This experiment scientifically tests the validity of the '5-second rule.' By dropping food onto a surface for different lengths of time and then culturing the bacteria transferred to the food, you can visually determine if time makes a difference in contamination.
If food is dropped on the floor, then it will be contaminated with bacteria almost instantly, and the amount of bacteria transferred will increase the longer the food remains in contact with the floor. The 5-second rule is not a valid measure of food safety.
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Choose a floor surface to test. Divide it into sections for each test.
Label your petri dishes: 'Control (Unused Food)', '0 seconds', '5 seconds', '30 seconds', '60 seconds'.
For the control, gently press a fresh, undropped piece of the food onto the agar in the first petri dish.
For the '0 seconds' test, drop the food onto the floor and pick it up immediately (as fast as possible). Press it onto the agar in the corresponding petri dish.
Repeat the process, leaving the food on the floor for 5 seconds, 30 seconds, and 60 seconds, using a fresh surface area of the food and a new petri dish each time.
Seal all the petri dishes with tape.
Place the dishes upside down in an incubator (or a warm, dark place) for 3-5 days.
Observe the dishes each day without opening them. Count and record the number of bacterial colonies that grow in each dish.
Take photos to document your results.
The control dish should have very few, if any, bacterial colonies. All other dishes will likely show bacterial growth. It is expected that bacteria will be transferred to the food almost instantly ('0 seconds' dish). The dishes corresponding to longer contact times (5, 30, and 60 seconds) will likely show a progressively larger number of bacterial colonies, proving that the longer the food is on the floor, the more contaminated it becomes.
The amount of time the food is in contact with the floor.
The number of bacterial colonies that grow in the petri dish.
The type of food, the floor surface, the type of agar, and the incubation temperature and time.
Bacteria can be harmful. Do not open the petri dishes after incubation. Wear gloves when handling the dishes. When the experiment is complete, the sealed dishes should be disposed of properly, preferably by sterilizing them with bleach before placing them in the trash. Adult supervision is required.
Display clear, well-lit photos of your petri dishes, as you cannot bring the actual cultures to the science fair.
Create a bar graph showing the number of bacterial colonies for each time interval.
Discuss the implications of your findings for food safety and why the 5-second rule is a myth.
Each dot is a 'colony' of bacteria. A single bacterium lands on the nutrient agar and begins to multiply, eventually forming a visible mound that consists of millions of individual bacteria.
Yes, absolutely. Smoother, drier surfaces like tile may transfer fewer bacteria than a carpet. Moist foods will pick up bacteria more readily than dry foods like a cracker. These could be variables to explore in a more advanced version of this project.
Based on scientific studies, yes, the 5-second rule is a myth. Bacteria can transfer to food in less than a second. While it's true that longer contact time can lead to more contamination, any food that has touched the floor should be considered contaminated and unsafe to eat.
