Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

*HeY...iM a Junior in high school and I have a research paper due next week.
I`m having trouble picking a topic.I have a few ideas and I`d like you to know what you think about them.

#1.For this experiment, I`d basically use strips of paper towel & dip them into cups filled with water and food coloring.In different time trials, I`ll mark the height that each rose.I`m really not sure how to research this & I don`t think it`s on my level

#2.This project is good.I`ll be studying the threshold of taste buds. In the experiment,I`ll use various amounts of water & sugar.In different time trials,I`ll use cotton swabs to test my taste buds with the sugar and water mixture. I`ve already done research on the senses,taste buds,& how they work.But,somebody picked this project,So I`ve to pick another.
So what do you think? and if you have any ideas for simple experiments/projects...please let me know.

Hi,

Your paper proposal #1 sounds like a winner to me. Try a Google search on “paper chromatography” and also look at the following Science Buddies Project Idea, and see what you think:

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... p009.shtml

As for it not being on your level (you think it is too elementary?), this is an experiment done in various variations by everyone from middle school students to working Ph.D. level chemists, and, particularly if you explore the the theory and applications of the experiment, the level of scholarship can be as high as you wish it to be. You might want to also investigate “paper electrophoresis“, a somewhat related technique that is even more widely used.

Good luck!

Barrett Tomlinson

*tHnX fOr tHe aDviiCe yOu`vE GiiVen mE.

ii loOk fOrwaRd tO tHe exPeriIMenT aNd ii hOpe iT`zs a wiiNnEr....
bUt ii WoulD Liike tO aSk, HoW lOng does aN aVerGe ZExpEriimEnt LiiKe thAt Take
&& iiF pOssiiBle, ii WouLd LiiKe tO knOw hOw woUld ii cOnduct tHe rEseaRch aNd WhaT sTeps wOuld ii takE???