Download Bottle Wars: A Study of the Refractive Index of Bottled Water Plastic

CALIFORNIA STATE SCIENCE FAIR
2005 PROJECT SUMMARY
Name(s)
Project Number
ry
Debora K. Merrell
Project Title
25410
Bottle Wars: A Study of the Refractive Index of Bottled Water Plastic
and Its Effect on Sales
Pr
eli
mi
na
Abstract
Objectives/Goals
With bottled water being the number two best selling beverage in the United States effective marketing is
critical. An important aspect in marketing bottled water is its appearance. This project was designed to
study the refractive index of the plastic used to bottle water and its possible correlation to sales.
Methods/Materials
One hundred water bottles, ten of each different brand, were tested with the refractometer at Edwards
Research Lab and their refractive indices were recorded.Sales figures of each brand tested was acquired
through web sites, e-mails, and speaking to company representatives.
Results
The refractive index of the water itself is 1.3334 and the bottled water plastics varied from 1.3332 to
1.3338.Companies 1, 8, and 10 have the highest refractive index at 1.3338, yet their sales were lower than
most at 75, 80, and 90 million dollars sold a year. Company 7 that sold 107 million dollars worth of
bottles has a refractive index of 1.3337 and company 2 has a refractive index of 1.3335 and sales of 127
million a year. Companies 3, 4, and 6 have a refractive index of 1.3335 and each sold 271,137,and 144
million dollars a year. Company 5 with the highest sales of 376 million a year has a refractive index of
1.3334, the same as water. Company 9 has the lowest refractive index at 1.3332 and has the lowest sales
at 67 million a year.
Conclusions/Discussion
The test refuted the hypothesis that the higher the refractive index of a bottled water plastic, the higher the
sales. The general trend in the data show that the closer the refractive index gets to the refractive index of
water the higher the sales are. The highest selling water bottle has the exact same refractive index of the
water while the bottles further from the waters refractive index has lower sales. This may be due to the
fact that the closer the refractive indexes are, the closer the wavelengths of the light, and the more the
plastics refractive properties are like that of water, thus making it appear more like pure water appealing
to the desires of the consumer. This trend, however, was only a rough trend, how close the refractive
index of the plastic got to that of the water and the total sales were not proportional. Company 9 was the
only brand that did not fit this general trend. This may be due to the fact that it is sold in bulk, and the
consumer never sees the plastic.
Summary Statement
This project is a study of whether the refractive index of the plastic used to bottle water has a direct
relationship to the sales of that product.
Help Received
The Air Force Research Lab at Edwards AFB provided the refractometer needed under the supervision of
Amanda Schoettmer.
Ap2/05