Results

This table shows the results from my experiment. Each box shows the colour of the egg. As you can see, some colours are not as intense as the others, there are several factors as to why the colour is not as intense, which is further explained in my actual scientific report.

Project is up and running!

I forgot to blog about this but two days ago, I started my practical !

Results should be up soon.

And so it goes on...

I'm doing some last minute research, to make sure that I'm ready when I actually do my experiment.

I'm thinking I will start possibly on Wednesday this week, as I have all my materials finally. I need to get started before the eggs get expired, which is mid June!

Finally!

YAY! Thursday night late shopping, finally bought my food colouring dye!

I will start to measure out all the quantities tomorrow :)

My modified method.

A little bit of alliteration going on there ayee...

Okay, so here's my modified method:

Hypothesis: The most effective way to dye an egg is that which uses a pure non-concentrated solution.

Aim: To investigate which dye is the most effective in dying eggs.

Equipment:

Fabric dye

A dozen eggs (hard boiled)

Food colouring

Lemon juice

Water

Plastic cups

Glad wrap

Organic dye

Ochre dye

Method:

1. Collect all equipment

2. Set up equipment as follows:

- One egg per cup, one type of dye in each cup

- Three tablespoons of the testing dye in each cup

- Make sure cups are labelled with a sharpie as to which dye it contains

3. Place all equipment in the same conditions, room temperature

4. Repeat steps 2 and 3, however, now add one tablespoon of water to each cup

5. Repeat steps 2 and 3, however, now add one tablespoon of lemon juice to each cup

6. Record all observations.

I am still working on how I will record my observations. I think I am most likely to tabulate my information.

I'll keep you posted !

Added

I think I will add a step 5 to my method.

I will repeat the experiment at the bare minimum of two times, three times if necessary.

All the equipment I need is easy to access, so if anything does go wrong, I can always just buy more. I also need to consider human error issues, but I will post about this later.

I will refine my method again, once I have bought all my ingredients.

I have bought my eggs though!

Method

I realised that I forgot to include a hypothesis for my last blog entry about my method.

Hypothesis: The most effective way to dye an egg is that which uses a pure non-concentrated solution.

To test this I will use undiluted dyes, and I will compare it to eggs soaked in diluted dyes, that contain water and lemon juice.

My method needs to be improved somewhat and I will be reviewing it over the next few days.

Re-reading the criteria

Yes, I am re-reading the blog submission right at this hour, checking that I have met it.

I have my climate graph, and I have remained somewhat active on my blog, mind you I did go away to New Caledonia, and I will re-visit my method in this post, half of it anyway.

My method, as previously posted, will be starting hopefully this weekend.

I have finally bought the food colouring but I am unsure whether I should buy more than three different types of dye. I currently have two fabric dyes, RIT and Dylon, so I am still thinking about which one to use, or maybe to use both. I may use organic dye or ochre as my fourth and fifth dyes for the experiment.

As for my method, with my equipment being all fully purchased by end of this week, I should be able to attempt my first lot of the experiment.

This is my plan so far; with notes here and there:

Aim: To investigate which dye is the most effective in dying eggs.

In the experiment, I will change various factors such as length of time period soaked in the dye, as well as the type of concentrate the dye is in. At this point in time, with some further research, I will be adding substances such as lemon juice and water to the dye to see the effect on the dyeing process.

Equipment:

Fabric dye

A dozen eggs (hard boiled)

Food colouring

Lemon juice

Water

Plastic cups

Glad wrap

Organic dye

Ochre dye

Method:

1. Collect all equipment

2. Set up equipment as follows:

- One egg per cup, one type of dye in each cup

- Make sure cups are labelled with a sharpie as to which dye it contains

3. Place all equipment in the same conditions, preferably room temperature, possibly consider placing one in the sun to change variable?

4. Record all observations.

Now, obviously this is just a draft of my method, and it will need to be revised again later today.

Few last minute touches

I've finally put my climate graph on my usb and now can paste it onto my blog, so here it is!

I've made a border around it, labelled each axis and used even increments.

Extra Research

With my experiment to start within the next week, I think I will need to conduct some extra research as well. I need to look up the chemicals that I have found in the dyes and what their properties are as well.

I also need to reconsider how long I should leave each egg in the dye before it has been effectively dyed. I am thinking that I may do the experiment several times, with different time lengths. As in, I will place the egg for a shorter period of time, and then increase it, to see if this has any effect on the colour.

Most of my equipment finally bought

I know it has been a slow process, but I've realised I've got to get cracking!

Our final submission is due sometime in June, so I must allow myself at least a month of experiment time. I've started writing up my introduction and I believe that I will commence my experiment this weekend.

So far, I have bought my eggs, two different types of fabric dye and I am yet to buy food colouring. I have considered the colours of which to dye my eggs. I have chosen two, a pink and a green, because I believe these two colours show up well.

So as to keep the variables the same, I will attempt to use the same amount of dye in each cup that I will place the egg in.

Later today, I will insert the graph which we were to complete in our SRP lesson.

NTS: Need to get started.

We got back our first markings for our blogs. I'm quite content with my mark of 13/15. Can't complain (: You only get back what you put in.

Anyway, I must copy the graph we completed in class and upload it onto my blog really soon. I'll just have to put it on my USB.

We have two weeks of school holidays, but I'll only be there for a bit less than half of them. I'm hoping that in the second week, I can start my experiment. I will just have to buy the materials I need.

Time, equipment and conclusion.

I'm pretty sure that as discussed from my previous posts, if I change the variables, I will be able to manage this during the amount of time we have been given. I am also certain that I will be able to conclude which sort of dye is most effective in dyeing eggs by the end of this experiment.

The equipment I will need can be bought. I will probably place each egg with the dye in a plastic container, simple to buy. The eggs and dye can all be bought.

And I think that's all I have to say for now.

And Another Thing.

With my SRP, I may even decide to test out different sorts of eggs as well. Is it possible that organic eggs could have a different sort of shell to normal free range eggs that would affect how dye is absorbed? And possibly, if the solutions of dye I get, I mix with water or some sort of acid, will that affect the dyeing process?

I think these sorts of questions can help me to improve my experiment and allow me to investigate all sorts of different properties.

I shall keep you posted!

It's Time To Face The Music

Yes, now here's to describing which experiment I think I will complete.

I have opted to go with the investigation of dyeing eggs for Easter, seeing as Easter is fast approaching.

My hypothesis, I imagine will be something along the lines of: Different types of dyes and heat can play a role in the colour of dyeing an egg.

Here is the method I think I will follow.

Equipment:

Half a dozen pack of eggs

Food dye

Hair dye

Natural ochre

Protein dye (uses acid)

1. Place all eggs in the same conditions, on a ledge inside a room at room temperature and only changing the type of dye.

2. Keep one egg as a control.

3. Leave the eggs in each different dye for the same amount of time (I will still have to research how long this period should be).

4. Observe and record the results.

5. Conduct steps 1-4 again, however changing the location of the eggs. Place the eggs into sunlight as absorbing the dye.

6. Conduct steps 1-4 again, however placing the eggs in artificial light.

7. Conduct steps 1-4 again, however placing the eggs in the fridge.

D-Day Today

I have been looking through the Year 10 Student Research Project booklet throughout the past few days, trying to decide on a topic with which I can actually execute all of the processes in the booklet with.

I have found a couple of experiments which interest me. From the project ideas given to us from Ms Zhang, I found two to be of interest.

• Finding the best way to store digital photographs printed from your computer and
• Investigate the most effective way of dyeing eggs for Easter.

In the first experiment mentioned, the independent variable is photographs printed from the computer. The dependent variable is areas or places in which you store the digital photographs.

In the second experiment mentioned, the independent variable is egg. The dependent variable is the different types of dyes you would use to dye the egg.

D-Day soon

The last few days of SRP blogging approach us, and yes, sadly, I am yet to decide on which project to do. There has been much discussion between classmates as to what to do. Some people have decided, some I recall saying they would do an experiment to do with plants and how they grow in different conditions, such as artificial sunlight or in different types of soil. I have looked again at the lists of suggestions given to us by Ms Zhang and I will have to choose which one to use tonight.

Searching... searching...

Ahh! First hardcore search on SRP Ideas, I realise that I have to really start it ASAP because the soccer season's starting soon and so are all my other extra curricular activities.

I've been discussing with my cousin ideas as well. She's at Bethany College and also has to do an SRP.

I have come across a site: http://chemistry.about.com/od/sciencefairprojects/a/sciprohigh.htm

Browsing it right now... hoping I can find an idea. I plan to have an idea ready by at least this time next week.

Hello World (:

Here we go, blogging just for science!

Who would have thought that I would be blogging for a Student Research Project!

Blog set up and first post in the process of being written just as I arrive home and finish having dinner.

At this point in time, I have no idea whatsoever as to what my topic will be for this SRP, but I will get myself moving and hopefully find one within the next week. I did start googling some 'SRP Science Ideas', but none so far have interested me.

This looks like a fun but very challenging task. Hopefully all goes well :)