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Variant Pressure in Different Substances

Purpose: The purpose of this experiment is primarily to find a substitute fluid to fill a water pistol with which will allow for more distance and pressure.

Hypothesis: The hypothesis of this experiment is that more proficient "ammo" can be found to fill a water gun with due to a multitude of variables (difference in surface tension, density, ect.) between different substances.

Equipment: Needed for this experiment is a water pistol (used in this experiment was the super soaker 30), water, vinegar (acetic acid), Rubbing alchol, Vegatable oil, a tape measure and a pen and paper.

Procedure: Essentially the main steps of this experiment include filling the resivoir to the top with the substance to be tested, holding the gun at a 45 degree angle at 1 arms lenght and measuring from the feet to the furthest distinguisable drop.

Results:
 
Substance Run 1 Run 2  Run 3 Average/Top
Water 33.5 ft 34 ft 33.5 ft 33.7 ft/34 ft
Isopropyl Alcohol 27.5 ft 28.5 ft 27.5 ft 27.9 ft/ 28.5 ft
Acetic Acid 31.0 ft 35.5 ft 34.5 ft 33.3 ft/ 35.5 ft
Vegatable oil 32.2 ft 32 ft 32 ft 32.1 ft/ 32.2 ft
 
Conclusion: Judging from the results, it would appear that one substance was able to out perform water. Apparently this could be attributed to a difference in surface tension between the two substances, of which the higher surface tension of water causes higher friction and thus less force as it leaves the gun. Whether this is the case or not is unclear, however, one very suprising result was the relative effectiveness of vegatable oil out of the gun, which was almost able to travel the same distance as water. At this point Scientific AmeriKen would like to state that it frowns upon any use of oils or acids in water pistol fights.



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Scientific AmeriKen