Jump to main content

Eighth Grade, Materials Science Projects, Lessons, Activities (40 results)

Search
Refine Results
Filter by
Sort by
Fishing Line Strength
Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
If you like to fish and you'd rather not be telling the story of "the one that got away," then this is a project for you. What combination of properties makes for the best fishing line? Here are some suggestions for getting started on your background research into fishing line properties: knot strength, abrasion strength, shock strength, tensile strength, limpness, controlled stretch, and desired range of visibility (Dodson, 2006). Choose the properties that you think are most important, and… Read more
He Huffed, and He Puffed, But Didn't Blow the House Down! How Can Straw Make a Sturdy Building?
Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
In the fairy tale of the three little pigs, the wolf huffed and puffed and blew down the first pig's straw house. But in reality, straw, tied into bales, is a viable building material that, when used properly, makes sturdy and energy-efficient buildings. Straw is a renewable resource that is available all over the world since it is the byproduct of growing grain. In this science fair project, you will test a straw bale covered with stucco to see if it's water resistant, and evaluate if it's… Read more
How Strong are Eggshells?
STEM Activity
1
2
3
4
5
88 reviews
Have you ever seen an arch structure in a building, such as over a doorway or surrounding large windows? Arches have been used in structural engineering since ancient times. In this activity you will test the strength of a naturally occurring arch shape: the shell of an egg. So grab some eggs and put them to good engineering use in trying to answer the following question: Just how much mass can an eggshell can support? Read more
How Things Break
Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
If you're interested in analyzing how things break, check out the Science Buddies project Fractography: The Way Things Break. Read more
It's Hard Work to Work Harden! Learn How to Make Metals Stronger
Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
It's easy to forget that metals are everywhere and in nearly everything. They are a part of our lives in so many ways that we hardly notice them. But just stop and think about it. We use metal spoons to eat and cook our food. Cars, bikes, and planes are composed of metals. Metals are in our furniture and part of your school supplies. Some people even have metal in the dental work in their mouths. Their strength and dependence is obviously very important. But what are metals? In this science… Read more
Materials for Sound Barriers
Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
What are the best materials to use for blocking out unwanted noise from the environment? You can build a test box (or test frame) around an audio speaker. Use a sound level meter to measure the speaker output. Use different materials to cover the walls of your test box (or frame), and see which materials do the best job at blocking the sound. For a more advanced project, perform your tests using different sound frequencies. Are some materials better at blocking certain frequencies than… Read more
Need Help Getting Out of a Sticky Situation?
Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
Does adhesive tape hang tight at different temperatures? Measure the adhesive strength of tape at both low and high temperatures. To raise the temperature, we suggest using a blow dryer at both low and high heat settings. To lower the temperature, use an ice pack (try to keep condensation from forming on the tape and confounding the results). For even lower temperatures you could try "dry ice" (frozen carbon dioxide), if available. (Wear heavy gloves when handling dry ice, because it can… Read more
Purposeful Packaging
Lesson Plan Grade: 6th-8th
Students will play the role of packaging engineers, exploring how to protect shipped items in innovative ways. Students will use data analysis of consumer surveys to inform the iteration of their materials and designs. Learning Objectives Students will: Design a more sustainable way of packing items for shipment. Collect consumer feedback using surveys. Calculate averages, analyze survey data and evaluate the effectiveness of their design. NGSS Alignment The 3 dimensions… Read more
The Viscosity of Motor Oil
Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
The insides of a car engine get very hot when the engine is running. Motor oil lubricates the moving parts, to keep the engine operating smoothly. What happens to motor oil as the engine temperature goes up? Read more
Wood Adhesive Durability
Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
The different species of wood used in construction offer a variety of challenges based on density, porosity, oils in the wood, flexibility, elasticity, etc. The intended use, e.g., structural or cosmetic, presents different challenges as well. The glue must be compatible with the wood, the use, and the climate, so many experiments are possible. For example, you could design an experiment to test the durability of different adhesives using the same wood. Or, you could try different wood… Read more
< 1 2 3 4

Explore Our Science Videos

Quick Links X
Top
Free science fair projects.