MSU Extension 4-H

What you need to know:

Engineering is a process used to solve problems by designing, building and testing things. An engineer is a person who uses math and science to create new things, solve problems or make things better. If water is clear, it doesn’t mean it’s safe to drink. Many pollutants (something that makes it unclean) in water are dissolved and are invisible, such as harmful bacteria or certain poisons. When water looks dirty, it is usually because particulates, or tiny bits of soil or other material, are suspended (hanging, not sinking) in the water. Filters can remove these particulates, even though removing them does not make the water safe to drink.

What you will do and learn:

In this activity, you will practice using the engineering process to discover which filtering materials help make water clear. The goal of this activity is to build a filter, which will make the water clear.