science fair

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john d

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Well my 13year old daughter grade 7 must partisipate in a science fair. In the past they have had things like witch battery last longest in a toy or a flashlight or how to power a small moter with a potato or lemon. She is looking for a idea that hasn't been done and is electricial related (bless her little heart) anybody got any great ideas. john
 
john d said:
Well my 13year old daughter grade 7 must partisipate in a science fair. In the past they have had things like witch battery last longest in a toy or a flashlight or how to power a small moter with a potato or lemon. She is looking for a idea that hasn't been done and is electricial related (bless her little heart) anybody got any great ideas. john
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Google 7th grade science fair projects
 
What about building a mock up of a working wind powered generator or hydro generator. What about a mechanical mock up of how electrons flow using clear tubing and colored bead to represent atoms. Maybe a big working version of a semiconductor.

LHarrington
 
I had a great idea for my Science Fair project when I was that age: I wanted to have a generator that powered a motor, that ran the generator and thus run forever! I hooked up my bicycle wheel generator to a disk, ran the output to my Erector Set DC motor, then connected the DC motor to pulleys that drove the disk that was connected to the generator. I even added a battery to it to show that it just needed an initial energy source to get started. Needless to say it didn't work, but my project then turned into an explanation as to why it wouldn't work. I showed friction, resistance, windage etc.

Got an A from my science teacher but didn't score well in the overall school contest. When I showcased it, people were still thinking it should have worked; even a lot of the adults! I find that to still be the case today when I get on one of my crusades to debunk these magic box "energy savers". People just want to believe in magic, in spite of evidence to the contrary.
 
I would try to do something that has to do with renewable energy like a solar and wind mock up. use a table top fan to create wind.

I wonder if you could just get away with any small DC motor ran in reverse?
 
LHarrington said:
What about building a mock up of a working wind powered generator or hydro generator. What about a mechanical mock up of how electrons flow using clear tubing and colored bead to represent atoms. Maybe a big working version of a semiconductor.

LHarrington
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How about an electrical installation that everyone here agrees is NEC compliant?
:eek:)
 
Jraef said:
. . . Needless to say it didn't work, but my project then turned into an explanation as to why it wouldn't work. I showed friction, resistance, windage etc. . .
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Great recovery and a fantastic idea! :smile: It is too bad that it didn't do better.
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I think the problem is with the judges and the schools. I was a judge one time and it was a travesty. We had a very large number of projects spread out on a bunch of tables that took up the entire gym and were given a very limited time to look at them. There was no way to look at all of them and most of the volunteer judges had no science background. We gathered around at the end of the time period, discussed the projects we had time to see, and tried to sell the other judges that our's were the best ones. We didn't even have time to look at the ones the each judge thought had merit. For what it is worth, I have never volunteered to go back. :mad:
 
I also judged one of those science fairs at a local elementary school. You could tell the ones that dad did for their kid and the ones the kids did! Parents got mad when their kid (dad) didn't win!
 
Spin some magenets inside a coil of wire, hook up a cheap digital voltage meter to the

end leads. Basic electricity. Make sure the coil is just a little bit bigger than the magenets.
 
buckofdurham said:
Those have been done before.:wink:

How about Green technologies. Such as desposing of cfl's. Or comparing cfl's to led's.
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I like this one. Compare light output of CFL, incandescent, and LED. Since light meters are not very accessible maybe those glass balls with the black and white spinner that move faster when more light is shined on them. I've seen them in big box stores to sell windows. Haven't a clue where to buy one though it's a nice visual for a science fair. (The LED might not be a fair comparison since it's very directional output.)

Most adults still seem to think that CFL are over rated and dangerous so a good presentation should win some judges over. Could also show how incandesent lamps actually put more mercury in the environment. http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/promotions/change_light/downloads/Fact_Sheet_Mercury.pdf
May want to refernce your State's disposal recommendation for CLF's. Take something like this: http://www.deq.state.mi.us/documents/deq-ead-tas-eleclamp.pdf and put the main details in bullet point format.
 
GrayHeadedMule said:
I also judged one of those science fairs at a local elementary school. You could tell the ones that dad did for their kid and the ones the kids did! Parents got mad when their kid (dad) didn't win!
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i had my dad help me on a few projects before. i dont think its cheating just as long as the kid helps and the father doesnt do it all. i think all parents should be part of the project especially if its electricity
 
Do one on Lentz's law. Get a rare earth magnet that just fits inside a heavy wall copper tubing. With a strong magnet and a 5' length of copper it will take about 30 seconds for the magnet to come out the bottom end when you drop it in the top. Then you work on the explanations and the fact that this is basis for motors and generators.
 
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