Pre-Approved Topics

These topics have all been pre-approved. You are welcomed to modify them as you see fit, as long as you don't deviate from the basic rules we discussed in class.

1. Effect of Different Liquids on Plant Growth: Investigate how various liquids (water, juice, soda) affect the growth of plants over a period of time.
   
2. Paper Airplane Aerodynamics: Design different paper airplane models and test how different factors (wing shape, size, weight) affect their flight distance and stability.
   
3. Homemade Battery Power: Create batteries using household items like lemons, potatoes, or vinegar, and compare their effectiveness in powering small devices like LED lights.
   
4. Candy Chromatography: Separate the pigments in various types of candy using paper chromatography to reveal the different colors that make up the candies.
   
5. Effect of Temperature on Balloon Inflation: Inflate balloons using different temperatures of air and explore how temperature affects their size and rate of inflation.
   
6. Melting Rates of Different Materials: Compare the melting rates of various substances (chocolate, butter, ice) under different conditions (room temperature, hot water, etc.).
   
7. Bouncing Ball Heights: Investigate how different ball materials (rubber, plastic, foam) affect the height of their bounce when dropped from the same height.
   
8. Solar Oven Cooking: Build a solar oven and use it to cook food, comparing cooking times and temperatures with traditional ovens.
   
9. Water Filtration: Create and test various water filtration methods using common materials to determine which is most effective at purifying water.
   
10. Rust Formation: Study the conditions under which metal objects rust the fastest and explore ways to prevent or slow down the rusting process.
    
11. Effect of Different Soils on Plant Growth: Plant the same type of seeds in different types of soil and observe how soil composition affects plant growth.
    
12. Static Electricity Generation: Generate static electricity using different methods (rubbing materials, walking on carpet) and experiment with how it can be used.
    

1. ​What plastic wrap prevents oxidation the best?
2. How permanent are permanent markers? What solvents (e.g., water, alcohol, vinegar, and detergent solution) will remove the ink? Do different brands/types of markers produce the same results?
3. How are different soils affected by erosion? You can make your own wind or water and evaluate the effects on soil. If you have access to a very cold freezer, you can look at the effects of freeze and thaw cycles.
4. How does the pH of soil relate to the pH of the water around the soil? You can make your own pH paper, test the pH of the soil, and add water, then test the pH of the water. Are the two values the same? If not, is there a relationship between them?
5. How does soft drink acidity affect different metals?
6. What fibers absorb the most fluid?
7. Does soda lose its carbonation faster at cold or hot temperatures?
8. If you shake up different kinds or brands of soft drinks (e.g., carbonated), will they all spew the same amount?
9. Do white candles burn at a different rate than colored candles? 
10. How does the shape of an ice cube affect how quickly it melts?
11. How do differences in surfaces affect the adhesion of tape?
12. What household waste materials might be used to filter water?  Examples of materials you might try would include banana peels and coffee grounds.
13. What materials glow under black light?  Can you use the UV light to find invisible, possibly smelly stains in your carpet or elsewhere in your house?
14. What type of plastic wrap prevents evaporation the best?
15. What plastic wrap prevents oxidation the best?
16. What percentage of an orange is water?
17. Does the presence of detergent in water affect plant growth?
18. Can a saturated solution of sodium chloride still dissolve Epsom salts?
19. Does magnesium affect the growth of plants?
20. If you shake up different kinds of brands of soft drinks (e.g carbonated), will they all spew the same amount?
21. Can you use a household water filter to remove flavor or color from other liquids?
22. Do all dishwashing detergents produce the same amount of bubbles?  Clean the same number of dishes?
23. How permanent are permanent markers? What solvents (e.g. water, alcohol, vinegar, and/or detergent solution) will remove the ink?  Do different brands/types of markers produce the same results?
24. Is laundry detergent effective if you use less than the recommended amount? More?
25. Is a seed affected by its size?  Do different size seeds have different germination rates or percentages?  Does seed size affect the growth rate or final size of a plant?
26. How does cold storage affect the germination of seeds?  Factors you can control include the type of seeds, length of storage, temperature of storage, and other variables, such as light and humidity.
27. What conditions affect the ripening of fruit?  Look at ethylene and enclosing fruit in a sealed bag, temperature, light or nearness to other pieces of fruit.
28. How close does a plant have to be to a pesticide for it to work?  What factors influence the effectiveness of a pesticide (rain? Light? Wind?)?  How much pesticide can be diluted and it retain its effectiveness? How effective are natural pest deterrents?