The Water Drinking Experiment

As you drink water from a glass, the height of the water remaining in the glass decreases. This lab is to try and determine a mathematical model that relates the height of the water removed from the glass.

Choose a member from your group of three persons to be the “sipper”. Each “sipper” will drink from a glass of water using a straw until the glass is empty. Another person from the group records the number of sips and the third person of the group measures the height of the water remaining in the glass. You will use a ruler for the measurements. It is important that the glass remains level during the experiment. The “sipper” must try to be consistent in sipping from the glass.

Fill the glass with water. Determine what the independent variable and dependent variable are for the problem. Record the height of the water. How many sips have occurred so far? Have the sipper remove some water from the glass. How many sips have occurred so far? Record the new height. Repeat the process until the glass is empty. Plot your data on graph paper.

Fill in the data collection sheet for your group to determine the equation that the data models. Each group should work through the worksheet. One copy from your group will be handed in.