Bouncing+Silly+Putty+In+Different+Liquids

Daniel K   Cary Academy  ** ABSTRACT ** The purpose of this experiment was to find out if water, vinegar, or canola oil affects the bounce height of Silly Putty. It was hypothesized that Silly Putty dipped in water and a dry piece of Silly Putty would bounce equally high and higher than putty dipped in either canola oil or vinegar. It was speculated that canola oil would make the putty heavier and weigh it down, and the vinegar might cause a chemical reaction which would cause the putty to bounce irregularly. The three beakers were filled up to 75 mL with vinegar, canola oil, and water. The Silly Putty was first dropped normally (no liquid) and measured. Next, it was soaked in vinegar for 5 seconds, dropped and measured. Then, it was soaked in canola oil for 5 seconds, dropped and measured. Last it was soaked in water for 5 seconds, dropped and measured. The ball of putty was well washed between experiments. The experiment showed how much the thickness of each liquid affected the bounce height. The hypothesis was confirmed, the thicker the liquid, the more the bounce height was inhibited. The thicker liquids weighed down the ball. Canola oil bounced the least at 56.33 cm. The Silly Putty dipped in vinegar and in nothing bounced almost the same height. The putty with vinegar bounced 71.33 cm; the putty with nothing bounced 69.66 cm. The liquid that made the putty bounce the highest was water at 75.33 cm.
 * BOUNCING SILLY PUTTY DIPPED IN CANOLA OIL, VINEGAR, AND WATER **