Foreword to the Newly Revised Edition vii
Acknowledgments ix
SI (Metric) Conversion Table xii
Introduction 1
Part I A Complete Guide to Science Fair Projects 3
Chapter 1 Science Fairs and Science Fair Projects 5
Chapter 2 Before You Get Started 9
Chapter 3 Getting Started 13
Chapter 4 Planning and Conducting Your Experiment 26
Chapter 5 Organizing and Presenting Data 35
Chapter 6 The Display: Putting It All Together for the Fair 42
Chapter 7 At the Fair 50
Part II 50 Award-Winning Science Fair Projects 57
1. Which Characteristic Is Most Influential in Attracting Bees to a Flower: Fragrance, Color, or Flavor? (Behavioral Science) 59
2. The Effects of Gender Identity on Short-Term Memory (Behavioral Science) 62
3. Do All Plants Transpire at the Same Rate under Different Sources of Light? (Botany) 65
4. Can Plant Cloning Be Used Effectively by Produce Growers? (Botany) 68
5. How Effective Is Beta Carotene in Fighting Cancer in Plants? (Botany) 70
6. The Effect of Electromagnetic Fields on Eremosphaera Algae Cells (Botany) 73
7. What Is the Most Efficient Substance for Melting Ice? (Chemistry) 76
8. What pH Level Is Most Conducive to Corrosion in Iron and Copper? (Chemistry) 78
9. How Effective Is Lobster Shell Chitin in Filtering Wastewater Metallic Ions? (Chemistry) 80
10. How Does Saltwater Mix in an Estuary? (Chemistry) 83
11. Can the Life Span of a Soap Bubble Be Extended in Different Temperatures and Atmospheric Conditions? (Chemistry) 86
12. What Colored Dyes Are Found in Powdered Drink Mix and Colored Marking Pens? (Chemistry) 89
13. Can Mathematical Patterns Be Found in Johann Sebastian Bachâs Two-Movement Preludes and Fugues? (Computer Science/Mathematics) 92
14. Measuring the Brightness of an Incandescent Light Bulb (Energy) 94
15. Which Form of Insulation Is Most Effective? (Energy) 97
16. Alcohol as a Fuel: Recycling Wastes into Energy (Energy) 99
17. Can Earthworms Be Used to Recycle Kitchen Wastes into Fertile Garden Soil? (Environmental Science) 102
18. The Great American Lawn and Pristine Water: Can They Coexist? (Environmental Science) 105
19. Do Gas Stations Affect the Soil Around Them? (Environmental Science) 107
20. What Is the Effect of #6 Heating Oil on Elodea densa in an Aquatic Environment? (Environmental Science) 110
21. Can Limestone Be Used to Protect Pine Trees from Acid Rain? (Environmental Science) 112
22. What Section of a Town Has the Most Pollution in the Form of Airborne Particles? (Environmental Science) 114
23. Environmental Effects on the Biodegradability of Plastic Bags, Paper Bags, and Newspaper (Environmental Science) 116
24. How Does Acid Rain Affect the Cell Structure of Spirogyra? (Environmental Science) 118
25. The Presence of Heavy Metals in a Coastal Body of Water and Their Effect on Aquatic Life (Environmental Science) 121
26. What Substance Is Most Effective for Cleaning Teeth? (Health Science) 125
27. The Relationship between Alcohol Dosage and Dependency in a Rat (Health Science) 127
28. How Effective Are Various Items in Protecting against Ultraviolet Radiation? (Health Science) 130
29. The Wave, the Golden Mean, and (Mathematics) 133
30. Are Dandelions as Effective as Commonly Prescribed Antibiotics against Bacteria? (Microbiology) 138
31. Can Food Molds Be Used to Reduce Bacteria Spread by a Pet Rabbit?( Microbiology) 141
32. What Substance Is Most Effective for Preventing the Breeding of Bacteria in Waterbeds? (Microbiology) 143
33. How Can the Amount of Bacteria Found on Kitchen Sponges and Dishcloths Be Reduced? (Microbiology) 146
34. An Analysis of the Bacteria and Heavy Metal Content of Sewage before and after Treatment at a Sewage Plant (Microbiology) 148
35. Are Your Clams Safe to Eat? (Microbiology) 150
36. Footwear versus Bacteria (Microbiology) 152
37. The P-Trap: A Bacteria Cauldron (Microbiology) 154
38. The P-Trap: A Continuing Dilemma (Microbiology) 157
39. Improving the Antibacterial Effects of Garlic (Microbiology) 160
40. Does the Period of Motion of a Pendulum Depend on Its Weight, Amplitude, or Length? (Physics) 164
41. Are Composites of Wood Stronger than Solid Wood? (Physics) 167
42. Which Angle of Attack Generates the Most Lift? (Physics) 170
43. Polarization and Stress Analysis of Airplane Windows (Physics) 172
44. Shape and Viscous Effect (Physics) 175
45. What Would Happen to Climate, Weather Patterns, and Life Forms if the Earth Were Cubical? (Physics) 178
46. The Physics of Cheating in Baseball (Physics) 181
47. Does a Golf Ballâs Bounciness Influence the Distance that It Will Travel? (Physics) 185
48. Relaxing the Breathing Patterns of Newly Purchased Pet Fish so They May Adapt to a New Aquarium (Zoology) 188
49. Can the Heartbeat of a Chicken Embryo Be Detected without Breaking Its Eggshell? (Zoology) 190
50. Are Dogs Colorblind? (Zoology) 193
Part III Appendixes
Appendix A 400+ Ideas for Science Fair Project Topics 195
Appendix B 100+ Project Titles of Award-Winning Projects 205
Appendix C Scientific Supply Companies 209
Appendix D State, Regional, and International Science and Engineering Fairs 211
Appendix E Alternative Science Fair Project Competitions 221
Glossary 224
Index 227
