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Energy & Power Project Ideas

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Showing 1 - 5 of 10 Project Ideas
Fuel Cells—Fueling the Future!
Fuel Cells—Fueling the Future!
Difficulty
Time Required Long (2-4 weeks)
Prerequisites None
Material Availability Specialty item required. See the Materials and Equipment list for details.
Cost Very High (over $150)
Safety Minor injury is possible, so wear safety goggles. To do this science fair project, you will need to electrolyze water into hydrogen and oxygen. Hydrogen is flammable, so keep the fuel cell and hydrogen storage tank away from sparks.

You probably know that turning off the lights and the water, and not wasting paper are all good ways to help the environment and conserve our resources. Did you know that another good way is using fuel cells? A fuel cell is a device that converts the energy in chemicals to electricity and it creates no pollution! In this science fair project, learn how a fuel cell works. You'll get double the benefits by doing this science fair… Read more
Get Something for Nothing: Free Power from the Sun!
Get Something for Nothing: Free Power from the Sun!
Difficulty
Time Required Average (6-10 days)
Prerequisites None
Material Availability Specialty items required. You need to purchase a small solar panel.
Cost Average ($50 - $100)
Safety No issues

Do you like getting something for nothing? Everybody likes getting things for free. How about getting energy and power for free? The Sun sends us free energy every second and all we have to do is collect it. Taking advantage of free energy can reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, which are harmful to our environment. In this science fair project, you will work with a solar panel, which is a collector of free energy, and investigate how varying… Read more
The Power of Balance *
The Power of Balance
Difficulty
Time Required Long (2-4 weeks)

The Falkirk Wheel is a rotating boat lift connecting the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal near Falkirk in central Scotland. It consists of two diametrically opposed caissons which rotate to lift boats between the two canals through a height of 35 meters. The wheel is always perfectly balanced and, despite its enormous mass, rotates through 180° in less than four minutes, using just 1.5 kilowatt-hours (Wikipedia contributors, 2006). Do… Read more
Water to Fuel to Water: The Fuel Cycle of the Future
Water to Fuel to Water: The Fuel Cycle of the Future
Difficulty
Time Required Average (6-10 days)
Prerequisites Completion of a basic chemistry class is recommended before trying this science project. You should also know something about circuits, or use the [# ProjectGuide Name="Advanced.ElectronicsPrimerIntroduction" Value="HtmlAnchor" HtmlText="Science Buddies Electronics Primer" #].
Material Availability A number of specialty items are required. For your convenience, a Science Buddies Kit is available for purchase.
Cost Very High (over $150)
Safety Adult supervision is recommended. Use caution when connecting the four 9V batteries. Ensure that the wires/connectors do not come in contact with each other to cause a short or the batteries will become VERY hot and can possibly cause burns. Cobalt nitrate can cause skin and eye irritation. It is recommended to wear disposable gloves when handling cobalt nitrate.

Solar cells are popping up on rooftops everywhere these days and are a model for clean, renewable energy. Did you ever look at those solar panels and wonder how we can get electricity produced by solar cells when the sun is not shining? It is a great question because solar panels do not produce electricity when it is dark outside. One strategy to overcome this challenge is to store the energy produced by solar cells during the day in the… Read more
Biodiesels: Converting Oil into Clean Fuel *
Biodiesels: Converting Oil into Clean Fuel
Difficulty
Time Required Long (2-4 weeks)
Prerequisites This science fair project must be performed in a well-ventilated area; a fume hood is recommended. You must also have a teacher who can help you order the necessary chemicals.
Material Availability Specialty items are required. You will need methanol, and either potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide. See the Guide to Purchasing Chemicals for more information.
Cost High ($100 - $150)
Safety Minor injury is possible. You must wear safety goggles and gloves when dealing with chemicals. Do not breathe in fumes from the chemicals. Read and follow the suggestions in the Chemistry Safety Guide.

Most of the energy and fuel that we use in the United States is derived from burning fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are the remains of plants and animals that lived hundreds of millions of years ago. Examples of fossil fuels include coal, petroleum oil, and natural gas. Burning coal releases 21.3 gigatons of carbon dioxide— a greenhouse gas that may be responsible for global warming and climate change—into the air in one year. About half… Read more
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