The Complete Handbook of Science Fair Projects, Newly Revised and Updated

Foreword to the Newly Revised Edition vii

Acknowledgments ix

SI (Metric) Conversion Table xii

Introduction 1

Part I A Complete Guide to Science Fair Projects 3

Chapter 1 Science Fairs and Science Fair Projects 5

Chapter 2 Before You Get Started 9

Chapter 3 Getting Started 13

Chapter 4 Planning and Conducting Your Experiment 26

Chapter 5 Organizing and Presenting Data 35

Chapter 6 The Display: Putting It All Together for the Fair 42

Chapter 7 At the Fair 50

Part II 50 Award-Winning Science Fair Projects 57

1. Which Characteristic Is Most Influential in Attracting Bees to a Flower: Fragrance, Color, or Flavor? (Behavioral Science) 59

2. The Effects of Gender Identity on Short-Term Memory (Behavioral Science) 62

3. Do All Plants Transpire at the Same Rate under Different Sources of Light? (Botany) 65

4. Can Plant Cloning Be Used Effectively by Produce Growers? (Botany) 68

5. How Effective Is Beta Carotene in Fighting Cancer in Plants? (Botany) 70

6. The Effect of Electromagnetic Fields on Eremosphaera Algae Cells (Botany) 73

7. What Is the Most Efficient Substance for Melting Ice? (Chemistry) 76

8. What pH Level Is Most Conducive to Corrosion in Iron and Copper? (Chemistry) 78

9. How Effective Is Lobster Shell Chitin in Filtering Wastewater Metallic Ions? (Chemistry) 80

10. How Does Saltwater Mix in an Estuary? (Chemistry) 83

11. Can the Life Span of a Soap Bubble Be Extended in Different Temperatures and Atmospheric Conditions? (Chemistry) 86

12. What Colored Dyes Are Found in Powdered Drink Mix and Colored Marking Pens? (Chemistry) 89

13. Can Mathematical Patterns Be Found in Johann Sebastian Bach’s Two-Movement Preludes and Fugues? (Computer Science/Mathematics) 92

14. Measuring the Brightness of an Incandescent Light Bulb (Energy) 94

15. Which Form of Insulation Is Most Effective? (Energy) 97

16. Alcohol as a Fuel: Recycling Wastes into Energy (Energy) 99

17. Can Earthworms Be Used to Recycle Kitchen Wastes into Fertile Garden Soil? (Environmental Science) 102

18. The Great American Lawn and Pristine Water: Can They Coexist? (Environmental Science) 105

19. Do Gas Stations Affect the Soil Around Them? (Environmental Science) 107

20. What Is the Effect of #6 Heating Oil on Elodea densa in an Aquatic Environment? (Environmental Science) 110

21. Can Limestone Be Used to Protect Pine Trees from Acid Rain? (Environmental Science) 112

22. What Section of a Town Has the Most Pollution in the Form of Airborne Particles? (Environmental Science) 114

23. Environmental Effects on the Biodegradability of Plastic Bags, Paper Bags, and Newspaper (Environmental Science) 116

24. How Does Acid Rain Affect the Cell Structure of Spirogyra? (Environmental Science) 118

25. The Presence of Heavy Metals in a Coastal Body of Water and Their Effect on Aquatic Life (Environmental Science) 121

26. What Substance Is Most Effective for Cleaning Teeth? (Health Science) 125

27. The Relationship between Alcohol Dosage and Dependency in a Rat (Health Science) 127

28. How Effective Are Various Items in Protecting against Ultraviolet Radiation? (Health Science) 130

29. The Wave, the Golden Mean, and (Mathematics) 133

30. Are Dandelions as Effective as Commonly Prescribed Antibiotics against Bacteria? (Microbiology) 138

31. Can Food Molds Be Used to Reduce Bacteria Spread by a Pet Rabbit?( Microbiology) 141

32. What Substance Is Most Effective for Preventing the Breeding of Bacteria in Waterbeds? (Microbiology) 143

33. How Can the Amount of Bacteria Found on Kitchen Sponges and Dishcloths Be Reduced? (Microbiology) 146

34. An Analysis of the Bacteria and Heavy Metal Content of Sewage before and after Treatment at a Sewage Plant (Microbiology) 148

35. Are Your Clams Safe to Eat? (Microbiology) 150

36. Footwear versus Bacteria (Microbiology) 152

37. The P-Trap: A Bacteria Cauldron (Microbiology) 154

38. The P-Trap: A Continuing Dilemma (Microbiology) 157

39. Improving the Antibacterial Effects of Garlic (Microbiology) 160

40. Does the Period of Motion of a Pendulum Depend on Its Weight, Amplitude, or Length? (Physics) 164

41. Are Composites of Wood Stronger than Solid Wood? (Physics) 167

42. Which Angle of Attack Generates the Most Lift? (Physics) 170

43. Polarization and Stress Analysis of Airplane Windows (Physics) 172

44. Shape and Viscous Effect (Physics) 175

45. What Would Happen to Climate, Weather Patterns, and Life Forms if the Earth Were Cubical? (Physics) 178

46. The Physics of Cheating in Baseball (Physics) 181

47. Does a Golf Ball’s Bounciness Influence the Distance that It Will Travel? (Physics) 185

48. Relaxing the Breathing Patterns of Newly Purchased Pet Fish so They May Adapt to a New Aquarium (Zoology) 188

49. Can the Heartbeat of a Chicken Embryo Be Detected without Breaking Its Eggshell? (Zoology) 190

50. Are Dogs Colorblind? (Zoology) 193

Part III Appendixes

Appendix A 400+ Ideas for Science Fair Project Topics 195

Appendix B 100+ Project Titles of Award-Winning Projects 205

Appendix C Scientific Supply Companies 209

Appendix D State, Regional, and International Science and Engineering Fairs 211

Appendix E Alternative Science Fair Project Competitions 221

Glossary 224

Index 227