High School Science Projects (329 results)

Science Buddies' high school science projects are the perfect way for high school students to have fun exploring science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Our high school projects are written and tested by scientists and are specifically created for use by students in the high school grades. Students can choose to follow the science experiment as written or put their own spin on the project.

For a personalized list of science projects, high schoolers can use the Science Buddies Topic Selection Wizard. The wizard asks students to respond to a series of simple statements and then uses their answers to recommend age-appropriate projects that fit their interests.

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Science Buddies Original
Electrolyte Challenge: Orange Juice Vs. Sports Drink
Science Fair Project Idea
The makers of sports drinks spend tens to hundreds of millions of dollars advertising their products each year. Among the benefits often featured in these ads are the beverages' high level of electrolytes, which your body loses as you sweat. In this science project, you will compare the amount of electrolytes in a sports drink with those in orange juice to find out which has more electrolytes to replenish the ones you lose as you work out or play sports. When you are finished, you might even… Read more
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- Less Details
Time Required Very Short (≤ 1 day)
Tinkering
Prerequisites None
Material Availability Specialty electronics items are required. A kit is available from our partner Home Science Tools. See the Materials section for details.
Cost Average ($40 - $80)
Safety
Science Buddies Original
From Turbid to Clear: How Flocculation Cleans Up Drinking Water
Science Fair Project Idea
Your drinking water probably started out brown and muddy. Are you surprised? Maybe you were picturing it flowing from a clean mountain spring instead? All over the world, including in 68% of American homes, people get their drinking water from rivers, lakes, and other surface waters. This water is filled with dirt, debris, and other contaminants as it travels hundreds of miles. So, how does your drinking water go from brown and muddy to crystal clear? Often, flocculants—substances that… Read more
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- Less Details
Time Required Short (2-5 days)
Tinkering
Prerequisites Some basic knowledge in chemistry would be helpful, but is not necessary.
Material Availability This project requires special electronic parts available from our partner Home Science Tools. See the Materials section for details. For data analysis, a spreadsheet program, such as Google SheetsTM or Microsoft® Excel®, is helpful.
Cost Average ($50 - $100)
Safety No issues
Science Buddies Original
Hey, Do You C My Potatoes? Determining Vitamin C Amounts in Cooked Potatoes
Science Fair Project Idea
As you know, vegetables not only taste good, but they are good for you. Many vegetables are a great source of vitamin C. Vitamin C is a water-soluble antioxidant that plays an important role in protecting the body from infection and disease. Humans do not make vitamin C on their own, so we must get it from dietary sources. Potatoes, like the ones shown in Figure 1, below, are one good source of vitamin C. Does cooking them affect how much vitamin C they have? In other words, if you boil a… Read more
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- Less Details
Time Required Short (2-5 days)
Tinkering
Prerequisites None
Material Availability Titration equipment and supplies are needed. A kit is available from our partner Home Science Tools.
Cost High ($100 - $150)
Safety Adult supervision is required. Iodine solution is poisonous. Avoid skin and eye contact. Wear chemical safety goggles and rubber gloves when handling the concentrated solution. For more tips, consult the Science Buddies Chemistry Safety Guide.
Science Buddies Original
Is the Gold in My Jewelry Real?
Science Fair Project Idea
Have you ever wondered if a piece of jewelry is real gold or if it's just some ordinary metal alloy? It turns out that some metals have a unique property; even in small amounts, they can be toxic to some organisms, including algae, molds, fungi, and bacteria, although it often takes many hours to see an effect. Can this phenomena, called the oligodynamic effect be used to tell whether or not the gold or silver in a piece of jewelry is real? Do bacteria react differently to pure, plated, and… Read more
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- Less Details
Time Required Average (6-10 days)
Tinkering
Prerequisites None
Material Availability A kit for this project is available from our partner Home Science Tools. If possible, conduct this project in a laboratory with access to a Bunsen burner and incubator. Also needed are several pieces of jewelry, including at least one 14-karat gold piece. See the Materials and Equipment list for more details.
Cost Average ($50 - $100)
Safety Follow the general safety precautions for handling microorganisms outlined at the end of the Procedure for this science project.
Science Buddies Original
Learn How to Disinfect Contaminated Water
Science Fair Project Idea
Have you ever thought about how fortunate you are to have safe and clean water coming out of your faucet? Many people in undeveloped nations don't have this luxury. But does that mean they can't have clean water at all? Is there an inexpensive way they could use to make their own clean water? In this microbiology science fair project, you will investigate whether or not sunlight can disinfect contaminated water. Read more
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- Less Details
Time Required Average (6-10 days)
Tinkering
Prerequisites You should have access to a local stream or creek.
Material Availability A kit for this project is available from our partner Home Science Tools.
Cost High ($100 - $150)
Safety Wear gloves when conducting the experiment. Read and follow the instructions in the Microorganisms Safety Guide. Do not drink any of the water that results from the SODIS process. See the Experimental Procedure for more information.
Science Buddies Original
Measuring Magnetic Fields
Science Fair Project Idea
Have you ever noticed how magnets appear to have no effect on each other when they are far apart? Then, when you slowly move them closer together, you will start to feel a gentle pull until they suddenly snap together? How exactly does the strength of a magnet change with distance, and how would you measure it if you wanted to find out? In this project you will build a circuit that can measure the strength of a magnetic field and see how the field strength changes with distance. Read more
+ More Details
- Less Details
Time Required Very Short (≤ 1 day)
Tinkering
Prerequisites
Material Availability For your convenience, specialty items for this project are available in a kit from our partner Home Science Tools.
Cost Average ($40 - $80)
Safety Short circuits can get very hot. Double-check all of your wiring before you connect the 9 V battery.
Science Buddies Original
Measuring Sugar Content of a Liquid with a Laser Pointer
Science Fair Project Idea
Did you know that you can figure out how much sugar is in a liquid without ever tasting it? In this science fair project, you will learn how to measure the concentration of sugar dissolved in a liquid by using a laser pointer, a hollow prism, and some physics. You will discover how refraction, or the bending of light, is the key to measuring the sugar content of a liquid with a laser pointer. Read more
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- Less Details
Time Required Very Short (≤ 1 day)
Tinkering
Prerequisites None
Material Availability A kit containing specialty items needed for this project is available from our partner Home Science Tools.
Cost Average ($40 - $80)
Safety Adult supervision recommended. Even low-power lasers can cause permanent eye damage. Please carefully review and follow the Laser Safety Guide.
Science Buddies Original
Power Move: Manipulating Magnets to Improve Generator Output
Science Fair Project Idea
The electricity you use to power everyday devices is generated by electrical generators. These fascinating and powerful machines rely on magnets to function. Though they might seem extremely complicated, once you finish this science project, you will understand how, why, and when they generate electricity. You will build your own generator, make small changes in how exactly the magnets are placed, and test when moving magnets generate electricity. Read more
+ More Details
- Less Details
Time Required Very Short (≤ 1 day)
Tinkering
Prerequisites You should have the patience and dexterity to coil several layers of wire neatly (or find someone who can help you). You will also need to hook up a basic circuit. Understanding electric circuits is not a prerequisite for this science project, though it will enable a deeper understanding of the electric generator.
Material Availability A kit containing all the specialty items needed for this project is available from our partner Home Science Tools.
Cost Low ($20 - $50)
Safety Neodymium magnets are very strong. Follow the safety guidelines in the Procedure for working with these magnets.
Science Buddies Original
Rainbow Fire
Science Fair Project Idea
Astronomers can figure out what distant stars are made of (in other words, their atomic composition) by measuring what type of light is emitted by the star. In this science project, you can do something similar by observing the color of flames when various chemicals are burned. Read more
+ More Details
- Less Details
Time Required Very Short (≤ 1 day)
Tinkering
Prerequisites None
Material Availability Requires specific chemicals; see Materials for more details. For your convenience, a kit is available for purchase from our partner Home Science Tools.
Cost Average ($50 - $100)
Safety Adult supervision is required. This science project involves creating small, controlled fires. Make sure you follow all the safety guidelines in the Procedure.
Science Buddies Original
Spice Up the Power of a Microbial Fuel Cell with a Dash of Salt
Science Fair Project Idea
Generating power from mud sounds like science fiction, but it is actually real science, and a promising source of alternative energy. Topsoil is packed with bacteria that generate electricity when placed in a microbial fuel cell. Because such bacteria-laden soil is found almost everywhere on Earth, microbial fuel cells can make clean, renewable electricity nearly anyplace around the globe. They are an up-and-coming technology that scientists and engineers are working to make even more… Read more
+ More Details
- Less Details
Time Required Very Long (1+ months)
Tinkering
Prerequisites We recommended that you have a basic knowledge in physics of electricity and familiarity with the concepts of conductivity, electric current, resistance and electrical power. Having used a multimeter before is helpful, but not required.
Material Availability The Microbial Fuel Cell Kit needs to be special-ordered from our partner Home Science Tools.
Cost Average ($50 - $100)
Safety Be sure to wear the gloves supplied with the kit when handling the microbial fuel cell's electrodes (its cathode and anode). The electrodes are made of a conductive material called graphite fiber and should not be placed near electronics, power plugs, or have their fibers dispersed in the air. The fibers will cause electrical shortages when in contact with electronics.
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