High School Science Projects Ideas on a Budget

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around ideas for high school science projects that are budget-friendly and engaging, focusing on physics concepts and experimental setups. Participants share their experiences and suggest various project ideas while considering the limitations of materials and resources available to a sophomore student.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant has considered projects like particle accelerators, force fields, and models demonstrating time dilation, seeking more complex ideas beyond simple experiments.
  • Another participant humorously suggests the challenge of building a homemade particle accelerator and shares their experience of creating a motor-powered car.
  • Some participants discuss the feasibility of constructing a particle accelerator using household materials, while questioning the practicality of obtaining necessary components like magnets.
  • There is a suggestion to run a double-slit experiment as a potential project, highlighting its experimental nature.
  • Participants debate the definition of a "force field," with one suggesting the construction of a Van de Graaff generator as a related project.
  • Another participant mentions the need for precise positioning of magnets if building a cyclotron and suggests that a synchrotron may be easier and less expensive to construct.
  • A simple idea of building a Tesla coil is also proposed as a project option.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a variety of ideas and opinions, with no clear consensus on a single project or approach. The discussion includes both humorous and serious suggestions, indicating differing levels of feasibility and interest in various projects.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note the challenges of sourcing materials and the need for significant electrical power for certain projects, while others reflect on their past experiences with similar experiments. There is uncertainty about the practicality and safety of some proposed projects.

Who May Find This Useful

High school students interested in physics and science projects, educators seeking project ideas for students, and hobbyists looking for experimental setups within a budget.

MITWannaBe
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So I have been spectulating science projects for roughly a year. Doing calculations from how money I will need from materials to specifics.
I have tried to do Particle Accelerators, Force Fields, and a model to present how time is stretched (Einstein ;) )

My question is what other ideas do you guys/girls have that could be interesting and not simple Baking soda + vinegar stuff.

Please take into account that I am a sophmore, and the income I have for materials are fairly low. So propose ideas!
 
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I have tried to do Particle Accelerators, Force Fields, and a model to present how time is stretched (Einstein ;)

wow! please enlighten me on how to make a homemade particle accelerator :P

you could try building a motor from scratch and powering a car made of various materials, that's what I did for a science project, not too interesting I know. you could take it a little further and make a homemade radio or remote control car
 
Particle Accelerator is quite easy to make from materials from around the house or junkyard. The only obstacle is to find a single proton...hahahaha...

I was thinking more along the lines of physics, theoretical, or particle. I really want 1st place, so I am going with something over the time.

That's why I'm still trying the force field.
 
MITWannaBe said:
Particle Accelerator is quite easy to make from materials from around the house or junkyard. The only obstacle is to find a single proton...hahahaha...

I was thinking more along the lines of physics, theoretical, or particle. I really want 1st place, so I am going with something over the time.

That's why I'm still trying the force field.

When you say "force field" do you mean that in the Physics sense, or the sci-fi sense? For the accelerator, how do you obtain the magnets and the means to manipulate them from stuff around the house?!

Hmmm, I did use LN2 , an ohmeter, and some copper wire to test conductivity at room temp vs. cool, vs. heated with a flame in grade school. I didn't get much in the way of meaningful results, but it was a hell of a lot of fun, and I did get an A.

You could run a double-slit experiment I suppose...
 
Shalashaska said:
When you say "force field" do you mean that in the Physics sense, or the sci-fi sense? For the accelerator, how do you obtain the magnets and the means to manipulate them from stuff around the house?!

Hmmm, I did use LN2 , an ohmeter, and some copper wire to test conductivity at room temp vs. cool, vs. heated with a flame in grade school. I didn't get much in the way of meaningful results, but it was a hell of a lot of fun, and I did get an A.

You could run a double-slit experiment I suppose...

A force field in physics-sci-fi sense. It IS possible to make 1, lot of electricity is needed.

For the accelerator, you would have to buy magnet's from ebay or some science supplier, manipulating them is quite easy, run current threw them. Though your house doesn't have enough power, so you would have to use roughly a block worth of power.
 
MITWannaBe said:
A force field in physics-sci-fi sense. It IS possible to make 1, lot of electricity is needed.

For the accelerator, you would have to buy magnet's from ebay or some science supplier, manipulating them is quite easy, run current threw them. Though your house doesn't have enough power, so you would have to use roughly a block worth of power.

Yes... but you need to position them perfectly, and manipulate that power flow according to some measure of feedback. You'd need insertion methods, and more.

As for the force field, how about building a Van De Graff generator?
 
Correct, but first you must calculate the basics. Of course you will have to place magnets perfectly IF your building a cyclotron. A syncrotron would be much easier to build, less expensive, and you could be fairly inaccurate with the magnets.

The VDG isn't a force field but rather a electric generator.
 
make a tesla coil
 
You could build a http://www.considine.net/dgroski/sscope/"
 
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