Lubricating Metal: Which Works Best?
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We're going to find out which household item is the best at lubricating metal. We'll build a ramp and use a steel block to test the lubricants. We'll measure the time it takes for the block to reach the end of the ramp and see which lubricant works best.
Hypothesis
The hypothesis is that vegetable oil will lubricate metal the best, followed by baby oil, Softsoap, and Vaseline.
Method & Materials
You will build a ramp, gather materials, measure out 5 ml of lubricant, label the paint brushes, color one end of the metal block, brush the lubricant onto the metal surface, time the block, record the time, and clean the ramp.
You will need a ramp, a steel block, distilled white vinegar, Vaseline, baby oil, vegetable oil, paper towels, a level surface, a stopwatch, a 5 ml calibrated container, four disposable paint brushes, and a permanent marker.
Results
We found that Softsoap had the best average time, followed by baby oil, vegetable oil, and Vaseline. This was different from our hypothesis, which stated that vegetable oil would work the best. We learned that a substance's ability to lubricate is not determined by its density.
Why do this project?
This science project is interesting because it shows that a substance's ability to lubricate is not determined by its density.
Also Consider
Experiment variations to consider include testing different angles of the ramp and testing different lengths of the ramp.
Full project details
You can find additional information and details for this science fair project here. Have fun exploring!Related video
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