How to waterproof a soccer boot Scientific research

This simple soccer-themed science activity is similar to my raincoat a boot investigation. The idea is to test various materials to determine which are waterproof and which are not. It's a lovely visual way to learn how different materials have different properties.

I wrote this activity to coincide with Euro 2024, but it also relates to the Olympic Games, the Soccer World Cup or any other time of year.

To make the research as reliable as possible, there are a few things to think about. The same amount of water should be used for each material, and the same type of pen underneath. It would be an unfair test if one material was completely saturated with water and the other only had a few drops sprayed onto the surface.

You will need to

Materials to try: kitchen roll, paper, fabric, felt, wax, etc.

Soccer picture/drawing or use my handy printable experiment sheet

Water

Tape

Water sprayer/dropper

Non-permanent markers

Instructions

Color the soccer boot with markers.

Cut out small squares of the materials to be tested. They should be approximately the same size.

Spend some time feeling and observing the different materials. Think about which one will be the most waterproof. It might be helpful to consider what each is typically used for.

Carefully glue the squares onto the soccer boot until it is completely covered.

Spray the boot evenly with water.

Look at the surface of each material. Do they look different? If the material is waterproof, water will be visible as droplets on the surface.

Carefully peel off the squares of different materials to check if the colors are wet.

How do you know if a material is waterproof?

Water will typically bead up on a waterproof material and be absorbed by a non-waterproof material.

Coloring under waterproof materials must remain dry.

More about materials

Different materials have different properties, making them useful for different functions. For example, glass is used in windows because it is transparent, waterproof coatings usually have a layer of wax or plastic to prevent water from entering, and cutlery is usually made of stainless steel because it does not rust and is resistant. .

Last updated on June 17, 2024 by Emma Vanstone