Name___________________________________________Team_______________________________
Science Fair 2012-2013
Binder Organization
The final science project is due January 7, 2013. The project must include sections and be
placed in a binder. The display board will then need to be completed by the day of the fair
which is scheduled for January 17, 2013
Title of the Project written in problem form (as a question) should be on a page in the front of
the binder then include the following sections:
Section 1: Background research paper with bibliography
Section 2: Abstract – A brief paragraph about the science experiment (see examples on the back)
Section 3: Hypothesis, Variables, Materials, Procedures
Section 4: Data (can include pictures) AND summary of the data
Section 5: Conclusion – Reflect on what you could have done differently and/or what further research
could be done and/or how would this be useful in the future (see examples on back)
Section 6: Miscellaneous pictures/information
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**Your project will be evaluated according to the following:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Clear Title phrased as a problem question.
Hypothesis written in correct format (If ………then…………………….)
Variables, Materials & Procedures written in detail. Procedures are easy to understand.
Data is recorded. Trials have been done if necessary. Data is clearly written.
There is a summary of the data.
The conclusion includes a thoughtful response to what could have been changed, what
further research could be done and/or how the experiment could be useful in the
future.
7. Neatness of the overall project.
Name___________________________________________Team_______________________________
Sample Abstracts:
Advertisers are always touting more powerful and longer lasting batteries, but which batteries
really do last longer and is battery life impacted by the speed of the current drain? This projects looks at
which AA battery maintains its voltage for the longest period of time in low, medium, and high current
drain devices. The batteries were tested in a CD player (low drain device), a flashlight (medium drain
device), and a camera flash (high drain device) by measuring the battery voltage (dependent variable) at
different time intervals (independent variable) for each of the battery types in each of the devices. My
hypothesis was that Energizer would last the longest in all of the devices tested. The experimental
results supported my hypothesis by showing that the Energizer performs with increasing superiority, the
higher the current drain of the device. The experiment also showed that the heavy-duty non-alkaline
batteries do not maintain their voltage as long as either alkaline battery at any level of current drain.
The title of my project is called On Your March, Get Set, Rust! The purpose of my experiment
was to find out if salt water rusts nails faster than freshwater and which type of nails, galvanized or
common will rust quickly. The procedure involved sanding ten galvanized and common nails. The nails
were placed in glass jars and added with 150mL of water mixed with 15mL of salt. The experiment was
observed for two weeks. The amount of rust was recorded on both types of nails. I repeated these steps
for two types of nails in freshwater. My results of my data resolves that galvanized and common nails in
freshwater had a higher average or rust than the other nails in salt water. My data also concludes that
the rusting color was black. In conclusion the nails in freshwater rusted more than the nails in saltwater.
Saltwater may rust something faster than freshwater, but salt contains sodium chloride in which it
causes the nails in saltwater to rust at a slower rate.
Sample Conclusions:
My hypothesis was that Energizer would last the longest in all of the devices tested. My results
do support my hypothesis. I think the tests I did went smoothly and I had no problems, except
for the fact that the batteries recover some of their voltage if they are not running in
something. Therefore, I had to take the measurements quickly. An interesting future study
might involve testing the batteries at different temperatures to simulate actual usage in very
cold or very hot conditions.
My hypothesis was that grass would do a better job at preventing soil erosion on the hillside than
shrubs. I base my hypothesis on the idea that there are more roots in the grass than the shrubs. The
results indicate that this hypothesis should be considered false. The dense amount of shrub cover
shielded the underlying dirt better than the grass. Because of the results of this experiment, I wonder if
different kinds of shrubs have the same effect on preventing erosion. If I were to conduct this science
fair project again I would try both deciduous as well as coniferous shrubs.