What explains the result?
Water enters spaces among fibers by capillary action; thickness and texture influence how much liquid a sheet holds.
PHYSICAL SCIENCE · GRADES 4–8
Absorbency brand test
INVESTIGATION QUESTIONHow does paper towel brand change the water absorbed before dripping?
● ILLUSTRATIVE SCIENCE MODEL
ENGLISH CAPTIONS
Cut matched brand samples. Equal-area samples make a first-drip comparison fairer.
0.0 / 3.0 s
Where does this matter?
Absorbency testing guides cleanup products and material design.
What should you keep in mind?
Values shown are illustrative. Test equal sheet areas, add water the same way, and use the same drain method.
CAPILLARY ACTION · BRAND COMPARISON · GRADES 4–8
Which towel
holds more?
Compare equal-size samples from three brands. Add measured water drop by drop and record how much each sheet holds before the first drip.
DROP-BY-DROP ABSORBENCY STATIONSMOOTH
50 mL40302010MEASURE EACH ADDITION
SMOOTH
STOP AT FIRST DRIP
READYMODEL · FIRST-DRIP VOLUME14 mL*
water passes through the fibers at the endpoint*Illustrative model value
COMPARE THE TRIALS
Water added at first drip
Why the sheet holds water: Water adheres to cellulose and moves through small spaces between fibers. Brand construction, sheet area, wetting speed and the definition of “first drip” affect the result. Use equal samples and repeat before comparing products.
Everyday value: Absorbency affects how many sheets are needed for a spill. Compare measured capacity per sheet and per price before deciding which product is efficient.