Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hi,

I am doing the project,"Decomposing Energy: Extracting Heat Energy from a Compost Pile." I currently have 2 major problems. Here is the link to the procedure:
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... #procedure

Major Problem 1:

I would like to know are there any other ideas that I could infuse with my project to make it have a easy understandable and precise independent and dependent variable? I want to make electricity out of my project or make it do something cool and new. I know that in my project I am trying "to investigate whether the heat from a compost bin or pile can be used to efficiently and effectively heat water." I just realized after spending almost $200 on this project, that is not an experiment. Anything put in a closely compacted space produces heat. Why compost Why is compost beneficial to my project The judge at my science fair will probably ask me something like: "Why do we need heat energy from compost when I could just heat water on a stove." I cannot answer something like: "Oh, I do not know sir, it was just an abstract idea…trial and error right." Obviously this is an exaggeration of what might happen in the future if nothing changes, and I would not say that, but I would definitely be speechless. I know that I should have asked myself these questions before, but it never occurred to me that I would need to find my own variables and do my own things. I mean I knew that I had to put in some effort and change some of the project, but in this project I literally have to change the course of this whole thing and I COULD NOT POSSIBLY DO IT ALONE. The amount of expansion that I have to put into this project is close to impossible for me. My vacation ends today, and I will have barely any time at all to think how to change this project and I have no ideas at all. I need to make this project produce electricity or anything that makes it something novel... the way I am going with this project I will probably not even make it to my school science fair. This time, I really need some hardcore advice on how to go about my project. Maybe some new ideas could help. I have been brainstorming about how to do something with compost. This is probably the priciest project yet it just runs on basic facts and is put in the advanced section. If the project is put in the advanced section then it should most likely have an awesome idea or at least the basic independent variable, dependent variable, constant, and control. I am sure that depending on the reply given to this, it might greatly help people who might want to do this in the future. I believe that I am speaking for every person that is doing this project or may be doing this project in the future.

Major Problem 2:

I need to make at least 3 graphs or tables(preferably not all of graphs or not al of tables). I already tried Excel and I cannot make the data into a graph or table. I need a step-by-step procedure on how to do this, for example:

Table could be something like:
1. In Excel, put "…" for the title, under that put "…" for the first subtitle and "…" for the second
Graph could be something like:
1. In Excel go to charts and pick line

P.S I need actual answers. If you can answer the first and/or second one it does not matter as long as the answer is something that could actually help me and probably others who may do this

Thanks,
Your loyal ScienceBuddy

Hi PowerofScience,

I am going to respond in your original topic. Please respond to that post. It will be helpful if you can post all of your questions in one topic so all of the information is together.

Donna