outside if they were under shelter, many harsh environmental factors such as strong winds and rains could have knocked over the glasses, and this would have really stuffed up my experiment!
So as a result, I decided that it would be a much better option if the glasses were placed inside my house in the sunroom. This means that I would be able to have a lot more control over the experiment and the different variables such as temperature, heat etc.

Also, another benefit of the glasses being placed in the sunroom, means that they will all be exposed to an equal amount of heat- this environmental factor being essential in the evaporation of water, and therefore my SRP experiment! As without enough evaporation, I am not able to make valid and accurate observations, results and conclusions.

NOTE: It is also very important that all the 4 glasses are placed close to each other. They should be no more than 30cm apart, as this limits variation and ensures equality. This is also to ensure that the amount of heat and sunlight reaching each glass is as constant and equal as possible.

xoxo Mira