Final answer:
Darrell's experiment involves calculating the water waste from his leaky faucet by collecting the droplets in a 4 gallon bucket over 24 hours. The leakage rate results in approximately 1/6 gallon wasted per hour, totaling a potential waste of 1,460 gallons per year if the faucet is not fixed.
Step-by-step explanation:
Darrell's experiment to measure how much water is wasted by his leaky faucet involves collecting the water in a 4 gallon bucket for 24 hours. To quantify the waste, we calculate the rate of the leak. Since after 24 hours, the faucet fills up a 4 gallon bucket, we divide the total gallons by the total hours to determine the leakage per hour. The calculation is as follows: 4 gallons ÷ 24 hours = 1/6 gallon per hour. In terms of smaller units, this is approximately 0.1667 gallons per hour, or about 0.6668 quarts per hour.
Understanding the rate of leakage is important as it reveals the extent of water waste over time. If this leakage were to continue uninterrupted, Darrell could potentially waste approximately 1,460 gallons per year, assuming a constant rate. This is an indicator of the importance of fixing leaks to conserve water and prevent unnecessary increase in utility bills. Performing such practical experiments can heighten awareness of water conservation needs and encourage proactive home maintenance.