Science Fair Projects?

[LordofSquirrels]

All right, you guys are a little too enthusiastic for your own goods. xD Both times I've made a thread on a more serious discussion subject, and then come back a day or two later due to work/general bleh tired, I find two dozen replies that leave me effectively waaay in the back and struggling to catch up. So, for the sake of my own peace of mind, and to keep things here nice and friendly and non-confrontational, decided to give all of you guys a chance to wax poetic about something everyone loves; science fairs!

The story that inspired this was a recent science fair project by Jack Miron, an eighth grader who decided to try and create a probe that could take readings of the upper atmosphere... and he pulled it off.


So! You can either read the article; http://todaynewsgazette.com/8th-graders-science-project-brings-police/

Or, if you like listening to really a really sexy voice (translation; yeah, folks, it's my voice and I'm trying to pump myself up. Don't. Judge. Me.) then try this vlog installment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHMZvw3Yh0U


Either one. First one is obviously more official, and quicker, second one has more of a personal opinion-spin to 'er.


So! My question is this; those of you who've done science fairs, or even just major science projects, what was your topic? What did you do? Did you work your ass off, or just slap something together in twenty minutes with your dad's help? Personally, never had a science fair, per say, but have had to come up with a couple of projects for school; generally when it happened, I was too unfocused and ADD-addled to really do much of any import. x_x Closest thing I came to it was when we were dissecting frogs in high school; I ended up carefully extracting its entire inter-connected organ structure and trying to seperate them individually with a scalpel while identifying them based on the textbook.

Er, doesn't really count since we didn't actually have to do that.

Again. Don't. JUDGE ME.

 

[LordofSquirrels]

Also, everyone who thinks Jack should win the science fair, say 'Aye.' xD

 

[Supertegwyn]

We don't have science fairs in Australia.

But that is pretty cool.

 

[LordofSquirrels]

Aye, it is. I'm actually not sure if the provinces in Canada have science fairs either, it's always been one of these phenomenons I hear about- a lot- and yet it's all third-hand information. Mysterious. @_@

 

[Ed130 The Vanguard]

My sister did that once, she set uniforms on fire.

(our school was changing uniforms and she tested them to see which one was more flammable)

I just did one on paper dart design and which one goes furthest.

 

[LordofSquirrels]

xD I would have enjoyed seeing the judges' faces on seeing that particular project from your sister.

'Is this... a political statement...? A protest...?'

Paper dart designs sound awesome, very creative. :3

 

[Colour Scientist]

My schools never had science fairs!
I feel so cheated.

I definitely would have made one of those bitching volcanoes though.

 

[tsb247]

I remember science fairs!

Sadly, everyone just hodge-podged stuff together in a few minutes in their parent's garage/workshop. I remember doing an electrolysis experiement. I just sat in the back of the classroom igniting hydrogen and oxygen all day! XD

Had I known that it was possible, I would have built a fusor as a science fair project. Apparently it's been done by a high-school student already, but I just find the concept of homebrew nuclear fusion awesome, so it doesn't matter to me that it has been done before.

Here is a (free) downloadable PDF explaining the concepts, construction, and operation of homebrew fusors. Thee is also a printed version available (not free):

http://www.lulu.com/shop/raymond-jimenez/amateur-nuclear-fusion/ebook/product-17454437.html

NOTE: All of this is perfectly legal since no radioactive materials are required to do nuclear fusion.

Here are some nifty videos of some projects in action:

Spoiler: fusor videos

BEAUTIFUL star-mode in this one!

As an aside, this is all still quite dangerous because a fusor can emit x-rays, neutrons, and they run a VERY high voltage. Still, I find this stuff fascinating!

 

[DugMachine]

Only science fair I ever did was in 3rd grade and I think I did something like which soap would be best for cleaning oil off of feathers because at the time I had a fascination with saving all the penguins and birds that get covered in oil.

I got 1st place !

 

[IrishBerserker]

All Closest thing I came to it was when we were dissecting frogs in high school; I ended up carefully extracting its entire inter-connected organ structure and trying to separate them individually with a scalpel while identifying them based on the textbook.

Er, doesn't really count since we didn't actually have to do that.

Again. Don't. JUDGE ME.

My biology class used dead lab rats for dissection, I got bored picked it up by its fore-paws and made it do a little dance. At least what you did was scientific, what I did was just plain stupid. Made the girls in the station next to me laugh though, so who cares.

I'm actually not sure if the provinces in Canada have science fairs either, it's always been one of these phenomenons I hear about- a lot- and yet it's all third-hand information. Mysterious.

In Ontario I think its the school district decision on whether or not they have a science fair. My elementary school had science fairs but some of my friends in highschool said they didn't have fairs.

Anyway my science fair projects, at least the ones I can remember, were on buoyancy, friction and I think how different material bounce from different heights. All different years of course. Never placed very high despite the effort I put in them, got complemented a few times though.

 

[LordofSquirrels]

I remember science fairs!

Sadly, everyone just hodge-podged stuff together in a few minutes in their parent's garage/workshop. I remember doing an electrolysis experiement. I just sat in the back of the classroom igniting hydrogen and oxygen all day! XD

Had I known that it was possible, I would have built a fusor as a science fair project. Apparently it's been done by a high-school student already, but I just find the concept of homebrew nuclear fusion awesome, so it doesn't matter to me that it has been done before.

Here is a (free) downloadable PDF explaining the concepts, construction, and operation of homebrew fusors. Thee is also a printed version available (not free):

http://www.lulu.com/shop/raymond-jimenez/amateur-nuclear-fusion/ebook/product-17454437.html

NOTE: All of this is perfectly legal since no radioactive materials are required to do nuclear fusion.

Here are some nifty videos of some projects in action:

Spoiler: fusor videos

BEAUTIFUL star-mode in this one!

As an aside, this is all still quite dangerous because a fusor can emit x-rays, neutrons, and they run a VERY high voltage. Still, I find this stuff fascinating!

....meep. Just meep. And awesome. xD

Only science fair I ever did was in 3rd grade and I think I did something like which soap would be best for cleaning oil off of feathers because at the time I had a fascination with saving all the penguins and birds that get covered in oil.

I got 1st place !

Did they give a blue ribbon? =D

All Closest thing I came to it was when we were dissecting frogs in high school; I ended up carefully extracting its entire inter-connected organ structure and trying to separate them individually with a scalpel while identifying them based on the textbook.

Er, doesn't really count since we didn't actually have to do that.

Again. Don't. JUDGE ME.

My biology class used dead lab rats for dissection, I got bored picked it up by its fore-paws and made it do a little dance. At least what you did was scientific, what I did was just plain stupid. Made the girls in the station next to me laugh though, so who cares.

I'm actually not sure if the provinces in Canada have science fairs either, it's always been one of these phenomenons I hear about- a lot- and yet it's all third-hand information. Mysterious.

In Ontario I think its the school district decision on whether or not they have a science fair. My elementary school had science fairs but some of my friends in highschool said they didn't have fairs.

Anyway my science fair projects, at least the ones I can remember, were on buoyancy, friction and I think how different material bounce from different heights. All different years of course. Never placed very high despite the effort I put in them, got complemented a few times though.

Aye, the judging for these things generally strike me as pretty subjective; not looking at how much is put into the project, so much as how interesting the people looking at it find the subject. Sort of sucks, given you'd think the entire point of it is to help develop the ability to analyze, prepare and study; a flashy idea should come secondary to solid, high-quality presentation and preparation.