Annex A - Group Research Proposal

Group Project Proposal (Science)

SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, SINGAPORE

INVESTIGATIVE SKILLS IN SCIENCE

Names: Daryl Teo & Abel Cai Zhi Yuan

Class: S2-06

Group Reference: C

A.    Indicate the type of research that you are adopting:

[    ] Test a hypothesis: Hypothesis-driven research

e.g. Investigation of the anti-bacterial effect of chrysanthemum

[    ] Measure a value: Experimental research (I)

e.g. Determination of the mass of Jupiter using planetary photography

[  1  ] Measure a function or relationship: Experimental research (II)

e.g. Investigation of the effect of temperature on the growth of crystals

[    ] Construct a model: Theoretical sciences and applied mathematics

e.g. Modeling of the cooling curve of naphthalene 

[    ] Observational and exploratory research

e.g. Investigation of the soil quality in School of Science and Technology, Singapore  

2. Type & Category

Type of research: _______Measure a function or relationship: Experimental research (II)

________  (Write down one number from 1 to 5 and name)

Category  –  _________13.Engineering____________ (Write down one number from 7 to 20 and name)

Sub-category –  _________Material Science (G)_________ (Write down the sub-heading alphabet and name)

(Refer to http://sst2016-iss.blogspot.sg/p/l2-types-of-research-categories.html)

Application of project relevant to SST Community, Society or the World:

Elderly folks are more prone to falls in their earlier ages. So perhaps of using ordinary floor tiles for their bathrooms and kitchens, where the surfaces are more slippery. So if we were to get them to buy sanded floor tiles instead, the chances of them falling or slipping would be minimised. _________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

C.    Write down your research title:

Effect of sandpaper treatment on the floor tiles affecting its frictional force.

D.   (a) Aim / question being addressed 


To find out the effect of changing the time a floor tile is being treated by sandpaper on the amount of frictional force of the tile.

(b) Independent variable

The independent variable is the duration of time the tile is being treated.

(c) Dependent variable

The dependent variable is the amount of force between the first mass and the tile.

(d) Controlled variables

(a)  Size of floor tile

(b) Sandpaper brand

(c) Size of sandpaper sheet

(d) Degree of roughness of sandpaper sheet

      (e) Hypotheses


The hypothesis is the greater the amount of time the tile is being treated by the sandpapering machine, the less amount of forces needed to move the mass across the treated tile.

Jablonsky, R. (n.d.). Standardization of Test Methods for Measurement of Floor Slipperiness. Walkway Surfaces: Measurement of Slip Resistance. doi:10.1520/stp28734s

E.    Method – Description in detail of method or procedures (The following are important and key items that should be included when formulating ANY AND ALL research plans.)

(a) Equipment list:
 

-6 floor tiles

-sandpaper machine

-sandpaper(10 sheets of 1 square meter)

-length of wire(at least 2 meters)

-marker(s)

-block of wood or block of metal(as the first mass)

-weights(include 100g ones, 200g, 500g)

-modified atwood machine(including pulley system)

-2 pairs of gloves

-2 pairs of safety goggles

-2 pairs of face masks

-bubble wrap(for safely transporting the tiles without breaking or fracturing them)(at least 4 meters)

-scissors

-measuring tape

-length of masking tape(1 roll)

(b) Diagrams

Figure 1: Experimental setup

(c) Procedures: Detail all procedures and experimental design to be used for data collection

1.    Prepare the floor tiles and the sandpaper machine

2.  Put on safety equipment (Safety goggles and gloves)

3.  Switch on the electrical socket, which supplies power to the sandpaper machine

4.  Set up experiment as shown

5.  Label the floor tiles with markers A, B, C, D, E, and F

6.  Starting with tile B, put it in the sandpaper machine and treat it for 1 minute

7.  Repeat for tiles C to F,increase the duration of treatment by 1 minute each session(Note that tile A is left untreated, as the control setup )

8. Set the tiles aside and leave them aside for awhile

9.Prepare the floor tiles and place them on the tabletop, and set up the pulley system

10.Tie the mass and the basket/cradle together with the length of wire

11.Place the mass on the first tile, A, and the basket/cradle at the bottom of the pulley system

12.One by one, place the smaller weights in the basket/cradle until the first mass starts to move

13.Record the mass in the basket and calculate the force needed to move the mass across the treated tile in a table

14.After the rest of the tiles, B to F, have been treated with sandpaper, repeat the treatment procedure

15.The remaining tiles, are to be treated with the sandpaper machine, in the following timing: (See below)

Tile:	Time needed for treatment (Minutes)
A	0
B	1
C	2
D	3
E	4
F	5

16.After the tiles have been respectively treated, repeat the procedure of laying tiles  B, C, D, E, F on the table and setting up the mass connected to the basket.

17.Continue to record the minimum amount of force needed to move the mass across the treated tile for the rest of the tiles for 3 times.

18.Switch off the electrical socket supplying power to the sandpaper machine.

19.End of experimental procedure

(d) Risk, Assessment and Management: Identify any potential risks and safety precautions to be taken.

Table 1: Risk Assessment and Management table

Risk	Assessment	Management
There are moving and sharp parts in the sandpaper machine, which can cause serious injury.	High	Students must wear protective gear and should not attempt to touch any moving parts of the machine when in operation. Students should ensure that a teacher is present during the experiment.
There is the use of electricity, which is dangerous and may cause an electric shock, resulting in death.	High	Do not touch the power socket with bare/wet hands; students should wear protective gear throughout the duration of the experiment.
The floor tiles may break, and fragments may cut body parts, causing bleeding.	High	Handle the tiles with care, and get a teacher to help if needed, and/or wear proper safety equipment throughout the experiment.
The weights may drop and may damage delicate body parts.	Medium or Low	Do not play with the weights or the experimental set-up
Legend	Low	Unlikely and no severe harm
	Medium	Likely but not severe OR Unlikely but severe
	High	Likely and Severe harm which may result in death

(e) Data Analysis: Describe the procedures you will use to analyze the data/results that answer research questions or hypotheses

1. Calculate the amount of force needed to move the mass across the treated tile in a tile, using the formula, Mass x Acceleration (Gravitational pull speed)

2. Plot a table, displaying the amount of force recorded per each time per each tile

Example as shown:

	Force recorded (N)	Force recorded (N)	Force recorded (N)	Average force recorded (Mean)
	Force 1	Force 2	Force 3	Average
Tile:
A
B
C
D
E
F

3. The suitable amount of force needed to safely walk at homes, especially for elderly’s since they tend to fall down easier.

4. Plot a graph, where X is the time the tile is being treated in minutes, and Y is the amount of force needed to move the mass across the treated tile as shown:

Example of the graph as shown

F. Bibliography: List at least five (5) major sources (e.g. science journal articles, books, internet sites) from your literature review. If you plan to use vertebrate animals, one of these references must be an animal care reference. Choose the APA format and use it consistently to reference the literature used in the research plan. List your entries in alphabetical order for each type of source.

(a) Books / eBooks

Snedden, R. (2007). Forces and motion. Milwaukee, WI.: Gareth Stevens Pub.

(b) Journals

Taylor, M. M., & Lederman, S. J. (1975). Tactile roughness of grooved surfaces: A model and the effect of friction. Perception & Psychophysics, 17(1), 23-36. doi:10.3758/bf03203993

(c) Websites

Ruan, J., & Bhushan, B. (1994, April 01). Atomic-Scale Friction Measurements Using Friction Force Microscopy: Part I-General Principles and New Measurement Techniques. Retrieved January 07, 2018, from http://tribology.asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/article.aspx?articleid=1460472

On the nature of surface roughness with application to contact mechanics, sealing, rubber friction and adhesion. (2004, December 10). Retrieved January 8, 2018, from http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0953-8984/17/1/R01/meta

The Effect of Surface Texture - Science Fair | Science Experiments | Steve Spangler Science. (n.d.). Retrieved January 08, 2018, from

https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/experiments/the-effect-of-surface-texture-upon-a-rolling-marble/