Assessment 3: Reflective Exercise (Student Page)

We just finished learning about forest research and forest research discoveries. Many of the things we learned about had a great impact on society at the time of the discoveries but does this still impact our lives today? Let's take a look at one example, naval stores.

Read over the following list of uses for Rosin and Turpentine. (You may look up additional uses if you would like more information to help you in completing this assessment.)

Turpentine is used as a solvent; used for thinning oil-based paints, for producing varnishes, and as a raw material for the chemical industry.

Turpentine is also added to many cleaning and sanitary products due to its antiseptic properties and its "clean scent."

Turpentine also has medical uses. Applied externally to affected areas, turpentine is a highly effective treatment for lice. Turpentine used to be mixed with animal fat as an ancient chest rub for nasal and throat ailments. Today, many modern chest rubs still contain some turpentine, i.e. Vicks.

Rosin is an ingredient in printing inks, varnishes, adhesives (glues), soap, and in soda (listed as glycerol ester E445). Rosin paper sizing is applied to almost all paper. Paper sizing is a substance applied to paper to help keep ink from absorbing too much into paper, keeping the ink on the surface. Rosin can be used to coat medicines and some chewing gum, giving them a shiny appearance or protective coating. (This would typically be written on a label as E915).

Rosin is also used in many ways to help create friction. For example, Rosin is often used on the bows of stringed-instruments (violins, violas, cellos and basses) to add more friction to produce sound from the strings. Ballet dancers sometimes use rosin on their shoes to help reducing slipping when dancing on stage. Baseball pitchers, bowlers, and some climbers often use Rosin powder on their hands to help create friction as well.

Your assignment is to conduct the following survey on at least 10 people (this may include family members, family friends, neighbors, teachers, other students, etc.). After conducting the survey you will compile your data using a histogram.