Materials Science Science Projects (Page 4)

Pounding Papyrus: How Ancient Egyptians Made the World's First Paper

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

It's hard to imagine a world without paper. You wouldn't have things like books, cards, comics, newspaper, construction paper, notebooks, cereal boxes, or that nice sound of shredding wrapping paper on your birthday. There was a time, though, when the only thing people had to write on were slabs of soft, squishy clay. When these slabs dried in the sun, they preserved simple ideas, but they were heavy, like carrying around a load of rocks. Not exactly easy to put in your pocket and carry around.… Read more

Simulate Microchip Clean Room Contamination with Crayon Leaf Rubbings

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Have you ever made a leaf rubbing or imprint using paper and crayons? What do you think would happen if you got dirt or sand on the leaf? Would it mess up the result? In this project you will find out and learn about how this is related to the process of making the microchips that run our phones, computers, and other electronic devices. Check out this page for more science projects related to this process. Read more

Wave Blockers

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

What do the radio, TV, radio controlled cars, and cell phones all have in common? They all use invisible waves to transmit information. Find out which materials block radio waves, and which materials allow radio waves to pass through by doing this experiment. Read more

Make Soft Robotic Skin

Science Fair Project Idea

Engineering Design Process

When you think about robots, do you think of something made from metal? What if robots could have stretchy, flexible skin just like humans? How would they detect when someone tapped them on the shoulder or something rubbed against their arm? In this project, you will learn how to make artificial robotic skin using flexible rubber with an embedded conductive fabric. You can also connect the artificial skin to a microcontroller and use it to control outputs like LEDs or motors. Read more

Get Crafty — Create Your Own Durable Paper Doll

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Through the ages, creative minds have made an amazing variety of paper toys, many of them delicate, beautiful, and inspiring. All too often, though, they do not withstand very well the wear and tear of play. This science project is your chance to fix that. You will make paper dolls with movable parts and study how the choice of materials influence the strength of the toy. Beginning with a strong design, you will finish by making a durable paper doll (or toy) with moving parts. Read more

LivingLoom: Clothing With Live Plants

Science Fair Project Idea

Engineering Design Process

LivingLoom looks at how plants can take an active role in making textiles instead of just being used as raw materials. By spinning microgreen seeds into biodegradable yarns, the textiles can actually sprout and grow over time. The project opens up new ways to think about sustainable, care-based design, and invites us to rethink how we connect with plant life through the things we make and use. Read more

How Shoe Tread Affects Traction

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Have you ever noticed that some shoes grip the ground better than others? The pattern and design of a shoe’s tread can affect how slippery it is on different surfaces. You can test shoes with different tread patterns—like flat, ridged, or patterned—to see which design provides the best grip. By dragging a shoe along a surface with a spring scale at a constant velocity, you can measure how much force is needed for each shoe to slide on various surfaces. With this knowledge, you… Read more

It's Hard Work to Work Harden! Learn How to Make Metals Stronger

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

It's easy to forget that metals are everywhere and in nearly everything. They are a part of our lives in so many ways that we hardly notice them. But just stop and think about it. We use metal spoons to eat and cook our food. Cars, bikes, and planes are composed of metals. Metals are in our furniture and part of your school supplies. Some people even have metal in the dental work in their mouths. Their strength and dependence is obviously very important. But what are metals? In this science… Read more

Turning Mushrooms into Environmentally Friendly Packaging

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Have you ever questioned the packaging of an item in a plastic container, secured in a plastic mold, that also slides into a plastic box, or a small item packed in twenty times its volume of polystyrene noodles to keep it from breaking? In this project, you will explore if mycelium composite material, an eco-friendly material obtained from organic waste and mushroom roots, can serve as a viable eco-friendly packaging alternative. Packaging material made of foams and plastics (Figures 1 and 2)… Read more

He Huffed, and He Puffed, But Didn't Blow the House Down! How Can Straw Make a Sturdy Building?

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

In the fairy tale of the three little pigs, the wolf huffed and puffed and blew down the first pig's straw house. But in reality, straw, tied into bales, is a viable building material that, when used properly, makes sturdy and energy-efficient buildings. Straw is a renewable resource that is available all over the world since it is the byproduct of growing grain. In this science fair project, you will test a straw bale covered with stucco to see if it's water resistant, and evaluate if it's… Read more

Materials Science Science Projects (43 results)

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