My children love cool science experiments so we decided to try some paper towel science projects using the new Viva Vantage Paper Towels we purchased at Walmart and another brand or paper towel. The children always knew which paper towel was the Viva Vantage because of the V-Flex Weave, like tiny interlocking Vs on the paper towel, that gives the towel stretch. Amazing!
Read more about Viva Vantage.
Paper Towel Experiment #1 – Absorbency Test
To test the absorbency of a paper towel, you need a small amount of water in a cup, a kitchen scale with grams, a shallow container, two or more brands of paper toweling cut into the same size, and a pair of tweezers.
First, weigh the water in the cup on a kitchen scale and record the results. Then, place the water into a shallow container and drop in one paper towel piece. Remove the paper towel using the tweezers to avoid squeezing water from the piece and discard it. Pour the water from the shallow container back into the cup and place the cup on the scale. Record the results.
Repeat with the remaining paper towel pieces, recording your results each time. Then, subtract the starting weight with the remaining weight of each specimen. Which paper towel absorbed the most water?
Our results: We tested two brands of paper towel and in our test, the Viva Vantage held twice as much water as the “other” brand!
Paper Towel Experiment #2 – Strength Test
For this experiment, you will need two or more brands of paper towel, a wide mouth container, water, a rubber band, and about $8 in pennies or some other form of weight.
Place the first paper towel over the wide mouth container and secure with the rubber band. Drizzle with water to wet thoroughly. On top of the wet paper towel, add pennies one at a time until the weight of the pennies breaks through the paper towel. Record your results.
Perform the same test with a different brand of paper towel. Record your results and compare. Which paper towel held more pennies? Which paper towel was the strongest?
Our results: In our test, the “other” paper towel was larger and I assumed this meant the Viva Vantage (Select-A-Size) was doomed. On the contrary, the “other” paper towel gave way much sooner than the Viva Vantage. As a matter of fact, we did not have enough change in our home to break the Viva Vantage Paper Towel! The V-Flex Weave really does work to give the towel stretch, making it stronger under pressure.
Paper Towel Experiment #3 – Scrub Test
Next, check to see which paper towel is more durable with the scrub test. You will need at least four pieces of two brands of paper toweling (for 8 towels total), water, and four sticky substances for this experiment.
Spread two equal portions of each sticky substance on a flat water-proof surface like a table. Then, wet each paper towel with water and squeeze to remove the excess. Fold each paper towel in a similar fashion and use one of the paper towels to scrub at each substance to see which paper towel holds together the best.
Our results: In our test, we used peanut butter, jam, honey, and syrup for our sticky substances. Each brand of paper towel performed well against all the substances except for the jam. The “other” brand was unable to clean up the complete mess. So, I rinsed both brands of paper towel and compared. The Viva Vantage paper towel was obviously thicker and still ready to scrub, so I cleaned up the rest of the jam (and the entire table) with the Viva Vantage. The children declared Viva Vantage the winner because of the amazing scrubbing power.
Paper Towel Experiment #4 – The Drip Test
To perform the drip test, you will need five cups in equal heights, 6 paper towels, red, yellow, and blue food coloring, and water. Place the red, yellow, and blue food coloring each into a different cup. Add water and mix until dissolved. Add water to the remaining two empty cups and place the cups in this order: red, clear, yellow, clear, blue.
Next, roll each piece of paper towel and place it between two cups like a bridge with one end in the colored water and the other end in the clear water. Allow the experiment to rest for at least two hours but make observations every 30 minutes.
On which paper towels does the water walk best? Which paper towels form drip in the middle?
Our results: Because of our growing confidence in Viva Vantage, we only used their paper towels in this experiment. My children loved watching the water “walk” up the paper towel and down into the next cup, creating orange in one clear cup and green in the other. We had no drips between the cups even after the experiment rested over night and the paper toweling formed dips in the middle. Honestly, since it did not drip, I assumed the paper towels had dried but when I gripped them to put the project away, I discovered that the paper towels were still very wet. I have no idea why it did not drip, but they definitely have a sponge-like absorbency to clean up messes.
Paper Towel Experiment #5 – Just for Fun!
When your work is done, have some fun. Say good-bye to the “other” guy by making fireworks! You will need markers, two Viva Vantage paper towels for each person, water, and droppers.
First, place one paper towel over the other. Then, use the markers to make dots all over the paper towel. Large dots work better than small dots.
When you are satisfied with your polka-dotted Viva Vantage Paper Towel, start the good-bye party fireworks display by dripping drops of water from the dropper onto each marker dot and watch as the fireworks spread. Enjoy!
Love these ideas! I’m pinning this! Thanks a bunch!
Hi my name is Tabitha too and these are some great ideas!
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