Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, Middle School Science Projects (Page 10)

Growing Plants on Mars

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

To be able to live on Mars, humans need breathable air, clean water, and nutritious food. Spacesuits can provide oxygen to breathe, ice on Mars can be a source of water, but how could we get nutritious food? Today's astronauts bring food with them. But a manned trip to Mars would require food that was either successfully grown in space or on Mars, as taking the extra weight of food for such a long time—it takes 6–9 months one way—is just too costly. In this project, you will… Read more

Build a Simple Steerable Robot

Science Fair Project Idea

Engineering Design Process

Beginner robotics projects like the Art Bot and Bristlebots are fun, but the robots wobble around randomly and cannot steer. If you are ready for a robotics project that is a little more advanced (that does not require any programming), try this one out! You will build your own steerable robot with a wired remote control. Read more

Try the Mythbusters' "Phone Book Friction" Experiment at Home

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Have you ever heard that two phone books with the pages interleaved are impossible to pull apart? This might seem crazy, right? It is not that hard to slide a sheet of paper off the top of a stack of paper. How much friction can there really be between sheets of paper? In this experiment, you will use pads of sticky notes instead of phone books. How much weight can they support when you interleave the pages? Do you think you will be able to pull them apart by hand? The results might surprise… Read more

Solid Motor Rocket Propulsion

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

What does it take to launch a robot to Mars or for a satellite to explore our outer solar system? In this project you will explore the physics of a rocket as you predict its performance, launch it, and measure the actual results. This is rocket science! Read more

Rocket Science: How High Can You Send a Payload?

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Rockets are definitively an engineering challenge. These amazing gravity-defying machines have lifted test material, people, and even animals into space. Feel like building one yourself? In this science project, you will transform a water bottle into an aerodynamic bottle rocket with two compartments, one for the fuel and one for a payload. You will then test how well it performs when lifting mass vertically up into the air. Ready, set, soar! Read more

Design and 3D-Print Your Own Robot!

Science Fair Project Idea

Engineering Design Process

Science Buddies has several fun robotics projects, like the Art Bot: Build a Wobbly Robot That Creates Art and Make a Robot Hand Using Drinking Straws, where you use arts and crafts materials to make part of a robot. Have you ever wanted to design a more-advanced, sturdier, or fancier looking robot? Then computer-aided design (CAD) and 3D printing might be for you; both are simpler than you think! The directions on this page will give you an introduction to these technologies so you can design… Read more

How Does the Number of Parachutes Affect Terminal Velocity?

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Have you ever wondered how astronauts land safely back on Earth? Many spaceships use a small crew capsule with multiple large parachutes to bring the astronauts down to a gentle landing either on the ground or in the ocean. What happens if one or more of the parachutes fails to deploy? Can the astronauts still land safely? Find out as you explore the physics of falling with parachutes in this project. Read more

Create a Facial Recognition System with Machine Learning

Science Fair Project Idea

Engineering Design Process

Have you ever wondered how your smart devices can recognize and distinguish your face from that of others? In this project, you will explore how to create and modify a facial recognition model using a type of artificial intelligence known as neural networks. This project is designed for beginners and requires little to no coding experience. Ready to give it a shot? Read more

Model Rocket Aerodynamics: Stability

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

What keeps a model rocket on course? How can you make sure a model rocket design is stable before you launch it? Find out in this project as you learn about center of mass, center of pressure, and their effect on a rocket's stability. Read more

Effect of Friction on Objects in Motion

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

The funny thing about friction is that you couldn't get anywhere without it, yet it still acts to slow you down as you're getting there. Here is an easy project to measure the effects of friction. Read more

Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, Middle School Science Projects (283 results)

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