EARTH SCIENCE
http://www.juliantrubin.com/branchesofsciencefair.html
Earthquakes
- Determine how and to what extent site effects (soil type and distance) can account for
peak ground acceleration (PGA). R
- Learn if different types of soil or sand decrease the magnitude of compression waves. R
- Estimate the diameter of the Earth's core by measuring seismic waves around the globe. R
- Locate the epicenters of worldwide earthquakes using archived seismometer. R
- Locate the epicenters of Northern California earthquakes using archived seismometer
data. R
- Seismic and Petrographic Analyses of the Victoria Island Structure R
- Shear Wave Velocity Determined by Refraction Microtremor Surveys to Assess
Earthquake Risk R
- Study the topography of Mentawai Islands, create a map of clear uplifted terraces and by
mapping the distribution of the terraces identify the uplift caused by previous earthquakes.
- Test several methods of landslide prevention to determine which is the most effective. R
- Build Your Own Seismometer R
- Demonstrate seismology - build an earthquake machine R
- Simulation of terrestrial impact craters R
- Fossil source material movement due to tectonic vibrations R
- Make a Brick and Sandpaper Earthquake Model R
- Make a Shake Table R R R
Geology.
- How soil properties changes with depth, and compare soil core profiles collected from
multiple sites. R
- The Origins of Aplite Dikes within the Half Dome Granodiorite Using Initial Strontium and
Lead Ratios R
- Build a model illustrating sea-floor spreading and subduction. R
- Simulation of terrestrial impact craters R
- Fossil source material movement due to tectonic vibrations R
- Slip-Rate Determination of the Great Kavir Fault in Northeast Iran R
- Determine the dominant soil type in your neighbourhood. R
Meteorology
- How Does the Tilt of Earth's Axis Affect the Seasons? R
- Test whether errors in GPS (global positioning system) signals are correlated with
geomagnetic storm activity in the ionosphere. R
- Can we predict future temperatures using the number of sunspots? R
- Weather Anomalies and Natural Disasters S
- Calculate relative humidity R
- Is it possible to forecast the weather by using simple techniques such as observing wind
patterns, cloud formations and using simple measuring devices? R
Hydrogeology
- Build a model illustrating sea-floor spreading and subduction. R
- Measure the amount of water stored in the pore space of a soil sample
Landslides:
- Test several methods of landslide prevention to determine which is the most effective. R
- Investigate how soil type and the degree of saturation of the soil affects slope stability. R
- Test several methods of landslide prevention to determine which is the most effective
Oceanography:
- Understanding Ocean Acidification R
- The Effect of Surface Area and Volume on the Temperature and pH in a Tide Pool R
- Determine what influences the movement of harbor porpoises. R
- The Effect of Latitude on Ocean Salinity in the Antarctic Waters R
- Determine whether temperature affects the salinity and pH level of ocean water. R
- Tests the effect of depth on ocean bottom composition. R
- Find the best jetty design that would keep sand on beaches. R
- Tests to see if extending the beach by adding sand to it affects rip currents. R
- Build a model illustrating sea-floor spreading and subduction
Earth’s Magnetism:
- Identify grazing animals using Google Earth and determine if they have aligned themselves
with Earth's magnetic field.
Erosion:
- The Effect of Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne) Presence and Growth Stage on the
Erodibility of a Sandy Clay Soil R
- Determine whether the beaches in the Malibu area are eroding at an unnatural rate due to
human development. R
- What Barrier to Wind Erosion Is Most Effective? R
- Determine which soil types are most likely to erode under severe weather conditions? R
Natural Disasters:
- Research the theory that an Asteroid Killed the Dinosaurs R R
- How to predict the tide accurately. R R
- Determine if humans can sense infrawaves and if it could be used as an early warnings for
natural disasters. R
- Weather Anomalies and Natural Disasters S
- Simulation of terrestrial impact craters R
- Fossil source material movement due to tectonic vibrations R
Wind Energy:
- Describe alternative energy sources and outline advantages and disadvantages of any
source. R R S
- Increase wind velocity by creating a hole in an airfoil S
- At what time of day is there enough wind to make electricity where you live? (look at the
bottom of the page) R
- Will forcing air (wind) through a smaller space, through an hour-glass shaped cover around
the turbine, more power would be generated at the same wind speed. R
Water Energy:
- Extracting Energy From Phase Shift in Water S
- Test whether a hydrogen peroxide powered Tesla turbine has more energy than a battery
of the same weight. R
- The Effect of the Density of Water on the Wattage Output of an Hydroelectric
Generator R
- Describe alternative energy sources and outline advantages and disadvantages of any
source. R R S
- Build a Kelvin Water Dropper. R
- Which type of natural energy source is more efficient - a hydroelectric dam or a wind
turbine.
Wood Energy:
- The effect of different types of woods on the energy released in a combustion reaction
Geothermal Energy:
- Can Geothermal Power Compete with Coal on Price?
Green Building Science:
- Which new roofing material, proposed to meet the requirements of recent California
legislation, reflects the most light and reaches the lowest maximum temperature?
Renewable Energy Cost:
- Which type of natural energy source is more efficient - a hydroelectric dam or a wind
turbine. R
- Investigate whether the heat from a compost bin or pile can be used to efficiently and
effectively heat water. R
- Test Photovoltaic Cells vs. Solar Thermal Energy (Stirling Engines) Efficiency R R R
- The Effect of Variable Microorganisms and pH on the Efficiency of a Microbial Fuel Cell
(MFC) R
- Determine whether ethanol is a more efficient and clean burning fuel than gasoline. R R
- Determine how efficient certain biofuels are in comparison to diesel fuel and whether
using new or used oil in the making of the biofuels alters their efficiency. R
- Produce Cellobiose Dehydrogenase from fungi Trametes versicolor in a exogenous
expression system, either in E.coli or in transgenic tobacco plants. The recombinant CDH
obtained from this project could be used in a cellulase cocktails to more efficiently degrade
lignocellulose materials. S
- Determine how efficient certain biofuels are in comparison to diesel fuel and whether
using new or used oil in the making of the biofuels alters their efficiency. R
- Discover the most efficient crop to use in the creation of biodiesel. R R
- The Effect of Temperature on PEM Hydrogen Fuel Cell Efficiency R
- An efficient, low cost underwater glider that recycles energy by using a fuel cell as its
method of propulsion R
- Compare biofuels (ethanol) with bioelectricity (burned biomass) efficiency (more energy
from the same amount of land) R
- Can Geothermal Power Compete with Coal on Price?
Solar Cells:
- Test Photovoltaic Cells vs. Solar Thermal Energy (Stirling Engines) Efficiency R R R
- Can Solar Energy Systems Pay for Themselves with Utility Bill Savings? R
- Determine if dye-sensitized solar cells that implement berry pigments absorb more solar
energy than dye-sensitized solar cells that implement leaf pigments. R
- Improve photovolatics by the construction of a modified Cassegrain reflector. R
- Investigate Grätzel photovoltaic cells. R R
- A solar panel will output different levels of power depending on the color and wavelength
of the incoming light. R R R R R
- An innovative passive high-precision photovoltaic panel tracking system S
- Is solar energy a non-polluting way of producing electricity? R
- How many solar cells would I need in order to provide all of the electricity that my house
needs? R R R R R
- Design a replacement electrolyte for the potassium iodide/iodine electrolyte in Grätzel
type dye-sensitized photovoltaic cells using simpler materials R R
- Build a solar bicycle R
- An Experimental Study of a Fluorescent Solar Concentrator R
- Describe alternative energy sources and outline advantages and disadvantages of any
source