Science Fair Project
Gummy Bears
Josh Rich
Mrs. McNees
Syracuse Junior High School
Statement of the Problem
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In comparison to the concentration of the
gummy bears, which solution has the
lowest concentration of particles?
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Research
Osmosis is the net movement of water across a selectively permeable membrane
driven by a difference in solute concentrations on the two sides of the membrane.
The key to remember about osmosis is that water flows from the solution with the
lower solute concentration into the solution with higher solute concentration.
When thinking about osmosis, we are always comparing solute concentrations
between two solutions, and some standard terminology is commonly used to describe
these differences:
 Isotonic: The solutions being compared have equal concentration of solutes.
 Hypertonic: The solution with the higher concentration of solutes.
 Hypotonic: The solution with the lower concentration of solutes.
Gummy Bears are made of gelatin, starch, and sugar. Gelatin is a polymer (huge
molecule made of many repeating units) that forms large three-dimensional matrices
which give structural support to jellies and jams, and lots of other things that you use
every day. (A matrix is like a complex cage)
Molecules are in constant motion, and tend to move from areas of higher
concentrations to lesser concentrations. Diffusion is defined as the movement of
molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration.
Research cont.
Citation:
"Leaving Bio." Osmosis and Diffusion. N.p.. Web. 14 Dec
2014.
"Biozone Weebly." . N.p.. Web. 11 Jan 2014.
Hypothesis
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If I place a gummy bear in a glass of water, salt water,
alcohol, dish soap, karo syrup, vegetable oil, and
vinegar, then the bear submerged in the water will
expand the most because the water will move into the
gummy bear because of the low concentration of
particles in the pure water.
Procedure: Materials
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7 glasses
Gummy Bears
Masking Tape
Water
Alcohol
Dish Soap
Karo Syrup
Vegetable Oil
Vinegar
Salt
Paper towel or wax paper
Notebook and Pencil for observations
Safety Considerations
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The only apparent safety consideration for
this project is that there are several
chemicals being used. The chemicals will
be sitting for 24 hours and there will be
children in the house. Safety precautions
will be taken to prevent any substances
being consumed or exposed to skin or eye
or other area.
Procedure: Steps
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17.
Obtain seven glasses, seven Gummy Bears and a ruler.
Label the glasses with a piece of masking tape.
Measure your bear (in cm) from side to side (length) and from front to back
(width) and from top to bottom (height).
Record the dimensions in centimeters.
Calculate the volume of each bear. Record.
Record the mass of each bear.
Fill the each of the glasses with water, salt water, alcohol, dish soap, karo syrup,
vegetable oil, and vinegar.
Place the bears in the glasses.
Place the glasses on the counter away from direct sunlight.
Let them sit overnight.
On the next lab day, remove the bears from their substances.
Place bears on paper towel or waxed paper.
Measure the length, width, and height. Record.
Calculate the volume of each bear. Record.
Find the mass of wax paper or screen used. Then place the dried bear on the
paper or screen.
Find the mass of the bears. Record
Record observations.
Variables
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Constants: Same volume of substance, same brand and
color of gummy bears, same amount of time, same
temperature, same place.
Controlled Variable: The measurement of the bear
without any added substances. Also, there will be an
independent bear without any substances to serve as a
basis for comparison in pictures.
Independent Variables: Type of liquid in glass and time
submerged in the water.
Dependent Variable: The reaction of the gummy bears.
Pictures: Before
Pictures: During
Pictures: After
Observations
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I observed that the bears in the vinegar
and the pure water expanded the most.
The bear in the vinegar became squishy
and fell apart easily while the bear in the
water held its shape better.
The rest of the bears showed minimal or
no change.
The bear in the vegetable oil shrunk.
Data
Before
Substance
Length
Width
Height
After
Volume
Mass
Length
Width
Height
Volume
Mass
Water
1 cm
1 cm
2 cm
2 cm^3
3g
2 cm
2 cm
3 cm
12
cm^3
8g
Salt
Water
1 cm
1 cm
2 cm
2 cm^3
3g
1.5 cm
1 cm
2.5 cm
3.75
cm^3
4g
Alcohol
1 cm
1 cm
2 cm
2 cm^3
3g
1 cm
1 cm
2 cm
2 cm^3
3g
Dish
Soap
1 cm
1 cm
2 cm
2 cm^3
3g
1.5 cm
1 cm
3 cm
4.5
cm^3
5g
Karo
Syrup
1 cm
1 cm
2 cm
2 cm^3
3g
1 cm
1 cm
2.25 cm
2.25
cm^3
3.5 g
Vegetable
Oil
1 cm
1 cm
2 cm
2 cm^3
3g
1 cm
1 cm
1.75 cm
1.75
cm^3
2.5 g
Vinegar
1 cm
1 cm
2 cm
2 cm^3
3g
2 cm
2 cm
4 cm
16
cm^3
10 g
Data cont.
% Change of Gummy Bears
Substance
% Change
250
Water
166.67%
200
Salt Water
33.33%
Alcohol
0%
Dish Soap
66.67%
Karo Syrup
16.67%
Vegetable
Oil
-16.67%
Vinegar
233.33%
150
100
50
0
-50
Water
Salt Water
Alcohol
Dish Soap Karo Syrup Vegetable
Oil
Vinegar
Conclusion
H. My hypothesis was not supported. Although the
bear in the pure water expanded a lot, the
bear in the vinegar grew more. The bear in the
water kept its solid figure, though.
P. The distilled vinegar had a very low
concentration of particles, so the water in it
moved across the membrane of the gummy
bear to dilute the sugar more than any other
substance.