Xavier High School 1st Quarter Physics SY 2013 - 2014

Victor Datu! H4H - Mr. Pineda!

08 July 25, 2013

Performance Task 1 - Consumer Products Testing: The Potato Chips Dilemma

A. Problem Statement

In our lives, a huge aspect of our daily routine is to give our body its essential nutrients.

We feed ourselves with food products designed to give the body different types of nutrients. As consumers, it is very important to look at food product labels to inform ourselves of what we intake from these food products and how much of it we do. However, some of these products tend to misinform us on some information in regards to the quantity of their product. A typical inquiry from consumers today with the food production industry is whether or not they are getting their moneys worth.

In modern day society, people have started complaining about certain food products

which seem as if they do not live up to their labeling. For example, there have been rants online about the fact that Potato Chip bags are lled with more air than the chips itself. This is a false claim because the air is present to prevent the chips from breaking. With the air in the packaging, it causes consumers to mistake it for the amount of chips inside. Which is why the amount labeled on the packaging should be considered by consumers when purchasing this product. This is what this study aims to achieve. This study aims to uncover whether or not consumer products such as potato chips are faithful to the information given regarding the quantity or the amount of the product they serve in their packaging. We are also testing whether or not the contents is lesser than or greater than what is actually being marketed on the packaging label. That is what is being tested in this study. Hypothesis is as follows.

B. Hypothesis

If we measure the amount of chips inside the Nova Brand Packaging, then the measurement

found should be accurate to or at least less than the corresponding amount or net weight stated on the Nova Brand Packaging Label for consumer.

Xavier High School 1st Quarter Physics SY 2013 - 2014

C. Materials A. Food Product A. 3 Small Sized (Net Wt. - 40g) Packaging of Nova Brand Multigrain Country Cheddar Flavored Corn Chips B. 3 Large Sized (Net Wt. - 78g) Packaging of Nova Brand Multigrain Country Cheddar Flavored Corn Chips B. 1 Plastic Bowl C. Electronic Scale

D. Procedure a. Turn on Electronic Scale and make sure scale works ne. b. Make sure plastic bowl is clean of debris that may add weight to the ndings. c. Place plastic bowl on to the Electronic Scale once weight is displayed, reset readings to zero. d. Place Corn Chips onto bowl and record weight. e. Repeat steps b to d for trials 2 and 3 of the Small Sized Nova Brand Corn Chips and for Trials 1 to 3 of the Large Sized Nova Brand Corn Chips.

E. Data Table

Small Sized Nova Brand Corn Chips Trial # Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3

Net Weight on Packaging Label

Weight Recorded from Electronic Scale 45.4 +/- .01 g

40g

41.44 +/- .01g 44.42 +/1 .01g 43.8g

Average Weight Formula: (T1 + T2 + T3) / 3 = Average Weight

Xavier High School 1st Quarter Physics SY 2013 - 2014

Large Sized Nova Brand Corn Chips Trial # Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3

Net Weight on Packaging Label

Weight Recorded from Electronic Scale 81.67 +/- .01 g

78g

82.44 +/- .01g 81.64 +/1 .01g 81.92g

Average Weight Formula: (T1 + T2 + T3) / 3 = Average Weight

F. Analysis

Based on the weights averaged for both sizes of the Nova Brand Corn Chips, we see a

value larger than the given value stated on the packaging label. For the Small Sized Nova Brand Corn Chips, the net weight given on the label is 40g, however, the average weight coming from the three trials gives us the a value of 43.8g. As we can see, the average weight of the three trials of the Small Sized Nova Brand Corn Chips is greater than the value given on the packaging label. ! This is the same for the Large Sized Nova Brand Corn Chips. The net weight shown on

the packaging label is at a value of 78g, and yet the value of average weight is, again, higher than the net weight given on the label. The value of the average weight is at 81.92g and is obviously greater than the net weight of 78g.

G. Conclusion

Based on our ndings and analysis, we see a signicant outcome from the testing of the

product quantity. We have found that the real average weight of the chips inside the packaging, based on the trials of both sizes, is greater than its net weight given on the packaging label.

We therefore conclude that the measured weight of the contents of both sizes of Nova

Brand Corn Chips is not accurate, however precise, and is also greater than the net weight which proves that consumers are actually purchasing products at a higher value than the price given.

Xavier High School 1st Quarter Physics SY 2013 - 2014

H. Recommendations

A. Recommendations for the Experiment

- It would have been nice to test different brands of potato/corn chips as well to compare between the net weight and real weight comparisons.

B. Recommendations for the Product

- There should be a high level of accuracy with the given net weight on the packaging label. Even if having the content weight greater than the net weight as a benet for consumers, it causes misinformation and should be adjusted for information purposes.

- In addition, given that the consumers are actually purchasing the product for a lower value, the Nova Brand Corn Chips Company would lose income. That is why prices should be raised to accommodate for the products actual value.