Twinkie ExperimentExample

Problem

If we have one twinkie left out in a dry environment, and another in a slightly moistened environment, how will the two twinkies react based on mass?

Background informationThe very first twinkie was made in 1930 and was made with basic

ingredients like eggs, milk, and butter. Over the years, eggs and dairy products were taken out of the recipe to help prolong the freshness of the twinkies; they now have a shelf life of about 25 days, though some believe they last forever. Monoglycerides, which help mix ingredients, and diglycerides, which help mix ingredients that would usually not go together, replace eggs in the twinkie recipe and help stabilize the batter, enhance flavor, and prolong shelf life. Polysorbate 60 and cellulose gum replace fat in the filling and keep it smooth and creamy. One twinkie has about 170 calories, 41 of which are from fat. A twinkie also has 13% saturated fat, 7% cholesterol, 9% sodium, 9% carbohydrates, 18.0g of sugar and 1.0g of protein.

Hypothesis

If water is added to a total of four twinkies, then the twinkie in the coldest environment will show an increase in mass.

Experiment design

Independent variable: The twinkie with the added 20 mL of waterDependant Variable: The concluding mass of the twinkieConstants: Amount of time the twinkies are left to sit, amount of water put on a twinkie, placement on the counter.

Materials

● 4 hostess twinkies● Graduated cylinder (100mL)● 20 mL of water (60 mL total)● 4 small bowls● Tape● Black marker● Fridge/freezer● Countertop space

Safety Procedure

● Wash hands● Pull back long hair● Clean all surfaces before starting the lab● Use clean materials and glassware ● Take out any dangly jewelry

Procedure 1. Gather materials2. Read through lab plan3. Clean counters with hot, soapy water4. Unwrap twinkies and mass each one, and record the results5. Place one twinkie in each bowl6. Label each bowl (control, countertop, fridge, freezer)7. Measure out 20 mL of water with the 100 mL graduated cylinder8. Pour water into bowl, coating the twinkie evenly with water9. Place labeled bowl in said spot

10. Let sit for 4 days11. Re-mass each twinkie, record data into final chart12. Clean up kitchen (wash dishes, throw away twinkies, remove tape from

bowls)13. Complete table14. Make final conclusion according to the data

Chart

Control Countertop Freezer Refrigerator

Mass (g) day 1 39g 37g 40g 41g

Mass (g) day 4 35g 35g 56g 42g

Before adding water

With water

After four days

How they looked after four days

ConclusionWe concluded that adding moisture, and changing the environment of a

twinkie will most definitely change the outcome of the mass. In the duration of four days,we put a total of four twinkies, all of which saturated in 20 mL of water, in environments containing different temperatures. On the first day, we massed all of our twinkies in grams. The control was 39g, countertop 37g, freezer 40g, and the refrigerator was 41g. Then massing them again on the fourth day we recorded the following results: Control 35g, countertop 35g, freezer 56g, and refrigerator 42g. Our data supports our hypothesis because the twinkie that was placed in the freezer had the largest increase in mass by 16g. However, our experiment could have been improved by accurately measuring 20 mL of water, and testing twinkies with identical mass and volume. Overall, due to the results of our data, adding moisture to a twinkie and decreasing the temperature of its environment will increase its final mass.

Graph