Science+Experiment

=**Scientific Method **=

Do different brands of popcorn leave different amounts of unpopped kernels?
 * Topic:**

Does different brands of popcorn leave different amounts of unpopped kernels?
 * Question:**

//According to the website// http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/question255.htm, when a popcorn kernel heats up (either in a popcorn popper or in the microwave), the moisture inside the kernel expands. Moisture is extremely important to a popcorn kernel. Unless the of moisture in the kernel is just right, the kernel won't pop. When the pressure inside the hard shell gets high enough, the kernel explodes. That part seems normal enough. Lots of things explode when you heat them. The strange part is the white solid that forms during the process.
 * Background Information:**

//According to the// website http://www.betterbudgeting.com/articles/cooking/popcornrecipes.htm, years ago, people would throw corn on sizzling hot stones over a campfire. As it popped, it shot off in various directions. The game was to catch the popcorn, and the reward was eating it. Some Indian tribes speared the cob with a long stick and held it near the fire. The kernels popped and stayed attached to the cob. The Iroquois popped their popcorn in pottery with heated sand. A favorite way to enjoy popcorn among the Iroquois Indians was popcorn soup, while the Indians of Central America made popcorn beer.

//According to the website// http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popcorn During the Great Depression popcorn was surprisingly cheap at 5-10 cents a bag and became popular. While other businesses failed, the popcorn business thrived and became a source of income for some struggling farmers. During World War II, sugar rations depeleted candy production causing Americans to eat three times more popcorn than they had before.

I know out of Act 2 microwave popcorn, Deerfield Farms Premium Microwave Popcorn, and Walgreens Select Microwave Popcorn; the Act 2 microwave popcorn will produce less kernels than the other 2 brands because it has 50% Less fat, 30% fewer calories than regular butter microwave popcorn.
 * Hypothesis:**




 * Procedure:**
 * 1) First, gather materials.
 * 2) Now make sure you have two packs of each popcorn bag.
 * 3) Next take one of the bags and put it in the microwave.
 * 4) After step 3, set the timer for 3 minutes.
 * 5) Once you've set the timer, press start.
 * 6) While your waiting on the popcorn to finish, you should be able to hear the popcorn popping. If not, then you have a problem with your popcorn but most likely it'll pop.
 * 7) After the timer stopped, pull the popcorn bag out the microwave.
 * 8) After step 7 empty the bag into a large bowl.
 * 9) You can eat the popcorn or just pour the bowl on a table and take out the unpopped kernels.
 * 10) Next count the unpopped kernels and place them in a small sandwich bag labeled with the name of the popcorn.
 * 11) Repeat steps 3 - 10 for each pair of popcorn bags.
 * 12) Record your data at the end.


 * Materials:**
 * 2 packs of each brand popcorn
 * a microwave
 * a large bowl
 * 6 small sandwich bags
 * a roll of masking tape
 * a black marker


 * Experiment:**


 * Data/Results:**

In my hypothesis I wrote, "I know out of Act 2 microwave popcorn, Deerfield Farms Premium Microwave Popcorn, and Walgreens Select Microwave Popcorn; the Act 2 microwave popcorn will produce less kernels than the other 2 brands" because it has 50% Less fat, 30% fewer calories than regular butter microwave popcorn ." But I was wrong. As you can see by my results, the Deerfield Farms Premium Microwave Popcorn had the least kernels out of the 3. I think this happened because the Deerfield Farms Premium Microwave Popcorn and 94% fat free while the Act 2 microwave popcorn had 50% less fat and the Walgreens Select Microwave Popcorn had 82% less fat. If I could change any part of my experiment, I would change the different brands of popcorn.
 * Conclusion:**