Teaching article
Absorbency: equal paper sizes and equal water amounts
Keep water amounts and paper sizes consistent in a small tabletop test.
A paper comparison becomes difficult to interpret when one sample is larger or receives more water. Agree on the amounts and observation interval, using a small tray-based demonstration rather than an uncontrolled soaking competition.
Use an agreed observation interval as well as equal water amounts. Comparing one sample immediately and another later changes the test.
Make the comparison conditions visible
Set equal samples. Add equal water amounts. Compare recorded observations.
Different-sized samples would make the comparison harder to interpret.
Protect surfaces and clean spills promptly.
Was the amount controlled? Work from demonstration photographs.
Resources
- Reflection Journal Template — Record the setup, observations and a follow-up question; add a purpose-made diagram for this investigation.
Further reading
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