Science Fair: Water Vacuum

Done by: Ward Al-Naser & Shahla Al-Adwan

Problem:

How do the different glass sizes affect the amount of water that rises into them?

Purpose:

We want to study the effect of the size of cups on the amount of water absorbed because it will add to our knowledge about this topic.

If we heat a glass of smaller size by placing it over a plate of cold water and a candle in the center, then more water will rise into it than the other larger glass sizes because the smaller the glass means the less air is stored inside it so heating it up will create higher temperatures than that of a larger glass.

Independent: glass (different sizes)

Dependent: rising level of water, time taken for the water to rise

Controlled: plates, candles, amount of cold water, amount of food coloring

• These extremely different temperatures (of the air in the glass and the air in the plate of cold water) affect how fast the molecules move, as well as space they take up. The candle in the experiment heats up the air inside the glass, expanding the air molecules and spreading them out. While the cold water in the plate does the exact opposite. Thus, after the cold water rises into the hot glass, the bit of air left at the very top of the bottle is the exact same amount that was taking up the entire glass when it was heated.

• Water vapor condenses to moisture on the glass, causing lower air pressure. Outside air pressure does not change. To reach equilibrium, the area must decrease, so the water rises into the glass.

• When a glass is placed over a burning candle in a plate of water, the water level rises significantly when the candle burns out. This is due to a combination of factors. First, the burning candle significantly increases the temperature of the air in the glass. When the candle burns out, the rapid decrease in temperature slows the movement of the molecules that make up the air inside the glass, creating lower pressure. The air pressure outside of the glass remains the same. This creates an air pressure differential of greater outside air pressure, which results in the water rising in the glass. In addition, going from a higher temperature to a lower temperature causes water vapor in the air to condense, which also produces lower air pressure in the glass. Although it is difficult to tease apart which one of these variables has the more significant impact, both result in rising water in the glass.

• 3 glasses of different sizes (small – medium – large)
• 3 candles of the same size
• 3 plates of the same size
• Water (same amount for each plate – 52.5ml)
• Food coloring
• Ruler
• Measuring spoons
• Match or lighter

1. Layout the 3 plates

2. Place the same amount of water on each plate (1/3)

3. Mix the water with food coloring

4. Place the candle in the center of the first plate and light it

5. Take the first glass and place it over the candle, measure the time taken for the water to rise and the level risen

6. Place the candle in the center of the second plate and light it

7. Take the second glass and place it over the candle, measure the time taken for the water to rise and the level risen

8. Place the candle in the center of the third plate and light it

9. Take the third glass and place it over the candle, measure the time taken for the water to rise and the level risen

https://youtu.be/UsS0udS4Umg

The larger the glass the less water is absorbed because there are more air molecules inside of the larger glasses, and when they are heated and interact with the air molecules in the outer environment (with lower temperature) more air is being trapped inside of the glass, causing less of the water to rise into them.

After observing the results of the experiment, our hypothesis turned out to be right. Before the experiment, we thought that the smaller glasses will absorb more water because they have less air molecules inside of them, meaning they would heat up faster and absorb more water. It did turn out that they are heated faster because the smallest glass absorbed the water in 3 seconds, unlike the largest glass, which took 19 seconds. However, our hypothesis was proved right because the smallest glass had the largest capacity and the most air molecules, which is why it absorbed most of the water.

What is the importance of this research in the industry?

Humans can benefit from the knowledge of our experiment which is how the size of a cup affects how the water rises into it, humans usually don’t know how the difference of the size of the cup they are using may affect how much water may rise into them, so this experiment will help educate them with evidence.

This experiment might be a good resource for the industry to invent devices or machines that could integrate the water and the air molecules. They could invent the new vacuum machine that could absorb the water.

How can it be applied in practice?

People fill cups with liquids on a daily basis (such as milk, or juices, water, etc..). With this information, they will think more about what size of cup they are using because they know how much it may affect the amount of liquid that rises into them.

What did you learn from this research?

That every cup has a different amount of air molecules in them, so smaller cups have fewer air molecules, and bigger cups have more. Using this information we have concluded that when heat is applied the molecules get into contact with cooler air molecules, which makes the air concentrated inside the glass, making more water to rise into them.

Research skills: My partner and I researched to find enough background information in order to become more familiar with the topic we are studying. We researched reliable sources to get the correct information we are looking for.

Communication skills: My partner and I communicated online to share our thoughts and opinions and also to make sure both of us understand what we have to do in order to finish this experiment successfully. We used apps such as Whatsapp and Teams to communicate easily.