The Cutting Edge

Mariah R. Hollett Saint Marys School 309 East Chestnut StreetLancaster, Ohio 43130 Seventh Grade

Table of Contents

Abstract3Introduction..4Experimental Procedure5Data......6Results..7Conclusion8References and Acknowledgements.......9

Abstract

This experiment was conducted because of an analysis of scissors. Scissors never seem to be cleaned, let alone sharp. In this investigation, peanut butter and old oxidized scissors were used. The essential steps were smearing scissors with creamy peanut butter and waiting two hours for the effects to take place. The results obtained were a simplistic before and after comparison obtained by cutting paper and visually observing the scissors, and the peanut butters effect on the oxidation of the scissors. Before, it was difficult to cut paper and oxidation was at a maximum. After, the oxidation nearly disappeared. However; the scissors were not sharper. The results shown were that peanut butter is an effective everyday household item that can clean oxidation from scissors.

IntroductionIn this experiment, I hypothesized that if an everyday household item such as peanut butter was to be placed on scissors the sharpness will increase.

I originally got the idea for this report from my Language Arts teacher during Study Hall period. We were cutting box tops out and, the scissors were sticking together. She had said that she heard the idea. The idea fascinated me, so I decided to give it a go. My Independent Variable (peanut butter) was applied to the Dependent Variable.

Experimental ProceduresQuestion: Can an everyday household item such as peanut butter sharpen scissors?Hypothesis: I hypothesize that if an everyday household item such as peanut butter was to be placed on scissors the sharpness will increase.Materials: scissors, cheap peanut butter, clock, science journal, controlled inside environment Procedure:1. Gather materials.2. Cut through laminate paper five times.3. Cut piece of paper.4. Record results.5. Place peanut butter on scissors and let it set for two hours.6. Wash the scissors off after two hours.7. Cut through paper again.8. Record results.9. Repeat steps 2-8 nine more times.

The DataTrial Observation1It showed no improvement.2The scissors were still dull. Oxidation was removed.3No change.4Scissors showed no improvement.5Scissors became very clean looking. The sharpness had no improvement.6Scissors looked as good as new.7No change in sharpness or cleanness.8No change.9No change.10A tiny change in sharpness.

ResultsIn this experiment, the Independent Variable had no effect on the sharpness of the Dependent Variable. However, the Independent Variable did affect the Dependent Variables cleanness.

ConclusionI kept the scissors in a plastic container as the controlled environment. After I had done the experiment, I had realized that I should have kept in an even more controlled environment such as the fridge. If I had done this, I may have had different results.

When I was doing this experiment, I started to wonder to what other household items would be great to test with. If I did this again, I would use other items.

The scissors I used were all metal. More specifically, it was Iron. I wonder if the peanut butter would work on different types of metal. I would try to find other metals such as copper, aluminum and maybe gold. (Gold would be a ring.) Now that I have done this, I wonder what else peanut butter is useful for.

References and Acknowledgements I would like to thank a number of people for helping me with this experiment.

First, I would like to thank my dad for all his patience and calmness. It was well called for and it was what I needed when I was having mini panic attacks about this. He was a huge inspiration and I love him.

Second, Id like to thank my science teacher, Mrs. Yaple for her support and generosity in this period of time. As hectic as it may be to read the amount of packets and grade them as she did, she did a great job. She was a huge help when it came to questions.

Third, Id like to thank Mrs. Lipp for inspiring me to use this idea. As insane as this project topic was, it kept me busy and on my toes.

Fourth, my mother was a great help on the two weekends I was over. She allowed me time to write my reports and kept my half-sister from messing with me. That was a lot of work.

Lastly, Id like to thank St. Marys School for the education I have been given. It will help me to grow my nurture my talents.

Thank you all,Mariah Hollett

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