Research Question

If I change the voltage six times (voltages will be 3,5, 7, 9, 11,13) all starting from twenty-six
degrees Celsius how would this change the mass of the copper on the carbon stick?

HYPOTHESIS
I think that since copper is a positively charged metal it will go towards the negatively charged
carbon electrode. Since the physics rule is opposites attract it will go to the opposite charge.
Also I think that the mass of copper would have a big difference if the voltage was set from 13
than it would be if the voltage would be set on 3 because the hotter the things are the easier it is
for it to melt so in this case it would be the higher the voltage the easier it is for the copper to
heat and move to the carbon.
Independent Variable. The single factor
that you are changing to test your hypothesis
Dependent Variable. What you need to
measure to test your hypothesis
Control Variables. What you need to keep
the same in for your experiment to be a fair
test

APPARATUS

Stick of Copper
80ml of Copper Sulphate
Carbon Electrode
2 Beakers (small, big)
Bucket of Ice
Thermometer
Power Bank
2 Wires
2 Crocodile Clips
Measuring Cylinder
Weighing Scale
Timer
Hot Water
Sandpaper
2 Small Pieces Blue tack

The voltage of the power bank

The mass of copper that is on the

carbon electrode.
Room Temperature (26 degrees
Celsius)
80ml of Copper Sulphate
3 Minutes of Experiment Time
1 Mole for Copper Sulphate

DIAGRAM

METHOD
1. Pour the copper sulphate 1 mole into the measuring cylinder until 80ml
2. Pour the copper sulphate from the measuring cylinder into the beaker
3. Set the power bank on to 3
4. Set the timer from 3 minutes
5. Put the black wire into the black hole and the red wire into the red hole
6. Put the crocodile clips on both wires
7. Take the sand paper and sand the copper until it is shiny
8. Weigh the carbon electrode and take note of the starting mass
9. Take the blue tack and put one each on the carbon and the copper
10. Put the copper and the carbon on opposite sides of each other then press against it until
it is hard for it to move
11. Click the black crocodile clip onto the carbon and clip the red one on the copper
12. Insert the plug into the socket
13. Turn on the power bank and the timer at the same time.
14. When the timer rings turn off the power bank
15. Remove the crocodile clips from the carbon and copper
16. Take the carbon and dab it with tissue
17. Take the carbon and remove the blue tack
18. Weigh the carbon
19. Take note in your notebook
20. Stick the blue tack on the carbon
21. Put the carbon on the opposite side of the copper
22. Press against the carbon until it cant move anymore
23. Take the temperature if it is not 26 degrees Celsius either put it in the ice if it is more
than 26 degrees or in a big beaker of hot water and leave it in until it turns into 26
degrees
24. Repeat steps 11-23 but set the power bank onto 5
25. Repeat steps 11-23 but set the power bank onto 7
26. Repeat steps 11-23 but set the power bank onto 9
27. Repeat steps 11-23 but set the power bank onto 11
28. Repeat steps 11-23 but set the power bank onto 13

29. Finished
Voltage
3
5
7
9
11
13

Mass of the Carbon Before

3
3.04
3.93
3.22
3.28
4.01

Voltage
3
5
7
9
11
13

Mass of the Carbon Before

3.19
3.26
3.28
3.42
3.5
3.61

Voltage
3
5
7
9
11
13

Mass of the Carbon Before

3.59
3.91
3.63
3.69
3.99
3.77

First Test
Mass of the Carbon After
3.04
3.07
3.99
3.28
3.43
4.21
Second Test
Mass of the Carbon After
3.23
3.28
3.33
3.5
3.61
3.75
Third Test
Mass of the Carbon After
3.63
3.93
3.69
3.77
4.05
3.95

Difference of the 2 Masses

0.04
0.03
0.06
0.06
0.15
0.2

Temperature
26C
26C
26C
26C
26C
26C

Difference of the 2 Masses

0.04
0.02
0.05
0.08
0.11
0.14

Temperature
26C
26C
26C
26C
26C
26C

Difference of the 2 Masses

0.04
0.02
0.03
0.08
0.06
0.18

Temperature
26C
26C
26C
26C
26C
26C

Mass of Copper transfered onto the

carbon electrode in 3 tests
0.25

Mass Grams

0.2
0.15

First Test

0.1

Second Test
Third Test

0.05
0
0

10

12

14

Voltage

Flaw or Error
Sometimes the crocodile clip
fell from the metal or was not
clipped on to it even though
the experiment started
Some of the temperatures of
the copper sulphate were not
in room temperature as we
forgot to check

Effect on Experiment
The effect that this had on
the experiment is that the
copper did not move to the
carbon
The carbon couldve
transferred faster due to the
heat not making it a fair
experiment

Change to be Made
Always keep watch on the
clips or even hold them for
the amount of time needed.
Put the copper sulphate
either in a bucket of ice or
hot water whatever is
needed to out it at room
temperature.

Conclusion

In this investigation I have found that if the voltage is higher the more copper will go to the
carbon electrode. The data supported my hypothesis because as you can see the normal mass
on the carbon for 3 volts in 3 minutes would be 0.04 while the 13 volts in 3 minutes had around
0.14 to 0.2 the difference between the grams is 0.16, which is quite a lot. Based off these facts
my hypothesis is right. Trends and patterns that I found was that as the voltage went up so did
the amount of copper transferred to the carbon electrode. This is because since the positive
electrode, which was the copper, transferred to the negative carbon electrode the carbon has
two extra electrons on the outer shell so it gives it away.