Project Guides (Page 8)

Electric Play Dough Recipes

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Swipe left to see more Fun with Circuits Making circuits out of play dough is a fun and easy way to learn about electronics while adding light, sound, and motion to your artwork. The Electric Play Dough Kit available for purchase from our partner Home Science Tools® contains all the electronics parts you need to get started building your own squishy circuits, but you will need to provide your own Play-Doh and modeling clay. The Play-Doh… Read more

How to Analyze a Physical Product

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When you start to identify your design requirements, you already know what problem you are trying to solve. But what does "solving" your problem really mean? Your design requirements are the specific needs that must be met in order to call your design a solution. For a physical product, your problem is likely making a task possible or easier for a user to complete. An example is a pair of crutches. The problem statement is: People need a way to walk while using only one foot,… Read more

Stress, Strain, & Strength: An Introduction to Materials Science

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Introduction A collage of 8 photos with the text "What do all of these pictures have in common?" over the center of the collage. The pictures, clockwise from top left: the leaning tower of Pisa, the armless statue of the Venus de Milo, a soda can about to be popped open, a snapped pencil, a dog chewing a bone, the cracked Liberty Bell, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge as its deck collapses and the shattered face and eroded body of the Sphinx. … Read more

Writing a Hypothesis for Your Science Fair Project

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What is a Hypothesis? A hypothesis is the best answer to a question based on what is known. Scientists take that best answer and do experiments to see if it still makes sense or if a better answer can be made. When a scientist has a question they want to answer, they research what is already known about the topic. Then, they come up with their best answer to the question based on what they know. This is called a hypothesis. The hypothesis has to be testable. A scientist must be able to do… Read more

Accelerometer Technical Note

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The following information is intended to supplement the Science Buddies tutorial on using the accelerometer sensor options in Google's Science Journal app. This resource provides more in-depth explanation of the science behind an accelerometer and the X, Y, Z, and Linear accelerometer options in the app. What is an accelerometer? An accelerometer is a device that measures acceleration, which is the change in an object's velocity per second. Since velocity is measured in meters per second… Read more

Advanced Display Board Design and Tips

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If you are working on a complex or very involved project you may need not only our normal Science Fair Project Display Boards guide, but also some of the advanced tips below. A reminder: Read the rules for your event to make sure that your ideas for a display board, as well as our suggestions below, are allowed. What To Do Emphasize Your Most Important Points Use subheadings to emphasize your key points. A subtitle in a large font might also be effective. You can also have a… Read more

Alternative Display Boards

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Reusable (plywood) display board. Pentafold display board. Tripod board stand. Poster printout mounted on a flat board. A display board constructed from Plexiglas or acrylic sheet is very unique, but it does come with some problems. Depending on what is behind this clear board, it can be very difficult to read. Tubular frame for display board. Accordion display board. "Retractor"… Read more

Arduino Troubleshooting Guide

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Arduino not working? Use this Arduino troubleshooting guide to diagnose and solve circuit, code, and connection issues. Troubleshooting an Arduino Project If you are working on an electronics or robotics project with Arduino and running into a problem, the problem may be related to the circuit, the connection between the Arduino and the computer, or the code you are using. Solving a problem with an Arduino project requires troubleshooting! This… Read more

Big Display Boards for Top Fairs

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At some top science fairs, like the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), big display boards are the norm. We define "big boards" as those substantially larger than the standard, three-panel display board that unfolds to be 36" tall by 48" wide. Important! Before planning your display board, be sure to check the rules for your fair to make sure that you do not build a board that is too large. While a large board gives you additional room to… Read more

Drawing

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Since the beginning of time, drawings have been a way to share ideas with others. Being able to describe your idea verbally is important, but drawings are what allow you to show other people what's in your imagination. Words can only translate an idea to someone else's mind—and that allows for a new interpretation of what that idea may look like. You don't want your ideas to get lost in translation! Now, like many, you may think that you can't draw. But you don't have to be… Read more

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