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Stumped for a good idea? Interesting project possibilities can be found almost anywhere you look.

During late fall and early winter of every year, at thousands of high schools across the country, hundreds of thousands of prospective science fairers buckle down to the task of selecting a project. Finding a suitable theme or topic is the first and, without question, the most important step in planning a winning project. Every future decision about building the project, where to shop, who to speak to, and how to orient the display and presentation at the science fair hinges on the topic.

There are no set rules for choosing a topic; everyone goes about it slightly differently and in his own way. But there are pitfalls to beware of and factors to carefully consider before making a selection. Perhaps the best words of advice that can be given to anyone planning a project are to look hard and long before you leap. A hasty decision so early in the game might easily “KO” your chances of finishing in the winner’s circle at the science fair if you finish at all.

Allow yourself plenty of time to consider your own interests, abilities, talents, academic level, and the advice of teachers and professional scientists you have spoken to before you make your decision.

Reading, reading and more reading! Only by gaining an extensive background can you intelligently choose a subject and execute your project. Often, the study of many related fields will be necessary.

Project ideas can also be gleaned from hobbies and school work.

An interest in amateur radio has been the inspiration behind many science fair projects in the field of electronics, an area which offers numerous possibilities to experimenters.

Ideas for a project? You are constantly being bombarded with them! Even advertisements can be stimulating.

Professional scientists, educators, and other qualified persons are often willing to help with ideas, equipment and advice. Make as many contacts as you can among the professionals in your field.

Popular magazines can help you choose a topic. Don’t copy; add a new twist based on your own ideas.

Interest in rocketry has resulted in a number of projects. Your best bet here is to confine yourself to one aspect of the subject: a new fuel, design of a component, etc.

A handy rule of thumb to keep in mind is that you are judged on HOW you solved the problem. This is a mighty big “how,” and covers a lot of territory. Originality is, of course, of prime importance; so is creative ability.

But also included are the approach you took, your technical skill, your adherence to scientific method, your research into the work of professionals in the field, and your method of presenting results and conclusions. The last point is very crucial as the judges will expect conclusions about each individual facet of your project and will require good reasons for everything you display at the science fair.

Your project will represent YOU at the science fair, and will take many hours of YOUR time to complete. Therefore you and you alone should choose the topic that most interests you. Ask advice from others but make the final decision all by yourself.

Getting a round peg into a square hole is easy compared to completing a project on a topic that doesn’t really interest you. At the same time remember that you must demonstrate that you solved your self-chosen problem. Consider everything the solution will require and weigh this against your assets of skill, knowledge, and ability before you start.

Once you have selected your topic, you have already accomplished a lot. Now to finally bring your idea to fruition. Good luck!

Discover Everything You’ll Ever Need To Win First Place At Your Next Science Project Fair

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Each year the National Science Fair and many of the larger regional fairs boast a selection of project subjects ranging from anthropology to zoology, and including most any “ology,” “y,” or “ics” you can imagine. One large area is that of experimentation and research.

Research and Experimentation

In the broadest sense of the word, research means “a search for new knowledge.” The key word is new, as real research adds to the knowledge of a science.

Research projects (professional, and to some extent science fair) usually follow a sequence of steps leading from start to completion: (a) A question is posed, (b) After considering past work in the field and any pertinent references in other fields, a few “intelligent guesses” are made to answer the question. Each of these guesses is called a hypothesis,

(c) Suitable experiments are invented to test the truth of each hypothesis, (d) From the results of the experiments conclusions are reached about the validity of the hypotheses. Some will be discarded immediately; others may or may not be kept. Additional experiments will be performed at some later date to recheck the surviving hypotheses.

Ideally, a research science fair project should, through careful experimentation, seek the answer to a question posed by its builder. “Experimentation” includes any means used to test a hypothesis. The excavation of a site by an archeologist is as much of an experiment as the more familiar laboratory setup if the scientist hypothesized the existence of something at the site.

It should be recognized, however, that formulating a hypothesis in an unexplored region of science is usually beyond the average science fairer. Instead, existing hypotheses are retested by homemade experiments or they are extended in scope by new experiments that cover new territory. Design of a new experiment is often within the capabilities of a science fairer with a broad scientific background.

If your planned project involves an experiment, try to keep it as original as possible. New experiments, or different twists on old ones, are not as hard to come by as you might think. If you know your field you will be able to find areas that were skimmed over by the professionals where there is still work to be done.

Danger points in research and experimentation projects all basically involve lack of knowledge on the part of the builder. To be able to interpret your results you must first know the limitations of your experiment. This means that you will require a complete understanding of your experimental apparatus. How it works, what affects its accuracy, the best way to operate it, what can go wrong with it, are all bits of information which you must have at your finger tips.

Technical skills which you do not have may be necessary to perform the experiment correctly. Remember, an error in experimental technique will result in misleading data!

Your project should be organized to demonstrate scientific insight into the problem, good scientific method, ingenuity, and your knowledge of the topic. Presentation should be keyed to describe the hypothesis you are working from, experimental methods used, and the results and conclusions achieved. In addition, be prepared to justify your experiment to the judges.

Finally, plan to keep elaborate records of all experimental procedures and data. Even the smallest fact might help you when you draw conclusions. A good rule for the experimenter is to keep on the lookout for the unexpected. Train yourself to watch for it and be prepared to incorporate it into your conclusions.

The wide range of skills required to do a successful research and experimentation project must be kept in mind at all times. You must plan on acquiring these skills as you need them, and this means allowing time for outside study. All experimenters must know the answer to the following question before they can tackle an experimental project: What is the difference between precision and accuracy?

If you can answer it you have a head start; if not, make this your first outside study question. Good luck!

Discover Everything You’ll Ever Need To Win First Place At Your Next Science Project Fair

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http://www.scienceprojectfair.net/

A really good science project can be an exciting challenge to your ingenuity, imagination, intuition and ability. You can find a problem so tantalizing that you carry it around in your mind, letting it simmer through whatever else you happen to be doing and thinking.

When you least expect it, you may have a sudden flash of insight. You can hardly wait then to try out the new idea. If your hunch is right, the pieces fall into place with brilliant clarity, and all at once you know what may have made Archimedes leap from his bath to rush into the street, shouting “Eureka

When you have developed and repeatedly tested your hypothesis and have organized all of your material, you have the basis for writing a report of your work. You may want to file your paper for future reference, or you may want to present it at a seminar, science congress or Junior Academy of Sciences meeting. You may want to submit it as part of a Science Talent Search entry, use it as part of an exhibit at a science fair or enter it in the Science Achievement Awards competition.

The following is a typical example of a scientific report. This will give you the general shape of such a project which you may like to copy.

A Botany Project

A summary of a project entitled “Environmental Effects on Plants of the Sutter Buttes” follows. “The character of plant life is the result of environmental conditions due to soil, water, temperature, wind, sunlight, animals and the like. The result of a curiosity as to how plants responded to their environments was a study of the variation in plant growth on the Sutter Buttes, called the smallest mountain range in the world, located about sixty-five miles north-northwest of Sacramento, California.

Using South Butte (elevation 2117 ft.) as the field of study, I examined plants of the same species in their different environments. The mountain was divided into “base” (200-800 ft.), “middle” (800-1400 ft.) and “top” (1400-2100 ft.), as well as into “north slope” and “south slope.” Some of the basic facts on the effects on plant distribution discovered were as follows:

Soil becomes progressively less fertile in the advance up the slope due to weathering by wind and water, which carry fertile topsoil downward and deposit it at the base.

Less water is to be found in the soil at higher altitudes, for moisture-holding factors are lacking.
The length of the root in proportion to the rest of the plant increases as the soil varies from moist fertile humus to dry clay or rocky soil.

Numerous rocks are an obstruction to plant growth, but also serve to hold soil in place.

Prevailing winter winds come from the south while dry summer breezes come from the north.

Plants on the south slope are of the small varieties except in sheltered ravines, where larger plants are able to grow.

Plants growing on the sheltered north slope are greater in variety, including larger shrubs, bushes and trees, which dominate the north slope and are scarce on the south.

The peak of the mountain “catches” low clouds and often becomes surrounded by fog.

Due to the sun’s rays’ hitting more directly on the south slope than on the north slope, the south side is generally warmer than the north.

Grazing animals help to fertilize the soil and are the cause of short grass on the slopes.

This study was explained in an exhibit by use of a scale model of the Buttes and of South Butte made of paper and flour-water paste; soil samples taken from various locations on South Butte; numerous plants collected from the slopes of South Butte, pressed and mounted; and written identifications and explanations. The total cost was about twenty-five dollars, while the value of the experience and knowledge gained is ten times the cost and more.”

Now you have read about a project, you are ready to try your own.

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Apply around 58,000 atmospheres of pressure to pure carbon and then heat to about 2,600 degrees Fahrenheit and you will have a diamond. For millions of years microscopic plants and animals lived and died in the ancient oceans and after time these bodies turned into carbon. When tectonic plates collided with one and another, one of the tectonic plates was pushed under the other and the bodies of the microorganism, now carbon are buried under tons of rock.

With the extrema pressure and heat the molecules of the carbon are aligned forming a diamond. This process arranges the atoms in a unique crystal structure that cause diamonds to have tighter atoms than any other substance in the world which makes them the hardest natural material known.

These diamonds were later pushed to the surface of the earths crust by volcanic action. A volcano is an opening, or rupture, in the earths crust that allows hot molten rock to escape to the earths surface and if the conditions are right, diamonds as well. Volcano’s fall into three different types.

The first type is when the tectonic plates pull apart from one another. These linear features volcano’s can form in the middle of continents but also occur in the oceans. It produces rift valleys that is filled when the two opposing plates move away from each other. Since carbon has not been forced into the molten rock diamonds are usually not found. An example of rift valleys are the Great Rift Valley located in the Middle East and Africa, the Mid-Atlantic Rift, and the Rio Grand Rift in North America.

The second type of volcanic action occurs when the tectonic plates stretch as they move over a hot spot or mantle plumes. The crust of the earth is melted allowing the hot magma to move to the earths surface. An example of this type of volcano’s is the Hawaiian Islands. The Hawaiian Islands consists of hundreds of island and atolls that extend for 1,500 miles or 2,300 km. As the tectonic plates moved across the hot spot volcanoes erupted and created islands. The oldest to the newest island extend from the northwest to the southeast ending with Hawaii or the big island.

Prime diamond hunting areas is found where two opposing tectonic plates collide and one is forced under the other. This will cause carbon to be pushed into the hot magma and with tons of rock on top the pressure will be extreme. As the collisions take place large mountain ranges may be formed by the wrinkling of the earths crust such as the Rockey Mountains and the Himalayan Mountain range.

As cracks and fissures is formed in the mountain ranges the magma will find its way to the surface and a volcano is formed. The volcano eruption can be quite violent such as the Mount St. Helen’s explosion in North America in 1980. The Pacific Ring of Fire is a 24,850 mile or 40,000 km horseshoe shaped ring of volcanoes. It extends from Java to Sumatra to the Himalayas to the Mediterranean and into the Mid Atlantic Ridge. The San Andreas Fault in California is another example of an active collision of tectonic plates.

Named after the town of Kimberley in South Africa in 1870s, diamonds are found in a type of rock called kimberley pipes. Kimberley pipes are formed from the cooling volcano core of magma that has found its way to the earths surface. It is believed that they are formed deep within the earths mantle between 93 to 290 miles or 150 to 450 kilometers deep and contain exotic compositions that are erupted rapidly and violently to the surface.

Red garnets are usually found in kimberley pipes that contain diamonds. Since these minerals are in greater in quantities than diamonds, geologists look for these indicator in the regions where they suspect diamonds to occur. Most kimberley pipes were formed between 70 to 150 million years ago but several have been found in Southern Africa that are believed to be 1600 million years old. Only 1 in 200 kimberley pipes contain gem-quality diamonds.

In a nut shell look for the areas that tectonic plates are converging. Next find areas that have had volcanic activity in the distant past, the older the better. Find the kimberley rock formations that the volcanoes have produced. If the kimberley pipes have evidence of red garnets and other crystals then the possibility of diamonds is highly possible. Please remember the author and give him sever handfuls of rough diamonds as a reward for the information provided here. Happy diamond hunting.

David Cowley has created numerous articles on Diamonds. He has also created a Web Site dedicated to Diamonds. Visit Diamonds

Wind power is growing in popularity as an alternative to fossil fuel and one of the best of the renewable energy sources. The use of wind power requires wind turbines. Wind turbine generators do little to harm the environment and are far preferable in this regard to fossil fuel. The only disadvantage is that they cannot be used everywhere. In order to effectively use turbines to generate natural power you would need an average wind speed of at least 13 miles per hour. Obviously, that is not found everywhere.

Palm Springs California is ideal for wind turbines that generate power and as you pass through there along highway 10 you will see these wind turbines in various sizes. Called a wind farm, This San Bernadino Mountain area has over 4000 windmills in its San Gorgonio Mountain Pass. These turbines provide enough natural energy to provide electricity to all of Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley area as a whole. Most of the current natural energy generation in the U.S. resides in California.

The largest of the naural power windmills is 150 feet in height with blades that stretch halfway across a football field. There are compartments at the windmills top that house its generators, its hub and its gearbox. These weigh at least 30,000 and as much as 45,000 pounds. At this size the turbine for wind power may cost more than 300,000 but will provide 300 kilowatts each hour. This amount of wind energy is enough to keep one typical household in electrical power for an entire month.

The American Wind Energy Association AWEA is a U.S. wide non-profit organization promoting air power as a clean electrical source for consumers the world over. AWEA represents developers of wind power projects, those who are in the business of supplying wind energy equipment, natural energy service providers, manufacturers of air power parts, utilities that provide wind power for electrical power, scientists researching green energy resources that include the use of wind energy and others involved in any way in the wind power industry. Hundreds of advocates of wind power are also members of AWEA.

The American Wind Energy Association provides the latest information on the operation of current or potential wind power projects, the ongoing development of new wind projects, companies who work in the burgeoning industry, the development of new wind energy technology, and government legislation and policies that pertain to the use, production and funding of air power and other renewable energies.

AWEA acts as a clearing house for the wind energy industry, and as such communicates the pertinent statistics, facts and news. From AWEA consumers and others can find out the latest legislative decisions and efforts, including the best information on grants and loans to aid in the implementation of residential, commercial and governmental wind power projects.

AWEA publishes and disseminates the only weekly wind power newsletter that exists anywhere. It also hosts an annual wind power conference, with presentations on the latest technological developments and trends as well as access to businesses offering help in its implementation.

James Copper is a writer for http://www.newcareerskills.co.uk/domestic-energy-assessor-training.htm

Although the best science projects seldom are created according to a recipe, there is an orderly series of steps that is followed pretty universally by successful students and professional scientists.

Seven Steps to a Successful Project

Decide on the specific problem or process you want to investigate.

Think it through, planning progressive steps, controls and checks in some detail. Try to foresee blind alleys before you become stalled in them. List unwanted factors that might influence your results and plan ways to prevent or make use of such accidents.

Read widely, since success with science projects depends largely on how much you know about your subject. Such reading will increase your understanding of the possibilities and limitations of your project and help you to see it in context. In addition to your school library, try the public libraries in your vicinity, and university, college and specialized libraries for books, journals, monographs and theses on your subject.

When you have discovered relevant materials, dig into them deeply and take accurate notes, being sure to keep a complete record of your sources so you can give proper credit for borrowed material. If very little has been published in your field of investigation, at least you will know this and can include a statement to this effect in your project.

Talk to other people about your project and consult them about your plans. Often another student or an adult can find a fuzzy area in your thinking, detect an error or suggest a method that will save you many hours of work or frustration. When you have gone as far as you can alone, professional scientists and technicians usually will be glad to help you over the rough spots.

You will, of course, be considerate about querying them when they have time to answer, and only after you have done enough reading and thinking to be able to ask really intelligent questions. If you do not abuse their helpfulness, you may find adults eager to offer suggestions and even to lend you equipment, publications and other materials you might never discover for yourself. However, do not write an organization to send you everything it has on the subject, or expect the staff scientists to do your project for you.

Set up a notebook that will include accurate records of your original ideas, good and bad guesses, notes on your reading, all of your experiments and observations and graphs, tables, drawings, photographs or whatever is relevant and useful.

Begin the experiment or progressive steps of your project and establish the controls against which you will check each result. If the experiments do not yield the information you are looking for, record the results anyway and salvage whatever is useful in designing new experiments and controls. Remember that failures are instructive too. It often is extremely valuable to know what does not work.

Summarize your conclusions, when you have repeated your experiments sufficiently often to feel sure that your results are valid. Your conclusions may be positive or negative, since it is often as useful to prove a hypothesis false as true. If your work on this project opened up new questions that you hope to investigate, by all means mention these, too.

Writing a Report

Although there are many ways of writing about scientific work, the usual form for a written report is something like this:
Title - accurate, but not self-consciously long in an effort to impress
Summary - brief statement of the problem and the gist of your research
Introduction - reason for your interest in the problem, relevant work done by others, background information
Discussion of problem and hypothesis you are investigating
Details of materials, equipment, methods, steps of experiments, controls
Summary of observations and data
Conclusions drawn from observations
New questions, possible applications, future plans, if any
Appendix - graphs, tables, photographs, drawings
Bibliography and acknowledgements

Now you know the basics, it is time to start your own scientific project!

Long Lost Manuscript Resurfaces Revealing Everything You’ll Ever Need To Know To Start Your Very Own Science Fair Experiments!

Click here for FREE online ebook!

http://www.sciencefairexperiment.net/