References/Abstracts

I found two abstracts that seemed very helpful. It has given me a better insight into my experiment and it has also given me more background information which I can use to back up my hypothesis, results etc.

I'm just going to post the abstracts I found on "google scholar" and the sites/books I've been leafing through for my SRP. I'll extract bits of info from each source of material and place it into my Abstract and Information section (:

This one was provided by:
Resilient Flood Risk Management Strategies by Karin. M. De Bruijn & Frans Klijn

Abstract: The traditional flood risk management strategy in the Netherlands is based on preventing floods by constructing dikes and other structures. After each flood dikes were raised, people felt safer and investments in the area increased, causing a further need to prevent flooding. Nowadays, safety in the Netherlands is legally based on the exceedence probability of the discharge: all dikes should be able to withstand water levels related to a discharge with a return time of 1250 years. However, flood risk management not only depends on the hazard but also on the vulnerability of the area. The society does not only determine this vulnerability but also the strategy followed to cope with flood risks. The social and economical values indicate which level of risk is accepted, how much can be spent to prevent floods and what other values, such as nature and cultural landscape values should be taken into account. Changed societal views in the Netherlands lead to a discussion on alternative flood management strategies. A resilient flood risk management strategy might be a more appropriate strategy nowadays. This paper defines resilience in the context of flood risk management. A resilient strategy focuses on reducing the impacts of floods by increasing the speed of recovery of the system. The system is defined as the society and ecosystems in the area threatened by river floods.

This one was provided by:
Natural Hazards by H. Rasid - Preventing Floods or Regulating Flood Levels

Abstract Based on a systematic sample survey among the residents of two contrasting floodplain environments - the Tista floodplain (a shallow flood area) and the Ganges-Brahmaputra floodplain (a deep flood area) - this study tests a central hypothesis that the floodplain residents of Bangladesh preferred regulation of flood levels as the main flood alleviation measure. The study found that, despite significant differences in property setting, flood hazard experience and the nature of indigenous adjustments to floods between the two sample areas, an overwhelming 95% of the respondents from each area preferred regulation of flood levels within a range of 0.3 to 2.0 m. The study attempts to provide an explanation for the popularity of regulated flood levels in the context of indigenous adjustments of floodplain crops and infrastructures tonormal flood levels in Bangladesh, which coincided with the respondents' preferred range of flood levels. The study points out that the objective of the UNDP/World Bank-sponsored embankment compartmentalization projects also coincides with this goal of regulating flood levels. However, to test the physical limitations of regulating water levels between neighbouring compartments and to assess the environmental impacts of the proposed projects, the study stresses the need for initiating environmental baseline surveys on the pilot compartmentalization project, which is located on the left bank of the Brahmaputra.

My references will be from the following sources:

• Floods by John and Jennifer Barwick – Flood Damage Prevention (book)
• Floods by Michele Ingber Drohan – Building Levees
  http://books.google.com.au/books
• Floods by Michael Allaby – Reasons why floods occur (book)
• Natural Hazards by H. Rasid - Preventing Floods or Regulating Flood Levels
  http://scholar.google.com.au/scholar
• Resilient Flood Risk Management Strategies by Karin. M. De Bruijn & Frans Klijn
  http://scholar.google.com.au/scholar
• Flood Prevention
  http://library.thinkquest.org
• Density
  http://www.chemistrydaily.com/chemistry/Density
• Disastrous Floods and Tidal Waves by Melvin Berger - Floods (book)

Results Table + Graph

Results Table

Results Graph

I wasn't sure how to post the results table + graph so I've just print screen it to make it easier. Hope it's clear !

Images of Experiment

2L Milk Carton to measure the amount of water to be poured into the bucket

Bucket of Water

Material #1: Woodchips

I didn't have a stop watch so I used a phone to time the experiment

Material #2: Soil

OK so it was a dreary day but I was able to get pics of my experiment with some light thanks to the flash on my camera, this literally took the whole Saturday to conduct ==' I will post up my results soon.

Pictures of Results

Sandbags

Material #3: Sand

Measuring Equipment

Material #4: Coarse Gravel

Bucket

Summary–ish of SRP

OK so I am sticking with . . . "What materials work best in a sandbag for preventing a flood?"

So far the aim is: to determine what materials work best in a sandbag for preventing a flood.

Hypothesis: If the density of the material used in the sandbag is increased there is a decrease in the amount of the water that escapes past the sandbags.

Equipment List and where they’re available:

1m² of hessian – available @ Spotlight
1kg Sand – available @ Flower Power
1kg Coarse Gravel – available @ Flower Power
1kg Wood Chips – available @ home
1kg Soil – available @ home
1 x Aluminium Foil – available @ Woolworths
1 x Labelled bucket – available @ home
1 x 1.25L milk carton – available @ home
1 x Stopwatch – available @ home
1 x Sewing Machine – available @ home
Water – available @ home

> Dependent/Independent/Controlled Variables described in detail in previous blog

> Risk Assessment mentioned in detail in previous blog

Method: 1 ⁄3 of an aluminium foil container was sawed off. Sandbags were made with the material hessian into 13.5cm x 7.0cm bags with a sewing machine. Then, 100g of sand was filled into a sandbag. 1cm was left at the top so that the flap could be folded down. This was done until there were 9 sandbags that contained the same material. This was repeated with the other three materials as well: coarse gravel; soil; and wood chips.
Three sandbags (with the same material in it) were placed side by side in the middle of the aluminium container. Another three sandbags (of the same material) were placed on top of those sandbags and the last three bags were stacked on top so that there were three levels of sandbags. A labelled bucket was placed beneath the aluminium container and a 1.25L milk carton was filled with water. The water was steadily poured at the closed end of the aluminium container and a stopwatch was pressed simultaneously. After 5mins the bucket was removed and the amount of water in it was measured and recorded in a results table. The experiment was repeated with the other three materials (coarse gravel, soil and wood chips) and tested 3-4 times each for accuracy.

[This method will be edited and “cleaned up” in the final report once I’ve completed the experiment. It’ll be likely that during the experiment something will go amiss or that I discovered a better solution to doing the experiment? :) ]

Climate Graph H/W

The Climate Graph work we did in class, sorry if they're a bit blurry. I was testing out a new camera (:

Tell me if I need to take them again - if there are any problems.

Background Information on Floods

Floods are waters that frequently cover an area of land that is usually dry. In parts of the world where floods occur frequently, people use sand bags to divert water from dry land and their homes. It is usually used as a foundation for higher levees, or other water-control structures. Sandbags are usually made of burlap or polypropylene as they do not deteriorate unless there is wet sand inside the bag.

A trench is first dug, sandbags are then placed on top of one another in a row. Sandbags should be placed in the direction of the water flow, and there shouldn't be any space in between. The sandbags should be "staggered" on top of one another like bricks, this adds protection and security to stabilise the sandbags. Sandbags should be limited three to four layers, since it may result in it being insecure.

The material frequently used in sandbags is sand, hence the name. It is generally used as it is readily available and traps most of the water, on account of it being denser than water. Density is the measure of a quantity, such as mass. Denser objects are heavier than less dense ones of the same size in the same volume. Denser objects are also heavier than less denser ones of the same size in the same gravitational field. Therefore, 1L of water is lighter than 1L of sand; sand is denser than water. This may possibly be the reason sand is a popular material in sandbags.

Gravel is loose material consisting of rock and mineral fragments, they are larger than 2mm in dimater but smaller than 256mm in diameter. Gravel is produced by the weathering and erosion of rocks. Strong river currents tend to transport gravel great distances before it is deposited, rock fragments that are transported by water are rounded while those carried by ice glaciers possess sharp, angular edges. Gravel is not compact and does not absorb the water so it may be less effective in preventing water leaking from sandbags.

Woodchips are produced from wood residue, manufacturing waste and energy crops. For efficient handling and combustion, woodchips should be around 2-25mm in their largest dimension. They are not compact but do absorb some water, therefore less water leaks through the sandbags. Woodchips are often used for landscaping.

Bibliography for the above information:

- Wikipedia Foundation Inc., 'Sand', 27/04/10, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sand

- Chemistry Daily.com, 'Density', 27/04/10, http://www.chemistrydaily.com/chemistry/Density

- eHowInc, 'How to make a sandbag', '25/04/10, http://www.ehow.com/how_4224_make-sandbag.html

- Energy Saving Wales, 'Requirements of wood chips used', 27/04/10, http://www.energysavingwales.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=TM.viewTip&tipID=107&aspect=2&sector=1&currentTip=107direction=view

Risk Assessment + Control Variables

Risks involved in the experiment include . . .

Identifying it:

- cutting one side of the aluminium foil container

- placing woodchips in the sand bag

- sewing the sandbags on the machine

Assessing it:

- Possibly attaining a cut from sawing off the side of the aluminium foil container

- Receiving splinters when placing woodchips in the sandbag

- Piercing a needle through your finger while sewing the sand bags

Controlling it:

- Be aware of where body parts (arms, fingers, legs etc.) are

- Gloves should be worn at all times when handling woodchips

- Have adult supervision when sewing and sawing

How the variables will be controlled

The variables (controlled variables):
o The size of the sandbag : each sand bag, when finished will measure 13.5cm x 7.0cm
o The amount of water poured through : a 1.25L bottle will used so that exactly 1.25L of water will be poured
o The way the sandbags are stacked : there will be three sandbags laid next to each other, with two levels, they should be stacked like bricks
o Shape of the aluminium container : only one aluminium foil container will be used so that the shape remains the same
o Size of the container : only one aluminium foil container will be used so that the size remains the same
o Amount of material placed in each sandbag : the material (sand, woodchips, coarse gravel etc) will be poured into the sandbag until there is 1cm left at the top for the sand bag to fold
o The shape of the sandbag : each sand bag will have a rectangular shape
o The time allowed for the water to run through : a timer will be used and the water will be allowed 5mins to run through before it is stopped
o The rate at which the water is being poured : the water will be poured by hand and care will be taken for it to be poured at a steady rate

Dependent variable:
o The amount of water that escapes past the sandbags.

Independent variable:
o The materials that are placed in the sandbag (sand, woodchip, coarse gravel and soil)

What materials work best in a sandbag for preventing a flood?

Experiment: What materials work best in a sandbag for preventing a flood?

Aim: To determine what materials work best in a sandbag for preventing a flood.

Now that I’ve gotten Miss Zhang’s approval I will commence with some more research on my chosen experiment - “What materials work best in a sandbag for preventing a flood?” - such as:

- how a flood works/is caused
- methods (what they constructed) that have been used to prevent floods
- materials (such as sand, gravel, soil etc.) people have used to prevent floods
- how would each material prevent a flood? Are any of them more effective then the other?

The variables (controlled variables):
o The size of the sandbag
o The amount of water poured through
oThe way the sandbags are stacked
o Shape of the aluminium container
o Size of the container
o Amount of material placed in each sandbag
o The shape of the sandbag
o The time allowed for the water to run through
o The rate at which the water is being poured

Dependent variable:
o The amount of water that escapes past the sandbags.

Independent variable:
o The materials that are placed in the sandbag (sand, woodchip, coarse gravel and soil)

Experiment Suggestions

OK. So I’ve finally figured out the basics of “blogging” and in the process have accidentally followed myself. = =’
Anyways, I found a helpful website: http://www.easy-kids-science-experiments.com/high-school-science-fair-topics.html

I found three different experiments that seem interesting:

(Briefly describing)

Testing Permanent Markers
Experiment: How permanent are permanent markers?
Materials needed:
- Black permanent marker
- Water
- Rubbing alcohol
- Vinegar
- Soft drink (coca-cola)
- Materials to write on: Plastic, Paper, Cotton
- 4 eye droppers

Method: A thick black line was drawn across each piece of material (plastic, paper and cotton) and was left to dry for 20mins. Each piece of fabric was then cut into four equal pieces. Three drops of each liquid (water, rubbing alcohol, vinegar and coca-cola) was instilled on each piece of fabric and left for 15 minutes. Observations were made and results recorded. This experiment was repeated 3 times.

What Materials Work Best in a Sandbag for Preventing a Flood?
Experiment: What Materials Work Best in a Sandbag for Preventing a Flood?
Materials needed:
- Sandbags
- 4 aluminium containers
- Sand
- Woodchips
- Soil
- Coarse Gravel
- Stopwatch
- Water
- Bucket
- Measuring cup

Method: A third of the aluminium container is sawed off. Sand is poured into the sandbag and placed in the aluminium container. 500ml of water is measured with a measuring cup and poured into the aluminium container. A bucket is placed underneath the aluminium container. After 5 minutes the bucket is removed and the water in it is measured. Observations and results were recorded. This experiment was repeated with the other three materials: woodchips, soil and coarse gravel. This experiment was repeated 4 times in total.

Which brand of paracetamol is the most effective?
Experiment: Which brand of paracetamol is the most effective?
Materials needed:
- 5 different brands of paracetamol (panadol, nurofen, panamax, advil and herron)
- Water
- Thermometer
- Stopwatch
- 5 glass cups
- Measuring cup

Method: 100ml of water (at normal human temperature, approximately 37 degrees) was placed into 5 glass cups, the temperatures were recorded. One tablet from each brand of paracetamol (panadol, nurofen, panamax, advil, and herron) was placed in the cups until the paracetamol had dissolved. The time it took to dissolve was recorded with the stopwatch. The experiment was repeated 3-4 times.

OK. So I have three choices now so that’s cool. Miss Zhang, could you give me your opinion on which experiment would be most suitable. If you can that is, it’s not cheating is it? >.>

If none of them are suitable because it's too simple or not year 10 standards I'll find something else on the net.
Once I’ve figured out which experiment I’m doing I’ll post up the background info and stuff etc.

I’m outta here.

Aivee H

"Hello World." and Miss Zhang (: