What is Science fair projects: Definition and 90 Discussions

A science fair is a competitive event, hosted by schools worldwide. The distinguishing characteristic of a science fair is that project entries employ the scientific method to test a hypothesis. Science fairs are not exhibits or mere displays of projects. Students present their science project results in the form of a report, display board, and/or models that they have created. Science fairs allow students in elementary, middle and high schools to compete in science and/or technology activities. The goal of a science fair is for students to answer a question based on a hypothesis. Students often work on science fair projects in addition to their school work. Therefore, most science fair entries are usually modified versions of existing experiments. Display boards help communicate the nuances of a project to science fair judges, visitors, and other entrants.Science fairs may also allow for students with intense interest in the sciences to be paired with mentors from nearby colleges and universities, so that the students have access to instruction and equipment that the local schools do not provide.

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    Research in Highschool: How to Prepare for Intel Science and Engineering Fair

    I am a high school student in India . I love physics and mathematics . I have completed grade 10 this year . I learned physics and math from MIT opencourseware and Resnick halliday . I completed the following courses ( with solving their problem sets and exam papers) 1. 8.01 mechanics 2...
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    Science fair - Formula for friction to thermal energy?

    Homework Statement For science fair, I'm doing a project in which we are trying to calculate the force of a thermometer being moved normally, versus a thermometer being slowed down by a high-friction material. The thermometer will (Potentially) read the amount of thermal energy produced by...
  3. E

    Astro Physics Project Ideas for my National Science Fair

    Hi, I'm 16 years old and I really want to win my national science fair. I'm fascinated by all things space and I have been addicted to astrophysics ever since my Dad showed me a documentry on the discovery channel when I was ten. I was wondering if anyone could put me on the right path...
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    Google Science Fair, guidance please

    So i came to know about this GOOGLE SCIENCE FAIR couple of weeks ago and I am thinking about participating in it . I want to do a project related to physics . But i have no idea what they expect me to make . I am sure with my level of physics knowledge there is very less possibility that i will...
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    Problems with pliability of nitinol at room temperature

    Homework Statement I'm working on a science fair project which involves nitinol, a shape-memory alloy, and have a few questions regarding it that I cannot find the answers to online. The nitinol I purchased is 0.009"⌀, 56% Nickel, 44% Titanium (link to product). In the numerous videos I've...
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    Help With Science Fair; Calculating Force

    Calculating Force; A Nut Pushing Down on a Screw Hello, I'm new to Physics Forums, and this question is not really about schoolwork/coursework, however because it is somewhat school related, I was afraid to post it anywhere else. Anyway, I am doing a science fair project where I am...
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    Comparing Trampoline Jumps on Earth vs. the Moon

    Hi! I'm trying to help my 5th grader with her science fair project - she's comparing how a trampoline would work on Earth vs. the moon. The trick is in the force of the jump I think - what the jumper herself puts into it. The larger the downward force she exerts on the mat the higher she...
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    Chances of Getting Into MIT w/Sophomore Year Grades

    I'm a sixteen-year-old sophomore in an IB school in Florida. This past semester I have had many terrible family occurrences that have contributed to a less than stellar performance for my first semester of sophomore year. I had received an A in my AP statistics, Calculus AB, Computer Science A...
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    Schools Preparing for college in high school.

    Currently I am a freshman in high school in the United States. I have been interested in physics for a while and have been studying on my own. Last summer I studied calculus using Calculus by James Stewart, which covered differentiation, integration, multivariable, and vector calculus. I have...
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    Archived Momentum science experiment help

    Hello, I am a ninth grade student in high school and I have a science fair project experiment idea. There will be a homemade marble shooter made with a rubber band. the rubber band will be pulled about half of a foot back and will propel a marble through a tube. the marble will hit a book and...
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    What Are Innovative Physics Science Fair Project Ideas for ISEF?

    Hello everybody ! I'm a 15 years old student in ninth grade.My country will do the selective Physics Science Fair for ISEF.The winners will have opportunity to compare on I-Sweep next year.All best students of my country will participate in this competition.Most of them will be helped very much...
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    How Do You Find The Surface Tension of Water? 14 years old; Science Fair Project

    I need to find the surface tension of water and how it is effected by different kinds of soap. I am unsure how to find the surface tension of a liquid though. Please and thank you! xoxo Best wishes! NERD OUT. ∞ Homework Statement ... Homework Equations ... The Attempt at a...
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    Describing Electromagnetic Induction of a Guitar Pickup

    First Post! So I was curious about how I could relate my new found knowledge of electromagnetic inductance on guitar pickups and I came across this on the internet: http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas/Music_p004.shtml#background Which says, "All of these...
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    Measuring voltage and current of rough DC

    Hey, I am working on a science fair project and I have an electrolytic cell that will produce hydrogen. My goal is to measure the energy input and output to calculate the efficiency of the cell. Right now I am trying to find the best way to calculate the input energy. I am in the process of...
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    Can we Measure and Quantifying smell? (Dog Experiment)

    So right now I am shadowing a 8th grade science teacher at Drew Charter school and I was helping a student work on his idea come up with a science fair project. The student wants to study what kind of smells do dog's prefer over other's but using household (safe items), food, and dirty...
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    Electric potential across a simple circuit

    Homework Statement Consider the image and assume that the switch has been open for a long time. Note that the switch is supposed to be between the battery and the resistor on the top straight segment, which is not shown in the image...
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    Physics Switching Career from Information Technology to Physics (National Labs) after 40

    Dear All, I have read many threads on second careers including the excellent blog by ZapperZ "So you want to be a physicist" and then reaching out to you all for guidance. First, a brief introduction on myself: Industry Experience:  I am a US Citizen based out of the Northern NJ/ NY...
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    Determining Aspect Ratios for a model glider

    Hello, First I’m not an engineer! I have a son who is in the eighth grade and is taking soaring lessons. I'm asking these questions because my motive on soaring lessons is to try and introduce practical applications of math (I'm an account and out of my depth here) with the hope that it sparks...
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    Creating large DC Motor for Funzies. Won't work.

    A picture I included shows how my motor is constructed. The basic science fair project looking engine. This engine is actually designed to do work, however, it will not turn over once DC is connected to it. The wire is close to 5/64 inch thick and the whole rotor is solidly soldered...
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    Engineering Fearing possible disillusionment with Engineering jobs, question for engineers.

    Hi, I'm fairly new to the forum, I am an Electrical Engineering major. Sophomore in college, but this will be my first year as an Engineering major, just declared. I love math and science but I try to keep myself grounded in the realities of what people really do in life. We really glorify...
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    Data analysis software for hydrology research

    Hello there! This is my first time posting, but I'm a long time reader. I could not find a more appropriate sub-forum. I have just been hired to compile and organize data for an arctic hydrology research project in Fairbanks, AK. They are studying climate change and have recorded a few...
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    Courses Care to comment on the sensibleness of my course load?

    I'm coming into a university this fall as a junior after completing ALL of my general education requirements, which puts me in somewhat of an odd position. I literally have no courses left to take except for ones in physics and math, so that's definitely a plus. However, I haven't been able to...
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    Senior Thesis in Chemistry: Ideas for High Schoolers

    At my high school in central Florida, all seniors are given the chance to take part in a capstone program, a program that mimics a college senior thesis program. My school is a liberal arts school, so most do something on a literary and historical topic, but my friend and I are very much...
  24. R

    Need Guidance in a Chemistry Related Project

    Hello, I am a student with a chemistry project. However, I am not quite sure what I would like to do the project on. I am fairly ignorant when it comes the recent findings and happenings of the chemistry world. Some of my areas of interest would be biochemical, nuclear, and energy related...
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    Should I continue with Physics?

    Apologies in advanced for the long post. I'm an international student going into my junior year in a North American (not US) university next fall and I've been struggling over the past few months on whether I should continue on with Physics. I did poorly in one of my advanced Maths classes and...
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    Does diamagnetism cause a faster orbital spin

    Due to diamagnetism in certain substances such as water, does this cause a faster orbital spin due to the change in magnetic dipole moment induced by an external magnet? I'm doing a Science-fair project at the moment and this is eluding me Thank you
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    Science Fair Project Ideas for Astronomy

    Hey there guys! I haven't been on this forum a while, been busy with school work and assessments, but still catching up on astronomical developments and physical advancements (Higgs Boson around the corner soon?!) Anyways, as the title suggests, I'm definitely entering a local science fair...
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    Constructing a Home-Made Single Stage Coilgun

    Hi I have some doubts regarding the construction of a home-made single stage coilgun, I'm using a plastic tube(the way the object will travle through),an iron sphere(the object to be accelerated), and 8 cylindrical iron coils distributed equally on the end of the tube. The tube has 2 inchs...
  29. R

    Best path for a switch to Computer Science?

    I have a BS in Mechanical Engineering and I've been out of school for almost 5 years. Several months back I started learning Java just for kicks, but I've reached a point where I'm pursuing more and more knowledge of CS concepts on my own, and the interested level is far exceeding that of...
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    Engineering Please explain Circuit resonance in a Crystal Radio?

    Homework Statement I'm in grade 11 working on a science fair project I found on this site: http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas/Elec_p014.shtml Grade 11 physics doesn't cover much so I'm confused about why the radio is set up the way it is... I know that...
  31. W

    Finding the force of a magnetic field using an air core solenoid

    Homework Statement Ok, I need help, but it is for a project my son is working on. I am homeschooling him (13) and he is entered in a local science fair. He has designed an air core solenoid shock absorber for a bike. It more or less works, and we are working our way through the forces...
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    Optical Advice on building a science fair telescope

    I am helping my son design and build a refractor telescope for a science fair project (8th grade). He has read some on lens types and focal lengths. We also read that Galileo's most powerful telescope was 33x, and was able to view Saturn's rings and Jupiter's planets. We want to be able to do...
  33. S

    Need help building a Near Infrared Spectroscopy Device

    Hi, I'm a computer scientist w/ very little hardware experience. I've been playing with the idea of using NIRS for a brain computer interface. The basic principle is pretty simple: You have a laser diode and a detector that is 2-3 cm away from the diode. Unfortunately I have almost no...
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    Science Fair - Why perpertual motion won't work.

    Hi, I am thinking of doing my next science fair project on perpetual motion, showing what prevents it from working. I am thinking of getting a 1-2 foot diameter plastic tube, maybe 3 feet long, mounting one electric fan about 1 foot inside one end, and another unpowered fan one foot inside...
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    Magnetic wire or enamel coated magnetic wire?

    I am trying to assemble a crystal radio from scratch for a science fair project and I am wondering if I can use magnetic wire instead of enamel coated magnetic wire for the coil. The source for my project is...
  36. B

    Can a Simple Cold Fusion Reactor Save Our Dying Planet?

    Okay. I'm doing a science fair project on we're kiling the Earth and that changing simple everyday things could help save our dying planet. My experiment is going to be cold fusion vs fossil fuels and to perform that experiment I need to build a simple cold fusion reactor. Anybody got any ideas...
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    Sciene fair project, freefall stuff - need one equation for time

    Homework Statement Ok, so I'm doing this science fair project on tennis ball bounce hieght, and I have to find the force that it hits the ground with. I'm trying to do this mathematically, because I can't record the time accurately in the actual experiment. The mass of the ball is 0.0567kg...
  38. S

    Piezoelectric generator wiring question

    Hello, I am working on science fair project in which I am harvesting kinetic energy and converting it into electrical energy to charge an electrical device. However, i would appreciate another opinion on the setup of my circuit. Currently, my setup is as follows: I am using a piezoelectric...
  39. W

    Science Fair Question: Unifying Forces and Winning Science Fairs

    Okay, I plan on going to county science fair after my school science fair this year. I'm in 9th grade, and did a double slit experiment (with light!.) A friend of mine (best friend) has won first place before on a county and state level (same experiment.) And several grand prizes type things. He...
  40. L

    Brainstorming Science Fair Projects!

    Dear Physics Forums! I am in need of ideas. I plan on entering my town's science fair for the first time soon. I have no idea what I want my project to be though. I specialize in Physics (math), Quantum physics, particle physics, and Electronics (Engineering) I wish for you guys' input on...
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