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The Complete Idiot's Guide to Science Fair Projects: Genius-Level Guidance on More Than 50 Experiments
368
by Nancy K. O'Leary, Susan Shelly
Nancy K. O'Leary
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Science Fair Projects: Genius-Level Guidance on More Than 50 Experiments
368
by Nancy K. O'Leary, Susan Shelly
Nancy K. O'Leary
eBook
$8.99
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Overview
Includes 50 project ideas!
Offering one-stop shopping for all readers’ science fair needs, including 50 projects covering all science disciplines and rated from beginner through advanced, this book takes students and parents through the entire scientific method.
The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Science Fair Projects offers a variety of experiments with the right chemistry for you! In this Complete Idiot’s Guide®, you get:
• An explanation of the scientific method—and the step-by-step procedure of applying it to your project.
• More than 50 projects to choose from in the biological, chemical, botanical, physical, and earth sciences.
• Tips on displaying your findings through the creation of graphs, tables, and charts.
• An understanding of exactly what the judges look for in a winning project and paper.
Offering one-stop shopping for all readers’ science fair needs, including 50 projects covering all science disciplines and rated from beginner through advanced, this book takes students and parents through the entire scientific method.
The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Science Fair Projects offers a variety of experiments with the right chemistry for you! In this Complete Idiot’s Guide®, you get:
• An explanation of the scientific method—and the step-by-step procedure of applying it to your project.
• More than 50 projects to choose from in the biological, chemical, botanical, physical, and earth sciences.
• Tips on displaying your findings through the creation of graphs, tables, and charts.
• An understanding of exactly what the judges look for in a winning project and paper.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781440696121 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | DK |
| Publication date: | 12/02/2003 |
| Series: | COMPLETE IDIOT'S GUIDE Series |
| Sold by: | Penguin Group |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 368 |
| File size: | 4 MB |
| Age Range: | 18 Years |
About the Author
Nancy K. O’Leary, who is completing Ph.D.-level study in chemistry and biology, is a teacher at both the college and junior/senior high level.
Susan Shelly has more than 20 years’ experience in journalism, research, public relations, and freelance writing.
Table of Contents
| Part 1 | So You're Going to Do a Science Fair Project | 1 |
| 1 | The Different Types of Science Fairs | 3 |
| Just What Is a Science Fair, Anyway? | 4 | |
| How Hard Is This Going to Be? | 5 | |
| How Are Science Fairs Judged? | 6 | |
| Different Levels of Competition | 7 | |
| Local and Regional Science Fairs | 7 | |
| State Science Fairs | 8 | |
| National and International Science Fairs | 8 | |
| Virtual Science Fairs | 9 | |
| The First Steps to Getting Started | 9 | |
| 2 | Choosing Your Topic | 11 |
| Understanding the Purpose of a Science Fair Project | 12 | |
| Identifying a Problem | 13 | |
| Science Divided: Natural vs. Physical | 14 | |
| Relating Your Topic to Your Interests | 15 | |
| Making Your Project Fun | 16 | |
| But What If I Really Hate Science? | 16 | |
| Keeping Your Project Within Your Ability Level | 17 | |
| Knowing If It's Too Easy | 17 | |
| Knowing If It's Too Hard | 17 | |
| Finding a Topic That's Just Right | 18 | |
| Considering the Cost of Your Project | 19 | |
| Keeping Science Fair Guidelines in Mind | 19 | |
| 3 | Learning What You Can About Your Topic | 21 |
| Keeping Yourself and Your Project Organized | 22 | |
| How to Avoid Reinventing the Wheel | 23 | |
| Where to Go for Information | 23 | |
| The Library | 24 | |
| The Internet | 25 | |
| People Who Can Help | 28 | |
| Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due | 29 | |
| Plagiarism Is Plagiarism, Whether You Mean to or Not | 30 | |
| Keeping Your Sources Straight | 31 | |
| 4 | Understanding and Using the Scientific Method | 33 |
| The Scientific Method Made Easy | 34 | |
| Don't Even Think About Not Using It | 35 | |
| Whoever Thought of the Scientific Method, Anyway? | 36 | |
| Stating the Problem | 37 | |
| Researching Your Topic | 38 | |
| Coming Up with a Hypothesis | 38 | |
| Giving It Your Best Guess | 38 | |
| Remembering That It's Only a Guess | 39 | |
| Testing Your Hypothesis | 39 | |
| Gathering the Materials You'll Need | 39 | |
| Using What You Have | 40 | |
| Knowing Where to Get Them | 40 | |
| 5 | The Meat and Potatoes of the Scientific Method | 41 |
| Conducting the All-Important Experiment | 42 | |
| Using Controls and Variables | 43 | |
| What Are Controls and What Do They Do? | 44 | |
| Examples of Controls and Variables | 45 | |
| Taking It One Step at a Time | 46 | |
| Writing Down the Directions | 46 | |
| Following the Directions | 47 | |
| Repeating the Process to Assure Accuracy | 47 | |
| 6 | Collecting Data and Making Observations | 49 |
| Taking Measurements and Recording Them Correctly | 50 | |
| Making Sure You're Doing It Right | 50 | |
| Understanding Units of Measurement | 51 | |
| What's Your Take on What's Going On? | 53 | |
| Don't Forget That the Little Things Count | 53 | |
| Keeping Your Observations Objective | 53 | |
| Using Charts and Graphs to Present Data | 54 | |
| Analysis and Conclusion | 57 | |
| Were You Right or Wrong? | 57 | |
| Part 2 | Science Projects for Beginners | 59 |
| 7 | Which Foods Do Molds Love Best (and Other Great Biology Projects)? | 61 |
| So What Seems to Be the Problem? | 62 | |
| What's the Point? | 63 | |
| What Do You Think Will Happen? | 64 | |
| Materials You'll Need for This Project | 66 | |
| Conducting Your Experiment | 66 | |
| Keeping Track of Your Experiment | 67 | |
| Putting It All Together | 69 | |
| Further Investigation | 70 | |
| Other Great Biology Projects | 70 | |
| What Foods Attract Ants? | 71 | |
| Do Loud Noises Affect Heart Rate? | 72 | |
| 8 | In Which Liquids Do Seeds Grow Best (and Other Great Botany Projects)? | 75 |
| So What Seems to Be the Problem? | 76 | |
| What's the Point? | 76 | |
| What Do You Think Will Happen? | 77 | |
| Materials You'll Need for This Project | 78 | |
| Conducting Your Experiment | 78 | |
| Keeping Track of Your Experiment | 80 | |
| Putting It All Together | 82 | |
| Further Investigation | 83 | |
| Other Great Botany Projects | 83 | |
| Does Microwave Radiation Affect Seed Growth? | 84 | |
| Which Bulbs Are Best for Forcing? | 85 | |
| 9 | Salt or Sugar: Which Dissolves Faster in Different Liquids (and Other Great Chemistry Project)? | 87 |
| So What Seems to Be the Problem? | 88 | |
| What's the Point? | 90 | |
| What Do You Think Will Happen? | 92 | |
| Materials You'll Need for This Project | 92 | |
| Conducting Your Experiment | 93 | |
| Keeping Track of Your Experiment | 94 | |
| Putting It All Together | 95 | |
| Further Investigation | 95 | |
| Other Great Chemistry Projects | 96 | |
| What Household Cleaners Break Down Fell-O Best? | 96 | |
| What Substance Melts Ice Fastest? | 97 | |
| 10 | What Kind of Trash Bag Breaks Down Fastest (and Other Great Earth Science Projects)? | 99 |
| So What Seems to Be the Problem? | 100 | |
| What's the Point? | 102 | |
| What Do You Think Will Happen? | 102 | |
| Materials You'll Need for This Project | 103 | |
| Conducting Your Experiment | 104 | |
| Keeping Track of Your Experiment | 105 | |
| Putting It All Together | 106 | |
| Further Investigation | 106 | |
| Other Great Earth Science Projects | 106 | |
| Is One Room of Your House Colder Than Another? | 106 | |
| What Factors Are Conducive to Fog? | 107 | |
| 11 | Does It Matter How Much Air Is in Your Basketball (and Other Great Physical Science Projects)? | 109 |
| So What Seems to Be the Problem? | 110 | |
| What's the Point? | 111 | |
| What Do You Think Will Happen? | 111 | |
| Materials You'll Need for This Project | 112 | |
| Conducting Your Experiment | 112 | |
| Keeping Track of Your Experiment | 114 | |
| Putting It All Together | 114 | |
| Further Investigation | 115 | |
| Other Great Physical Science Projects | 116 | |
| Why Do Some Objects Fall Faster Than Others? | 116 | |
| Do Objects Float Better in Salt Water Than in Fresh Water? | 117 | |
| Part 3 | Intermediate-Level Science Projects | 119 |
| 12 | How Fast Are You? Testing and Measuring Reflexes (and Other Great Biology Projects) | 121 |
| So What Seems to Be the Problem? | 122 | |
| What's the Point? | 123 | |
| What Do You Think Will Happen? | 124 | |
| Materials You'll Need for This Project | 124 | |
| The Procedure | 125 | |
| Keeping Track of Your Experiment | 127 | |
| Further Investigation | 129 | |
| Other Great Biology Projects | 130 | |
| Determining Your Speediest Shoes | 130 | |
| Does Caffeine Increase Heart Rate? | 131 | |
| 13 | Does the pH of Water Affect the Growth of Bean Plants (and Other Great Botany Projects)? | 133 |
| So What Seems to Be the Problem? | 134 | |
| What's the Point? | 135 | |
| What Do You Think Will Happen? | 136 | |
| Materials You'll Need for This Project | 137 | |
| Conducting Your Experiment | 138 | |
| Keeping Track of Your Experiment | 140 | |
| Putting It All Together | 141 | |
| Further Investigation | 142 | |
| Other Great Botany Projects | 143 | |
| Creating New Plants Through Cross-Pollination | 143 | |
| Do Bean Plants Grow Better in Soil or in Water? | 144 | |
| 14 | Are All Pennies Created Equal (and Other Great Chemistry Projects)? | 145 |
| So What Seems to Be the Problem? | 146 | |
| What's the Point? | 147 | |
| What Do You Think Will Happen? | 148 | |
| Materials You'll Need for This Project | 148 | |
| Conducting Your Experiment | 149 | |
| Keeping Track of Your Experiment | 150 | |
| Putting It All Together | 152 | |
| Further Investigation | 153 | |
| Other Great Chemistry Projects | 154 | |
| Can You Be a Human Battery? | 154 | |
| What Materials Make the Best Crystals? | 155 | |
| 15 | Which Materials Insulate Best Against Windchill (and Other Great Earth Science Projects)? | 157 |
| So What Seems to Be the Problem? | 158 | |
| What's the Point? | 160 | |
| What Do You Think Will Happen? | 161 | |
| Materials You'll Need for This Project | 162 | |
| Conducting Your Experiment | 163 | |
| Keeping Track of Your Experiment | 164 | |
| Putting It All Together | 165 | |
| Further Investigation | 165 | |
| Other Great Earth Science Projects | 165 | |
| Do Clouds Tell Us What Weather Is Coming? | 166 | |
| What Factors Most Affect Evaporation? | 167 | |
| 16 | What Materials Conduct Static Electricity Best (and Other Great Physical Science Projects)? | 169 |
| So What Seems to Be the Problem? | 170 | |
| Electrical Charges | 170 | |
| Electrons and Static Electricity | 171 | |
| What's the Point? | 172 | |
| What Do You Think Will Happen? | 173 | |
| Materials You'll Need for This Project | 173 | |
| Conducting Your Experiment | 174 | |
| Keeping Track of Your Experiment | 175 | |
| Putting It All Together | 176 | |
| Further Investigation | 176 | |
| Other Great Physical Science Projects | 177 | |
| Can Water Make a Bottle Rocket Fly Higher? | 177 | |
| Downhill Discoveries | 178 | |
| Part 4 | Advanced-Level Science Projects | 181 |
| 17 | Is the DNA of a Cow Different from a Chicken's (and Other Great Biology Projects)? | 183 |
| So What Seems to Be the Problem? | 184 | |
| What's the Point? | 185 | |
| What Do You Think Will Happen? | 185 | |
| Materials You'll Need for This Project | 187 | |
| Conducting Your Experiment | 188 | |
| Keeping Track of Your Experiment | 189 | |
| Putting It All Together | 189 | |
| Further Investigation | 189 | |
| Other Great Biology Projects | 190 | |
| Do Plants Sweat Like People Do? | 190 | |
| What Types of Bacteria Are Found in Your House? | 191 | |
| 18 | Can Cloning Make a Better Plant (and Other Great Botany Projects)? | 193 |
| So What Seems to Be the Problem? | 194 | |
| What's the Point? | 196 | |
| What Do You Think Will Happen? | 197 | |
| Materials You'll Need for This Project | 197 | |
| Conducting Your Experiment | 199 | |
| Keeping Track of Your Experiment | 200 | |
| Putting It All Together | 201 | |
| Further Investigation | 201 | |
| Other Great Botany Projects | 202 | |
| How Close to a Plant Must Pesticides Be in Order to Be Beneficial? | 202 | |
| Can Healthy Plants Be Grown in Soil Containing No Microorganisms? | 203 | |
| 19 | Which Metal Corrodes the Fastest (and Other Great Chemistry Projects)? | 205 |
| So What Seems to Be the Problem? | 206 | |
| What's the Point? | 207 | |
| What Do You Think Will Happen? | 208 | |
| Materials You'll Need for This Project | 209 | |
| Conducting Your Experiment | 210 | |
| Keeping Track of Your Experiment | 211 | |
| Putting It All Together | 211 | |
| Further Investigation | 213 | |
| Other Great Chemistry Projects | 213 | |
| What's in a Color? | 213 | |
| Copper Magic | 215 | |
| 20 | How Can Different Polymers Be Identified (and Other Great Earth Science Projects)? | 217 |
| So What Seems to Be the Problem? | 218 | |
| What's the Point? | 219 | |
| What Do You Think Will Happen? | 220 | |
| Materials You'll Need for This Project | 221 | |
| Conducting Your Experiment | 221 | |
| Keeping Track of Your Experiment | 223 | |
| Putting It All Together | 224 | |
| Further Investigation | 224 | |
| Other Great Earth Science Projects | 225 | |
| How Much Oxygen Is in the Air? | 225 | |
| Which Is More Acidic, Snow or Rain? | 226 | |
| 21 | How Can You Use Physics to Become a Better Hitter (and Other Great Physical Science Projects)? | 227 |
| So What Seems to Be the Problem? | 228 | |
| What's the Point? | 229 | |
| What Do You Think Will Happen? | 231 | |
| Materials You'll Need for This Project | 233 | |
| Conducting Your Experiment | 234 | |
| Keeping Track of Your Experiment | 234 | |
| Putting It All Together | 236 | |
| Further Investigation | 236 | |
| Other Great Physics Projects | 236 | |
| Can a Visible Light Outshine Infrared Radiation? | 237 | |
| How Do Different Surfaces Affect the Momentum of Marbles? | 238 | |
| Part 5 | Projects to Really Wow 'Em | 241 |
| 22 | How Explosion Proof Is Your Sandwich Bag? | 243 |
| So What Seems to Be the Problem? | 244 | |
| What's the Point? | 245 | |
| What Do You Think Will Happen? | 245 | |
| Materials You'll Need for This Project | 24
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