Following the

Rain
By Benjamin Guerrero
Purpose Problem Statement
How do different ground surfaces interact with
rainwater?
Research
1. What happens if it lands on pavement or on tilled acre
of soil in your backyard?
If it lands on pavement it will erode, and if it lands on soil it
will become groundwater.
2. Which collecting jar will have the most water and which
will have the least?
Out of gravel, soil and dirt I think the collecting jar for gravel
will have the most water because gravel is a rock and the
water would pass through. The sands collecting jar would
the least because it would absorb the water.
3.Which jar will fill the fastest and which jar will the
slowest.
Gravels jar would fill the fastest because the water would
slide passed it. Sands jar because there is sediments in
sand and would slow down the water.
4.Where does all the rainwater goes once it lands on earth?
All the rainwater goes under ground, which becomes ground
water. Then after it goes into streams.
5. If you suddenly ran out of water in your house, which jar of
water would you drink?
I would drink the water from the soil jar because I think that the
soil would clean the water.
6. What path will the water go in?
For gravel and sand, the water will go in a straight path. For soil,
the water would move all around.
7. Which ground cover would absorb the most food coloring?
I think gravel would absorb the most food coloring because the
food coloring would stain the gravel.
8. Where does gravity pull the water to?
It goes underground into streams.


Hypothesis
If I put water into three troughs of gravel, sand
and soil, then I hypothesis that the collecting
jar of soil would have the most clean water.

Procedures
Materials
Drill, with 1 inch diameter (2.5 cm) bit, or saw
3 or more solid troughs or long window boxes (plastic or wood)
3 pieces of 1-inch-diameter (2.5 cm) pipe, 2 inches (5.1 cm)
long
Silicone caulk or other water-tight adhesive
3 or more of the following to fill the troughs halfway to the top:
gravel, sand and soil
Use of steps, or a picnic table and cement blocks
3 clear, wide-mouthed 1-gallon (3.8L) jars or buckets
Ruler
Permanent Marker
Water
Food Coloring

Instructions
1.Ask an adult to help you cut or drill a 1-inch (2.5 cm) hole through
the center of ne end of each trough.
2.Insert a section of pipe into each hole so that 1 inch (2.5 cm) or
more extends from the outside of the trough. Seal each pipe in place
with the caulk or other water tight adhesive, and let set.
3.Fill each trough with the same amount of the different chosen
materials (gravel, sand, and soil) until level with the bottom of the pipe.
4.Use a set of steps or a picnic table and cement blocks to elevate the
solid ends of the troughs 8 inches (20.3 cm) above the pipe end of
trough. The troughs should slope downward at the same angle.
5.Draw a straight line from the bottom to the top of each jar, marking
every inch (1.3 cm). Place a jar on a lower step or picnic bench
under each troughs pipe.
6.Slowly, pour 1 gallon (3.8 L) of colored water (add 5 drops of food
coloring to each gallon (3.8 L) of water) into the same spot of each
trough.
7.Observe the amount and clarify of the water that collects in the jars
at the bottom of the troughs.

Variables
Testable=the type of groundcover

Outcome=how much water goes into the collecting jar

Control= amount of water poured into the trough
Amount of ground cover in the trough
Amount of food coloring