Type
Life Science
Grade
K – 3rd grade
Difficulty of Project
Cost
Less than $5.00
Safety Issues
An adult should cut the carrot using a sharp knife.
Material Availability
Most materials are readily available or can be easily purchased at a grocery store. A scale able to measure ounces will be needed.
Approximate Time Required to Complete the Project
5 days to gather data and one day to record results and prepare the science fair display.
Objective
To determine how much water is in a carrot.
Materials and Equipment
- Kitchen scale
- Carrot
- Knife
- Cutting board
- Wax paper
- Lamp
Background Information
Water is important for all living things. All living things contain water. Like the human body, the carrot’s cells are filled with water.
In this science fair project, a carrot is dehydrated to determine how much water is in it.
Terms, Concepts, and Questions to Start Background Research
Terms
dehydration: the process of removing water from a plant
evaporate: a process in which a liquid becomes a gas
Concepts
Water is important for all living things. All living things, including carrots contain water. Water is stored in cells. Water can be removed from living things through a process called dehydration.
Research Questions
- If I can’t see water in a carrot, is there water really in a carrot?
- Do all living things have water?
- Where do living things store water?
Experimental Procedure
- Gather the necessary materials.
- Wash the carrot and cut off the stem. Allow the carrot to dry completely.
- Weigh the carrot and record its weight.
- Weigh a small piece of wax paper and record its weight.
- Have an adult cut the carrot into 1/8-inch slices. Lay the slices on wax paper. Place the slices of carrot under a lamp.
- After two days, weigh the carrot on the wax paper. Subtract the weight of the wax paper. Record the information.
- After five days (another three days after the first two days), weigh the carrot on the wax paper again. Subtract the weight of the wax paper. Record the weight.
Bibliography
Articles
“How Water Works” by Shanna Freeman, How Stuff Works, 2007
“Water” at MathMol Hypermedia Textbook for Elementary School – Grade Three www.nyu.edu/pages/mathmol/textbook/3gradecover.html
“Carrots” at The World’s Healthiest Foods at www.whfoods.org
Websites
The Water Cycle at www.Kidzone.com
The Carrot Museum at www.carrotmuseum.com
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