fishing line project

Question
for school my partner and i have to conduct a experiment to see if the fishing line will snap at the weight it says it can hold.(like if it says 30lb. test can it hold 30 lbs.?) so that is my question and how do you think we can conduct a experiment like this? thank you, COLE

Answer
Hi Cole,

First of all, Cole, I don't know how old you are but as a father my first recommendation is to get everyone involved a pair of safety glasses.  I don't want anyone shooting their eye out!

That said, I was a curious kid once and tried this same experiment.

First, I'd use a lighter line like 4, 6 or 8 pound test.  To put enough force to break 30# your going to have to load up a lot of weight or pull pretty hard to break the line.  I just picture a bunch of weight falling on something when it breaks and someone ending up with a big fat red throbbing big-toe!

To use weights, you will need a heavy hook-eye in something strong like a basement joist.  You would need something like small one-pound weights to add till it breaks.  An easier thing would be water.

Water weighs about 8# per gallon.  So you could tie a length of 6# line to a hook eye in the joist.  Tie an empty milk jug to the line and start adding water.  When the line breaks, weigh the jug and you can see where it broke.

You can also do this with a spring scale.  Pull the scale and watch where it breaks.  (Wear a glove, I speak from experience!)

Make sure you can tie a good knot that doesn't weaken the line or your experiment wont be accurate.

Most line will break higher than it is rated.  Some lines that are "Tournament graded" or IGFA approved are designed to break very close to the rated weight.  These are for people going after line-class records or in weight-class tournaments where the line cannot exceed the class they are in.

Have fun with your experiment.  But, be safe!

Marc