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I really need help!
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Laura
I really need help!
O.K., the whole testing sunscreen and liquid foundation experiment (see my other posted messages) is not going to work. My dad says that I should try to do some electric motor thing, but I really want some other ideas. I already tried the topic selection wizard, but it really didn't help. I really need some ideas. Please Help! ASAP!
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htb
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Wed Nov 17, 2004 8:30 pm
Re: I really need help!
Sorry to hear that your having trouble with the other project- if you're having problems picking a subject, first have a go with the sciencebuddies web site resources- if you're still having trouble, there are other resources on the web- do a search for "science fair" and you'll find plenty of examples.Laura wrote:O.K., the whole testing sunscreen and liquid foundation experiment (see my other posted messages) is not going to work. My dad says that I should try to do some electric motor thing, but I really want some other ideas. I already tried the topic selection wizard, but it really didn't help. I really need some ideas. Please Help! ASAP!
best of luck
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Laura
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deleted-2131
- Former Expert
- Posts: 1415
- Joined: Sat Nov 08, 2003 11:27 pm
- Occupation: Planetary Scientist
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- Project Status: Not applicable
Siunscreen Project
Laura,
I really do not think that you need to drop the sunscreen project. What you need to do is revise your procedure. First, what grade are you in? Second, IF you are in high school, does your school offer AP Biology? If so, then your school should have a piece of equipment called a UV-VIS spectrophotometer. This piece of equipment f equipment focuses a narrow beam of light, in a specified wavelength that is of either the visible or UV spectrum, and measure the amount of light that passes through a given material. The material to be tested is put inside of little square test tubes called cuvettes. You could fill one cuvette wit sunscreen, and one with makeup. Then measure the transmittance of each substance at varying wavelengths. You could even photosensitive paper to the outside of the cuvette to measure the effectiveness that way. I think that this project is doable. If you do not have AP Biology at your school, or are not yet in high school, do not despair!!! Check around with local high schools in your area. Speak with the science department chairperson. They are usually willing to let other students com use their equipment. If you are not from the bay area, and cannot procure on e of these machines from a local high school, check with local universities and colleges in your area. Look up the phone numbers of one of the biology professors at the university, give them a call, and explain to them your situation. I have found that universities are usually willing to let students use their equipment if they have a detailed plan and are advanced in their science background. If you still cannot find this equip0ment, go to http://www.whizkidsfoundation.org and sign up for the WhizMentor program, or simply send an e-mail telling them about your problem. I know the director of the WhizKids Foundation, and she has never let me down yet. If you can still not find a spectrophotometer, post again, and I will give you the contact information for science professionals who will be willing to help you, and know people who know people who know people, etc. I am positive that you will be able to find a spectrophotometer and perform your original experiment.
I really do not think that you need to drop the sunscreen project. What you need to do is revise your procedure. First, what grade are you in? Second, IF you are in high school, does your school offer AP Biology? If so, then your school should have a piece of equipment called a UV-VIS spectrophotometer. This piece of equipment f equipment focuses a narrow beam of light, in a specified wavelength that is of either the visible or UV spectrum, and measure the amount of light that passes through a given material. The material to be tested is put inside of little square test tubes called cuvettes. You could fill one cuvette wit sunscreen, and one with makeup. Then measure the transmittance of each substance at varying wavelengths. You could even photosensitive paper to the outside of the cuvette to measure the effectiveness that way. I think that this project is doable. If you do not have AP Biology at your school, or are not yet in high school, do not despair!!! Check around with local high schools in your area. Speak with the science department chairperson. They are usually willing to let other students com use their equipment. If you are not from the bay area, and cannot procure on e of these machines from a local high school, check with local universities and colleges in your area. Look up the phone numbers of one of the biology professors at the university, give them a call, and explain to them your situation. I have found that universities are usually willing to let students use their equipment if they have a detailed plan and are advanced in their science background. If you still cannot find this equip0ment, go to http://www.whizkidsfoundation.org and sign up for the WhizMentor program, or simply send an e-mail telling them about your problem. I know the director of the WhizKids Foundation, and she has never let me down yet. If you can still not find a spectrophotometer, post again, and I will give you the contact information for science professionals who will be willing to help you, and know people who know people who know people, etc. I am positive that you will be able to find a spectrophotometer and perform your original experiment.
All the best,
Terik
Terik
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Laura.
Terik Daly
Terik,
Thanks for all the info, but I really can't get that machine. I am still on christmas break, and the Science Fair Project is due on Monday, January 3rd, 2005. I am SO late on my project. Well, I go to a K-12 school, and I am in 6th grade. All the teachers are on break too, so I do not know how to get into the school or get permission from my science teacher to use that machine. I am not even sure if any school in the district has that machine. Anyways, my Dad said that he'd help me build an electric motor, even though it is a little too easy for me. We tried the SPF experiment thing, but the photopaper (which started out Blue) turned a shade of white, and when I removed the sunscreen and liquid foundation from the paper, and underneath where the sunscreen and makeup were, It was the exact same shade of white that the rest of the paper was. I mean, that can't be right, considering that the sunscreen and liquid foundation must provide at least some sort of protection from the sun. And anyways, I only have a limited amount of time, and I am not even sure if the photopaper that we got is the right thing. My mom looked online and called lots of places, and she finally found a big school supply warehouse that carried some paper thing. The paper is originally used to make "Cool prints from the sun! ages 5+" I mean, the instructions on the photopaper box was "Find some interestiongly shaped objects. Put them onto the paper, and then, leave them outside for 3-9 minutes." Maybe I got the wrong kind of photosensitive paper. I just think that project was doable, but I definately did not have the right supplys, enough information and enough time.
Thanks for all the info, but I really can't get that machine. I am still on christmas break, and the Science Fair Project is due on Monday, January 3rd, 2005. I am SO late on my project. Well, I go to a K-12 school, and I am in 6th grade. All the teachers are on break too, so I do not know how to get into the school or get permission from my science teacher to use that machine. I am not even sure if any school in the district has that machine. Anyways, my Dad said that he'd help me build an electric motor, even though it is a little too easy for me. We tried the SPF experiment thing, but the photopaper (which started out Blue) turned a shade of white, and when I removed the sunscreen and liquid foundation from the paper, and underneath where the sunscreen and makeup were, It was the exact same shade of white that the rest of the paper was. I mean, that can't be right, considering that the sunscreen and liquid foundation must provide at least some sort of protection from the sun. And anyways, I only have a limited amount of time, and I am not even sure if the photopaper that we got is the right thing. My mom looked online and called lots of places, and she finally found a big school supply warehouse that carried some paper thing. The paper is originally used to make "Cool prints from the sun! ages 5+" I mean, the instructions on the photopaper box was "Find some interestiongly shaped objects. Put them onto the paper, and then, leave them outside for 3-9 minutes." Maybe I got the wrong kind of photosensitive paper. I just think that project was doable, but I definately did not have the right supplys, enough information and enough time.
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deleted-2131
- Former Expert
- Posts: 1415
- Joined: Sat Nov 08, 2003 11:27 pm
- Occupation: Planetary Scientist
- Project Question: N/A
- Project Due Date: N/A
- Project Status: Not applicable
Your Project
Laura,
Thanks for the information. I had no idea that your project was due so soon. You are very advanced for your age. I wish you good luck in your project, and I hope everything goes well for you. If you have any questions, feel free to ask them.
Good Luck!
Thanks for the information. I had no idea that your project was due so soon. You are very advanced for your age. I wish you good luck in your project, and I hope everything goes well for you. If you have any questions, feel free to ask them.
Good Luck!
All the best,
Terik
Terik
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Ceal Craig
- Posts: 106
- Joined: Sat Nov 20, 2004 6:40 pm
Building a motor
Laura, since I think you are now on the path of building an electrical motor, here are a two sites that explain motors.
Don't know if you have heard of "howstuffworks.com". This is a great site for basic, and beyond basic, explanations of many many things.
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/motor.htm
Another site that explains electric motors pretty well.
http://www.seed.slb.com/en/scictr/journ ... /motor.htm
I realize I might have made an unwarranted assumption, are you building an electrical motor or a mechanical motor?
Best wishes,
Ceal Craig
Science Buddies Expert
Don't know if you have heard of "howstuffworks.com". This is a great site for basic, and beyond basic, explanations of many many things.
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/motor.htm
Another site that explains electric motors pretty well.
http://www.seed.slb.com/en/scictr/journ ... /motor.htm
I realize I might have made an unwarranted assumption, are you building an electrical motor or a mechanical motor?
Best wishes,
Ceal Craig
Science Buddies Expert
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.Laura
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Laura'
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Ceal Craig
- Posts: 106
- Joined: Sat Nov 20, 2004 6:40 pm
Building a motor
Laura, that's great!! I'm so glad you made one. It is fun!
Spiffy -- sounds like you and your Dad did great. My dad was a civil engineer; it's only one of the reasons I went into engineering (unusual when I was your age for me, a girl, to study engineering). I have loved it!!
Great work!
Ceal (short for Cecilia) Craig
Science Buddies
Ask An Expert
Spiffy -- sounds like you and your Dad did great. My dad was a civil engineer; it's only one of the reasons I went into engineering (unusual when I was your age for me, a girl, to study engineering). I have loved it!!
Great work!
Ceal (short for Cecilia) Craig
Science Buddies
Ask An Expert