Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

I'm in high school and have a science fair coming up. I chose a topic titled "Are store brands more explosion proof than name brands?" I'm putting vinegar in the bags and adding baking soda in a packet. I then seal it up and see if it explodes and if it does then how much damage did it cause? I would like to know how to make this project more advanced to a high school/college level.


Please help me!!!!

Hi,

I recommend looking at the Science Buddies Project Ideas Guide:

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

I think you can probably find something there that will interest you

Barrett L Tomlinson

I have a topic that was already accepted
I just need input on how to make it more advanced.
My project is due the 1st week of Feb.
Thank You for any help

You picked something that is more engineering oriented than scientific.

What you have is an engineering study along the lines of a "Consumer Reports" type of analysis comparing brands. Unlike the Scientific Method which always has a "hypothesis", the Enginerring Method always involves a "cost function" and doesn't necessarily require a hypothesis. You get to choose the "cost function" and if you are entering it in a Science Fair, you get to choose a hypothesis. Your choice of the"cost function" will determine how you rank the different products. Your analysis of the failure mechanisms is one way to increase the level of difficulty. For different failure mechanisms and the burst pressure, there will be different patterns to where the contents end up that you may or may not want to consider in devising your cost function.