How well will I do with this?

[Arby]

I bought the Horizon fuel cell set http://www.super-science-fair-projects. ... n-kit.html. How well will i do with it

[rmarz]

Arby - I'm not familiar with the kit, but following the link you sent, it is very interesting. As to how well you will do with it depends how you use the kit parts to demonstrate, illustrate, measure and tell the story about energy cycles using a fuel cell as the basis of an alternative energy system. You seem to have the key parts of the system provided in the kit, so your task is to try to create your hypothesis about this form of energy conversion and use the measured results to support your hypothesis. You also have to opportunity of telling the interesting story about this interesting system and how it might be applied in real life situations. There are many avenues you can explore, perhaps doing some research on fuel cell technology will help. I didn't have access to the information the kit supplier supplied, but there may be some excellent experiments they have outlined.

Rick Marz

[ecm3131]

The answer is "not too well" if you plan only to put together the kit and enter it. That would make the entry a demonstation of known facts, and the purpose of a science fair experiment is, well, experimentation. Note the list of science fair ideas on the web link you provided. You must come up with some idea (hypothosis) to improve the device and test it. THAT is an experiement.
Play with this thought: With all the wind going past a windmill, what is with the relatively small blades? I mean, out of the 360 degree circle there is perhaps 5-10 degrees of the circle intercepting wind. Why is that? If you made 4 blades that were 1/4 circle each (or 8 that were 1/8 circle) wouldn't that catch all the wind? If you think so, try it. If it doesn't work, you'll be left to explain why. Avoid making up some lame question that your science fair supposedly answers (e.g., "Can I build a windmill that will generate energy?" Answer: Yes, and here it is!). Not an experiment, and the question is not a hypothesis. As the last post said, you must vary something and measure it to prove or disprove a theory.