Project Guides (Page 11)

Summarizing Your Data

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Measures of Central Tendency: Mean, Median, and Mode In most cases, the first thing that you will want to know about a group of measurements is the "average." But what, exactly, is the "average?" Is it the mathematical average of our measurements? Is it a kind of half-way point in our data set? Is it the outcome that happened most frequently? Actually, any of these three measures could conceivably be used to convey the central tendency of the data. Most often, the… Read more

The Value of a Science Fair Project

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With the jam-packed schedules of today's families, why would either a student or a parent want to add one more major activity? Clearly, any school project assigned to a student should meet a stringent test for usefulness. Surprising to some, a science fair project is one of the best learning experiences a student can undertake. And, if it is taken seriously, it can be an excellent way to earn significant prizes, qualify for scholarships, and distinguish a college application. Conceptually, a… Read more

TLC Analyzer

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Abstract Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) is a widely used method for qualitative analysis to determine the number of components in a mixture, to determine the identity of two substances, or to monitor the progress of a reaction. The more accurate high-performance TLC (HPTLC) is better suited for quantitative analysis. Unfortunately, HPTLC requires expensive equipment that most high schools and colleges cannot afford. If digital photography is combined with regular TLC, it can perform highly… Read more

Transporting Your Board

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Sometimes you may need to transport your display board to a fair across the state or even across the country. There are several options available. Portfolio Shipping Cases If you have followed our advice and built a modular board, we recommend a portfolio case, like the one shown in the picture. This means of transport has many advantages, not the least of which is that you can carry your display with you, letting you make changes up to the last minute. It is also convenient to work with… Read more

What Are Variables? How To Choose Variables For Your Science Project

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What are variables? In science, a variable is anything that can change or be different. It can be a thing (like a shirt or a jacket), a characteristic (like rough or smooth), or a situation (like sunny or cloudy). Scientists want to know how things work. They want to understand why things happen and use that information to predict what will happen in the future. To do this, they use experiments to see if one thing causes another thing to happen. They follow a special process called… Read more

An Introduction to Biomechanics - A Closer Look at Gait & Balance

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Biomechanics is the study of how our bodies move and the forces that affect them. Two important parts of biomechanics are gait and balance. Gait is the way we walk or run. It includes how our joints and muscles move and how smoothly we take each step. Balance is our ability to stay steady, whether we’re standing still or moving. Together, gait and balance show how the body controls movement and how we respond to forces such as gravity, friction, and uneven ground. Gait is the way a person… Read more

An Introduction to Radiation & Radiation Safety

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Building your own homemade X-ray machine is not hard to do, but to do it safely requires that you learn the basics about radiation and radiation safety before beginning. This guide will give you an overview of these topics and point you to additional resources if you are interested in further reading. This guide may also be of interest to anyone generally interested in understanding radiation and radiation safety. What is radiation? The word "radiation" might make you think of… Read more

Carly M's Science Fair Project Blog

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by Carly Introduction to My Blog This blog was started one month into my science fair project, so the first entry will recap everything I did during that month. I wrote this blog in letter form. The purpose of this blog is to help first time students with their project. I can't give personal advice but I can give you the general do's and don'ts of science fair that hopefully will come in handy. This is only my second time doing science fair and last year I got pretty far with my project. … Read more

Chemistry Lab Techniques

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Proper Laboratory Technique Before starting any experiment, you should understand the entire procedure that you will be following. You need to make sure that you have the proper equipment, and that you know how to use it. When you are trying an unfamiliar procedure for the first time, it is a good idea to practice at least one "dry run" without chemicals. That way, you can make sure you have all the materials you will need at hand, and that your workflow will proceed smoothly. You… Read more

Chemistry Safety Guide

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Safety is a key concern in any scientific enterprise, but particularly so in the chemistry lab. There are many potential hazards when working with chemicals, but all of them can be avoided with the appropriate precautions. Safety in the lab is everyone's responsibility. It requires the proper safety attire and equipment, knowledge of the chemicals you are working with, and proper lab procedures and techniques. Safety Attire and Equipment When working with chemicals,… Read more

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