Abstract Book Science Day & Engineering Fair - 36th annual North Central District - Ohio State Marion

Abstract Book

36th annual North Central District
          Science Day

18th annual Marion Area Science
       & Engineering Fair

            Supported by:
the Merle and Peg Hamilton Foundation

           March 23, 2019

Space Number: 1

Student Name: Anvita Kasarla

Project Title: Tooth Decay

Abstract: This project displays how various drinks can affect our teeth if we drink them regularly. We
used eggs to display as our teeth and we put them in different drinks. Since each drink is different and
has different levels of acidity and sugar it would affect the eggshells and our teeth different. We kept
the eggs in the drinks for 24 hours and we observed how the different drinks affected the shells of the
eggs. Our hypothesis states that if we keep eggs in water or milk it would stay the same since those two
drinks don’t have much acidity or sugar and water is their main compound. Other drinks like the
carbonated drinks such as Coco-Cola and Fanta have a lot of acid and sugar in their drink which affected
the shells of the eggs in those drinks differently than the eggs in the water and the milk. We also added
other beverages such as coffee, vinegar, Gatorade, juice and etc. Eggs and teeth enamel are both made
up of calcium-based compounds so the affects of the drinks on the eggs would have the same affect if
we drank those drinks. The purpose of this experiment is educating people to make smarter decisions
when intaking specific beverages. Permanent tooth decay can lead to cavity. We have to remember to
take simple measures after drinking beverages that contain high acidity because it can lead to dental
problems later in our life.

Space Number: 2

Student Name: Margaret Richardson

Project Title: Biomass

Abstract: Scientist are always concerned on how much fossil fuels we have left on this earth, but are
people concerned how much biomass we have left? This project focuses on what type of grass produces
the most biomass. This project is about measuring biomass. The hypothesis was that the barley would
produce the most biomass. Over a three month period American dream corn, oats, broom corn, barley,
spring wheat, and winter rye was grown. After the three months, take the plants out and place the
plants in a bucket of cold water and gently wash the soil off the plants, roots, and, seeds. Once the
plants are all cleaned, weigh them on a digital scale. Preheat oven to 180℉, and place plants on a piece
of parchment paper on a tray and place in the oven for 15 minutes. Once the plants are finished drying
out weigh them once again. After that subtract the weight before the plants were in the oven and after
the plants were in the oven . The results are Broom corn produced the most biomass out of all six. This
experiment showed to grow more grass so it will produce more biomass which will lead to producing
more energy.

Space Number: 3

Student Name: Brookylyn Grohe

Project Title: Chromatography

Abstract: Chromatography isn't something we think about in our daily lives, but you'd be astounded by
how much it affects our world and society today, as well as what it’s capable of. The project views what
solvent and substrate combination works best for separating ink components. This was done by drawing
a thin line of marker around a piece of chalk and then placing the chalk upright in a solvent. Next, it was
left there to sit for 10 minutes, taken out, and analyzed. This was repeated with different solvents,
markers, and with chromatography paper strips rather than chalk. The hypothesis was that the rubbing
alcohol and paper strips would be the best working combination for separating ink components.
However, this wasn't completely correct. Both the water and rubbing alcohol had no movement with
the chalk, yet the water, paper strip, and Crayola marker combo resulted in the ink reaching the top of
the strip. This only happened with the Crayola marker. All of the markers that spread out, thou, had
given a display of red, blue, and purple inks. The nail polish remover and chalk combination moved and
spread out for each marker. So, the best resulting and concluding combination for more than one
marker was nail polish remover and chromatography paper strips.

Space Number: 4

Student Name: Elizabeth Childers

Project Title: Effect of Weather on Activity Level of the Cougar

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to understand how cougars’ behavior changes based on the
climate. In this study, it was explored if there was a significant relationship between weather and the
activity level for the cougar(Puma concolor) at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. The null hypothesis
stated that there was no significant relationship between the weather and percent time active of the
cougar(Puma concolor) at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. The alternative hypothesis stated that there
was a significant relationship between the weather and percent time active of the cougar(Puma
concolor) at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. The research conducted was ex post facto, as the
researcher had no control over the variables, which included the activity level of the cougars, percent
humidity, temperature, and precipitation. The data was analyzed using the Pearson’s Rho Significance
Test. The results are generally inconclusive, as most tests fail to reject the null hypothesis. This means
that there was no evidence to show that there is a significant relationship between weather and percent
time active of the cougar(Puma concolor) at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. To further study this
topic, it is recommended that the cougars be observed at all times of day. Another study could be on
how different types of enrichment affect the cougars’ behavior.

Space Number: 5

Student Name: Liam Chen, Nitish Dashora

Project Title: Segmenting CT Slices: Optimization of Lesion Detection through Mask Region-based
Convolutional Neural Networks (TEAM PROJECT)

Abstract: Lesions, or abnormalities in tissue, are common and can be very severe. Before they become
lethal, it is imperative that they are properly scanned and detected, so that proper measures can be
taken in a timely manner [16]. Current research provides a way to segment lesions autonomously in 16-
bit CT scans [25], but our research utilized 8-bit CT scans. The purpose of this project was to determine if
deep learning algorithms can be applied on NIH data [2,5] to efficiently segment lesions autonomously
using 8-bit CT images. This was done by experimenting with 2D and 3D representations of 8-bit CT scans.
It was implemented through the use of a Mask Region-based Convolutional Neural Network [10,11] in
tandem with Tensorflow Object Detection API [3,6]. We concluded that segmentation is much more
efficient with 3D images, but is overall not efficient enough for professional use. Thus, 8-bit images and
2D imaging should be avoided when autonomously detecting lesions. As a result, CT segmentation
would be optimized through use of 3D, 16-bit data.

Space Number: 6

Student Name: Sophie Ross

Project Title: Does the Volume of Music Affect Test Taking

Abstract: The problem is “Does the volume of music affect test taking?” It is hypothesized that the
loudest volume will will result in the lowest average test scores than a medium or low volume. A brief
procedure of the experiment is as follows. A test will be given out to eight volunteers according to the
directions in the Procedure. The same test will be given to the same people in the same classroom. The
results will be out of 25 total points. All tests will be given to eight volunteers, which will be taken as
eight trials. That is eight tests for each of the following: volume 4, volume 8, and volume 16 on an
iPhone. Data will be taken and recorded. The results do not support the hypothesis.

Space Number: 7

Student Name: Tess Manning

Project Title: Temperature VS Magnet Strength

Abstract: Temperature and magnets affect our lives every day. Imagine a world without electric motors,
electronic devices, and even the internet! This is why I decided to do my experiment on the question,
“How does temperature affect the strength of magnets?” The purpose is so that we can develop more
advanced technology that copes with future temperatures and climate changes. My hypothesis was that
if you decrease the temperature of a magnet and the atmosphere around it, then the strength will
increase because when colder, the atoms take a more fixed position, making them stronger, resulting in
the magnetic force to be stronger. My hypothesis was based off of data I researched. To test this, I
changed the temperature of a place and let the magnet become the same temperature as the hot or
cool air surrounding, which was detected using multiple different thermometers. I then picked up the
magnet, put metal paper clips down, and laid the magnet on top making sure it touches them all,
checking that no paper-clips connected together, so they all touched the magnet. Next, I picked up the
magnet without any paperclips falling off and recorded the number picked up. I also took photos to
support my data. My results supported my hypothesis, coldest picking up the most amount of paper
clips averaged. The hottest magnet collected the least amount of paper clips of all temperatures tested.
The cool temperature magnet gathered the second most, room temperature third, and warm
temperature 4th of paper-clips gathered.

Space Number: 8

Student Name: Julia Roffman

Project Title: Sense, Vibrate, Alert

Abstract: The purpose of this experiment is to help improve the safety of any person who is deaf or
hearing impaired in the automobile industry. The Sense, Vibrate, Alert will detect the lights of any
emergency vehicle, then this will send a slight vibration to the steering wheel, alerting the driver to
glance behind them. Though this will be hard to achieve in a life size model, with many tests on smaller
models, this hopes to achieve a successful connection between the wheel and the sensor next to the
camera on the rear of the car. Through the testing we will achieve a stable sensor connection. This
process will help to insure a safe driving environment for all people, hearing or not.

Space Number: 9

Student Name: Elizabeth White

Project Title: The Effects of Temperature on the Total Protein Concentration of L. minor

Abstract: The purpose of this research was to discover how temperature affects the total protein
concentration of duckweed. It was hypothesized that temperature would not change the amount of
protein in the duckweed. To test the hypothesis, duckweed was grown at different temperatures for 5
days. The duckweed tissue was then disrupted using a mortar and pestle and centrifuged. The upper
phase of the solution was then used to calculate the protein concentration through the Bradford
Method. The results of the testing showed that there is not a correlation between temperature and the
total amount of protein in duckweed. This was found by creating a standard curve using Bovine Serum
Albumin and then using the slope to find the concentration of the samples. From the data that was
obtained, it is concluded that the hypothesis was supported. The data leads to this conclusion because
each sample had a protein concentration of approximately 0.5 mg/ml. The data was consistent because
temperature is not one of the big factors that affect duckweed growth. To further study this topic, light
levels could be used as a different independent variable. It would be interesting to see how light levels
affect the protein concentration because light is the biggest factor that could limit duckweed growth.

Space Number: 10

Student Name: Jaden Rohrs

Project Title: Fungus Fighters: Which antifungal treatment works the best?

Abstract: The common fungus Tinea Pedis causes many common diseases like athlete’s foot and are
treated by over the counter medicines. I wanted to test how well each of these medicines worked. I
used common yeast to test these medicines. I used a gas collection apparatus constructed of a
graduated cylinder, tubing, bin of water, and plastic bottles. Carbon dioxide will be produced when the
yeast is activated using sugar. Medicines tested should show me a decrease in carbon dioxide
production if they are working. I chose three different medicines to test: clotrimazole, tolnaftate, and
terbinafine hydrochloride. I also had heard that the essential oil, tea tree oil has antifungal properties. I
read in my research that this can also be used to treat athlete’s foot. I also decided to test tea tree oil to
see how effective it was in preventing yeast growth. I predicted that clotrimazole would work best and
that the other medicines and tea tree oil would work too, but not as well. My data showed that tea tree
oil actually worked the best. The other medicines did work too, showing a decrease in carbon dioxide
production. I have concluded that the over the counter medicines do work approximately the same. Tea
tree oil was shown to have significantly better results than the medicines.

Space Number: 11

Student Name: Rena Ouyang

Project Title: Making Meals of Polystyrene: How Tenebrio Molitor Can Help Reduce Plastic Pollution

Abstract: The purpose of this research was to explore the effect of consuming plastics by Tenebrio
molitor larvae on their health to potentially improve plastic pollution. It was hypothesized that a diet of
polystyrene would affect the health of T. molitor larvae similarly to a normal diet of dried, organic oats.
To test the hypothesis, mortality rates and the masses of the T. molitor larvae and their food were
measured weekly. The masses of the larvae were analyzed by a Student’s t-test. The p-values yielded
from two-sample t-tests were greater than alpha (0.05), leading to failure to reject the null hypothesis,
which stated that the masses of the larvae with a diet of polystyrene were equal to the masses of the
larvae with a diet of oats. There was insufficient evidence to believe that the masses of the larvae
ingesting polystyrene were less than the masses of the larvae ingesting oats. The mortality rates,
however, were higher for the larvae with polystyrene than those with the oats, suggesting that the
polystyrene may not have had sufficient nutrients that the oats had. From the data, it is concluded that
the hypothesis was partially supported. To further study this topic, the project would be redone to verify
or refute the results of this experiment. Additionally, the nutrients found in oats could be provided to
the larvae ingesting the polystyrene to observe the effect on their health.

Space Number: 12

Student Name: Nishita Chipurapalli, Srikruthi Godavarthi, Aruthra Ramesh

Project Title: Bernouli's Principle: How does an airplane's wing affect its lift? (TEAM PROJECT)

Abstract: Our main purpose for this experiment was to observe how Bernoulli's Principle is used in
everyday life and how the shape of an airplane's wing affects its lift and how they relate. We have
decided to show our project in a different way than we did before. Our hypothesis was, "If we If we
compare the three airfoil wing shapes, we will discover that the standard airfoil shape will generate
more lift than either the symmetrical or reverse airfoil shapes, because the airfoil shape is designed in a
way that the air will flow faster on top than on the bottom creating a lift force that will propel the
airplane higher than the symmetrical wing and the reverse-airfoil wing." Our procedure consisted of
around 11 steps. We started off with a foam board and then had to cut it into 2 rectangles. We then
made sure to cut out our airfoil on the 2 rectangles. We then glued them together with a toilet paper
roll in the middle and made sure to attach a string to it. We then decided to cover it with glossy paper
and attach it to a long toilet paper roll and hold it at a certain height and turned the fan on low to get
the height is increased. In conclusion, our hypothesis was supported and this was shown in our data we
derived. The average amount of lift generated by the airfoil was 42in. The symmetrical was 40in and the
reverse-airfoil was 39in.

Space Number: 13

Student Name: Cooper Heald

Project Title: How Does the Temperature of a Lacrosse Ball Affect the Bounce of the Ball

Abstract: The problem presented is, “ Does the temperature of a lacrosse ball affect the bounce of the
ball”? It is hypothesized that if the temperature of a lacrosse ball is increased, the height of the ball’s
bounce will increase. A brief explanation of the experiment is as follows: Two Maverick lacrosse balls
were taken and put into a sous vide machine for three hours at different temperatures. After those
three hours were up, the two Maverick lacrosse balls were dropped onto the same surface two times for
each ball. The distance the ball bounced off the ground was measured in cm, while the temperature was
recorded in degrees Celsius. The process was video recorded, and after the lacrosse balls were dropped I
would import the video recording into my computer and use the computer to accurately observe and
record the data and results. The results do not support the hypothesis.

Space Number: 14

Student Name: Soham Joshi

Project Title: Mechanism Leveraging E-Waste to Enhance Water Condensation Through Effective Use of
Solid State Magneto-Caloric Thermal Cooling.

Abstract: Water scarcity affects upwards of a billion people worldwide today. Big cities are threatened
by the water crises. Ironically, these very cities happen to have high humidity levels. Cape Town at 76
percent, Sao Paulo at 78 percent and Jakarta at 80 percent average humidity make these cities ideal
candidates for harnessing the power of water condensation. My project aims to benefit from: 1. E-waste
– I plan to leverage the Peltier thermos-cooling modules and cpu cooling fans to build a solid state
refrigeration unit. 2. Free humidity from the atmosphere. My goal is to build a high-efficiency water
condensation device that is portable, environment-friendly, inexpensive and scalable. My device has an
adaptive design and would work with existing infrastructure. Solid-state refrigeration using the
magneto-caloric thermodynamic phenomenon in combination with highly porous perovskites or metal
organic frameworks (MOFs) will enable me to build a highly optimal device that can help alleviate water
scarcity issues. My experiment testing led me to the following conclusions: 1. A Peltier module caused
significant cooling and helped reach the dew point temperature (Td). 2. Condensation was observed
when dew point temperature was reached. 3. Relative humidity percent and quantity of water collected
showed a positive correlation. 4. Exposed surface area and quantity of water collected showed a
positive correlation. Based on the quantity of water collected during the actual tests and using the
principle of extrapolation, it can be deduced that my device would be able to collect about a gallon of
water a day.

Space Number: 15

Student Name: Caylee Combs, Brynn McGrail

Project Title: How Much Runoff is Too Much For Duckweed? (TEAM PROJECT)

Abstract: The purpose of this project is to learn how substantial duckweed is to neighborhood retention
ponds and the importance of adding duckweed to ponds to decrease the excess amounts of nutrients,
limiting algal blooms and creating an overall healthier environment. Specifically, how much nutrients
from fertilizer runoff, nitrates, duckweed can absorb until it is too much and can no longer be absorbed
or duckweed stops growing. It was hypothesized that duckweed would only be able to handle three
times the amount of nitrogen healthy for ponds, or 60mgN/1LH2O. To test the hypothesis, the
colorimeter nitrate test will measure the amount of nitrates in water with a specific amount of fertilizer
that increases each trial. The results of the testing showed that duckweed can absorb nitrogen until it
reaches a concentration of 30mgN/1LH20. The nitrate levels from the only fertilizer test were increasing,
so it’s assumed that there is nitrogen from the atmosphere and continually dissolving nitrogen from the
fertilizer. From the data obtained, it is concluded that the hypothesis was mostly supported. The data
leads to this conclusion because at 60mgN/1LH20, nitrate levels were increasing by over 250% and the
duckweed growth was low. However, this trend started earlier than the hypothesis. To further study this
topic, an experiment should be conducted to find a way to remove the duckweed from the pond before
it reaches this point of saturation and would release the excess nutrients back into the pond, making the
process not as impactful.

Space Number: 16

Student Name: Hailey Frazee

Project Title: Catalyzed Enzymes

Abstract: Without enzymes in your body, you wouldn’t be alive. In this project, coffee filter squares
were dipped in a catalase solution and then dropped into hydrogen peroxide of different temperatures
to see how temperature affects reaction times of the filters. The coffee filter squares were dropped into
jars of hydrogen peroxide ranging in temperatures from 0℃ to 40℃. The hypothesis was that the coffee
filter squares in the cooler water will be slower at rising than in warmer water. The experimental results
supported the hypothesis by showing longer amounts of time for the cooler jars of hydrogen peroxide
and shorter amounts of time for the warmer hydrogen peroxides. This happens because the chemicals
particles move faster in the warmer hydrogen peroxide causing the quicker reaction.

Space Number: 17

Student Name: Ashrit Annapareddy, Joao Pedro (Jope) Squaiella, Sujan Sriram

Project Title: The Effect of Density on Thermal Conductivity (TEAM PROJECT)

Abstract: For our Science Fair, we decided to see if the Thermal Conductivity is affected by an object’s
density. This may seem like a topic that wouldn’t help with much. However, our group’s purpose was to
find out if there was a link between density and Thermal conductivity, and if there was a link between
both, then we would see if the objects needed for heat conducting purposes could be replaced by
cheaper objects with similar densities. In order to do our experiment, we decided that we would take
objects of various densities and put them on a pan that had a set temperature. We would then set up a
timer for 5 minutes and record the temperature of the top of the object. After conducting our
experiment, we found out that there is no link between density and Thermal Conductivity. The data
showed that the object with the highest density, Copper, reached the highest temperature after five
minutes at 190 degrees Fahrenheit. Following that logic, the object with the lowest density, Styrofoam,
would have the lowest temperature, but Styrofoam had a temperature of 152 degrees Fahrenheit,
which was the third hottest temperature. Also, Wood had the second lightest density, but the second
highest Temperature at 181 degrees Fahrenheit. In the end we came to the conclusion that the Thermal
Conductivity of an object is determined by other factors.

Space Number: 18

Student Name: Emma Phillips

Project Title: Lead

Abstract: Lead poisoning is a recent and occurring problem affecting the U.S. There are many ways to
test the lead amount in an object but which way is the best? This project tests three different liquids:
water (50mL), white vinegar (50mL), water and vinegar (25mL each), to see which is better for testing
the amount of lead in a lead sinker. One lead sinker was placed in each of the 6 cups; cups 1 and 2
served as controls. After four and 24 hours the water and vinegar were tested for lead in each of the
cups. The hypothesis for this experiment was that the vinegar was the better liquid to use and test for
lead. The hypothesis was supported by the results because after three tests of this experiment, the
vinegar was proven to be the better liquid due to its high pH level. To conclude, this experiment proves
that lead testing should be done with liquids containing a high pH level because the acidity will bring out
the lead more than a liquid with a neutral or lower pH level.

Space Number: 19

Student Name: Carson Walker

Project Title: Which Vacuum Sealed Tumbler Holds Temperature Most Consistently?

Abstract: Purpose: Which Vacuum sealed tumbler holds temperature most consistently? Experiment:
Eight different brands of tumblers were selected for the experiment. Tap water was brought to a boil on
the stove. The temperature was measured and recorded after the water boiled. The room temperature
was also measured and recorded prior to starting the experiment. The boiling water was immediately
poured in equal amounts into each tumbler. Temperature readings were taken every thirty minutes and
recorded over a 4 hour period for each tumbler and a final reading at 6.5 hours. Conclusion: The
experiment revealed that the most expensive tumbler was NOT the best at keeping temperature most
consistent. The winner of the experiment was the TAL tumbler. Therefore, my hypothesis was incorrect,
as the Yeti was the most expensive tumbler. The Yeti was at a disadvantage verses the other tumblers
because it had been used previously. Therefore, it is possible that wear and tear from handling, and
dishwasher cleaning decreased its ability to perform as well as a new tumbler. The Ozark Trail tumbler
had an opening in its lid, while all the other tumblers had closed lids. The TAL tumbler was the only one
with a screw tight lid. I conclude the difference in lid designs had a large impact on heat loss. The size of
the tumbler had no bearing on the experiment as all were equal. Based on my results, plus the cost of
the tumbler, the TAL tumbler is the best value.

Space Number: 20

Student Name: Saagar Arya

Project Title: The Effect of Different Pitches and Lofts on Drone Propellers

Abstract: There are over 770,000 registered drones in the U.S, And the number is rapidly growing [4].
The number of registered drones is projected to be increasing to 3.55 million by 2021. As more drones
are manufactured each year for purposes such as package delivery, the proper drone propeller design to
maximize lift will be critical. This is important because the lift determines the maximum load the drone
can carry. I determined the blade shape that generated the maximum lift. In my experiment, I tested
seven different pitches, ranging from 10 degrees to 40 degrees, and four lofts, ranging from no
curvature to high curvature, for a total of twenty-eight combinations. During my experiment, I applied
10 volts and 3.4 amps to a 1000kv DC (direct current) brushless motor that drove the drone propeller. I
measured the downward force produced by the propeller on the scale. The best propeller I created had
a little curvature in the loft, a 15-degree pitch, and produced a maximum lift of 207 grams. This implies a
load capacity of approximately 828 grams if a quadcopter was built using the propeller at the specified
voltage and current. In the future, I can test the propellers at varying applied voltages and currents to
create a battery to further characterize my propellers.

Space Number: 21

Student Name: Lukas Pever

Project Title: Run DMC

Abstract: this project asked the question of if the tempo/speed of music affects a runners speed. to do
this experiment, i had four subjects run one mile, 6 different times, each to different tempo ranges.
starting with no music and going through different tempo ranges. my data showed that 3 people where
not affected by the music and 1 peron was. this lead me to conclude that when running to music, the
motivation depends on who you are. some people might be motivated by the music speed, but some
might be motivated by the words or something else.

Space Number: 22

Student Name: Abigail Luellemen

Project Title: Keep the Sugar Coming

Abstract: Keep the Sugar Coming is about whether sugar would affect how big or small a chocolate chip
cookie would get. I thought that the more sugar I added the smaller the cookie would get. My procedure
was just like any other cookie recipe but the only thing I changed was the amount of sugar I added in
each batch. With cookie recipes you normally use granulated sugar and brown sugar, but I wanted to
keep it to where there was only one type of sugar so I had to find a different recipe that only had
granulated sugar. The original recipe called for 1 cup of sugar and I went up 1/4 each batch all the way
up to 2 cups of sugar. I made 4 cookies for each batch and then found the averages. After the cookies
were done, the original cookie recipe were the smallest and the 1 3/4 batch was the largest. In
conclusion I had to reject my hypothesis because instead of the cookies getting smaller with more sugar
the cookies got larger.

Space Number: 23

Student Name: Pranjal Agochiya

Project Title: The Effect of Gas Stations on pH Levels of Soil

Abstract: This project involves the study of how soil pollution (particularly caused by gas) impacts the pH
levels of soil. The hypothesis stated that if the pH of soil from different areas is tested, then the soil
nearby the gas stations would be more acidic, because the soil is polluted by gasoline leakages. This
hypothesis was not supported because overall the nearby soil samples resulted to be more basic than
acidic. The tests were conducted by mixing individual soil samples from different locations of gas
stations in water. Then, by putting some drops of universal pH indicator into each beaker, the color
changes in the solutions were observed to determine the pH levels. The data shows that the ‘nearby’
soil samples show a pH of 9, 11, 12.5, and 9, whereas the ‘away’ soil samples show a pH of 8, 7.5, 8, and
9. The ‘nearby’ soil samples are more basic than the ‘away’ soil samples which means that the away
samples were leaning more toward the acidic end of the pH scale. During this experiment, I learned that
the closer the soil samples are to the gas stations, the higher the pH levels of the soil will be (more
basic). In future experiments, the same mass of each soil sample would be measured in each solution,
and the method of determining the pH of each sample would be more accurate. This was how the effect
of gas on pH levels of soil was studied.

Space Number: 24

Student Name: Caleb Rickett

Project Title: Wood

Abstract: Knowing what wood to use in a furnace can make a difference in the quantity and the quality
of the heat. The purpose of this project was to find out what wood burns the hottest and fastest. I
hypothesised that pine wood would burn the fastest and hottest. The experiment consisted of cutting
the wood into the exact same sizes, stacking the pieces individually in an outside burn safe area. Fill a
bowl with water and put the water on top of a tripod built over the wood. Then drop a few droplets of
lighter fluid on the wood and ignite with a lighter. Next, observe and document the time from when the
wood ignites till it burns out or turns to ash. Also, take the temperature of the water every minute the
wood is lit. Repeat this step every minute up to five minutes, record results in lab notebook. Finally,
repeat the experiment with all the woods: oak, cherry, and pine. Record the final results in lab
notebook. My results showed that oak burned the hottest and fastest. Cherry was second then pine.
Cedar took the longest time to start burning and it was the slowest to burn. This science experiment
would be very useful for anyone interested in knowing the speed of wood burning and the temperature
it burns at. It could be useful for those who use wood as a source of heat in their home, campsites, and
what wood to use when building homes.

Space Number: 25

Student Name: Reya Singh

Project Title: Chop Chop! Do Lefties Have Faster Reaction Times Than Righties?

Abstract: Being a leftie, there has always been things that have been a little more difficult for me to do
compared to righties. Myself, along with only 700 - 750 million lefties in our world (out of our almost 7.5
Billion population) are almost forgotten. I did this experiment because I want to inspire lefties, I want
lefties who feel like it’s harder on them to realize that they actually have an advantage. I want them
lefties who feel like they have a disadvantage (like I did, in martial arts) to realize that in some sports,
they shine, that they are needed more (for example in pitching or golf). I did research to find that
righties have a hard time reacting to leftie movements. This made me want to see if lefties may have a
faster reaction time than righties. In the process of doing my experiment, testing if left handed writers
have faster reflexes than right handed writers, to start things off, I had to get 8 lefties and 8 righties. I
took each individual and had them do 3 reaction tests, 2 of which were online reaction tests, and the
other was a ruler drop test. Then, I had the subject(s) do 3 trials on each test. On the first test, the lefties
got a faster reaction time by 36 milliseconds, the second test by 87 milliseconds and on the last test by 4
cm. In conclusion, I found that lefties do have faster reaction times than righties!

Space Number: 26

Student Name: Ellie Maurer

Project Title: The Windy 500

Abstract: The purpose of this experiment was to determine whether a car’s shape changes how it moves
through the air. The researcher believed that an airstream would affect a car with a boxy shape more
than cars with sloped shapes. To test the hypothesis, three different car body shapes (rectangle,
trapezoid, and triangle) were placed, one at a time, in a hair dryer wind tunnel. The car was held in place
with a long screwdriver, and the hair dryer was turned on. The screwdriver was removed, and the car
was allowed to roll freely. A stopwatch was used to measure the time it took for the car to emerge from
the tunnel. Each car was run in the wind tunnel five times. The time data for each car was recorded and
charted on a bar graph. Also, the time data was used to calculate average travel times for each car body
shape. The time data for each car shape was compared to see how the wind affected its movement. Test
data showed that the hypothesis was accurate. The body shape did change how wind impacted the car.
When the car had a boxy rectangle shape, the wind pushed it out of the wind tunnel in 3.15 seconds
(average). On the other hand, the wind pushed less against the trapezoid and triangle body shapes, and
those cars took more time to travel through the wind tunnel. The average travel times for the trapezoid
and triangle shapes were 4.65 seconds and 7.16 seconds.

Space Number: 27

Student Name: Blair Fairchild

Project Title: Warm or Cool Color Theory

Abstract: In my experiment, I knew that some people see a different color than other people, so I
wanted to test how many people saw a cool color and how many people saw a warm color when tested
with a color that could be green or yellow. I predicted that most people would see a warm color, versus
the cool color. I hypothesized this because I always see a cool color when my family usually see a warm
color. I asked many different people of different genders and ages what color they saw and recorded the
data. As I looked at my results, I found that most people, 56 per cent of them, saw the cool color green,
and only 44 per cent of people saw the warm yellow color. Overall, my hypothesis was incorrect because
I thought most people would see would see yellow which was the warm color, but actually more people
saw the cool green color.

Space Number: 28

Student Name: Abhishek Sangu

Project Title: The Effect of Antifungal Agents on Yeast

Abstract: My question for this project is “How do different antifungal agents affect the growth of
fungus?”. My hypothesis for this project is “If we test a variety of allylamines and azoles to halt yeast
production, then the allylamines will have a stronger effect on the fungus, because they target an
enzyme that is created earlier than the targeted enzyme of azoles.” I am doing this study on antifungal
agents and how different agents affect fungus (like yeast) differently. I also studied how these different
agents affected the growth of fungus. I set up my experiment to test two types of agents: azoles and
allylamines, and two different variations of each type. I am testing the chemical agents of clotrimazole
and miconazole (azoles), and both terbinafine and butenafine hydroxide (allylamines). These agents will
be mixed in a solution and then used on yeast in a tubing apparatus. The carbon dioxide that is released
by growing yeast will go through a tube that leads to water in a graduated cylinder. The CO2 will push
the water down through the cylinder showing how much CO2 is being created by the yeast and
therefore showing the growth of the yeast. In conclusion, my hypothesis was incorrect; the azoles
actually stalled yeast production more. This could be explained by the fact that since azoles target
lanosterol-demethylase 14a, the second enzyme used in fungus growth, they could be made stronger to
repel fungus since an enzyme (squalene epoxidase) has already helped the fungus grow.

Space Number: 29

Student Name: Akaash Balaji, Arun Meyyappan

Project Title: Cancer due to genetics and its Prevention (TEAM PROJECT)

Abstract: The team wants to study and prove the assumption that the risk of cancer due to genetics
could be overturned by healthy lifestyle. Here, the lifestyle is referred as a broad category comprising of
food habits, physical, mental health, and environmental factors. The methodology is to collect data from
existing reliable sources and apply a scientific method to prove our hypothesis. The team has chosen to
collect data from public authentic sources/previous researches to get data points for the below four
areas and will use scientific method/synthesis to prove or disprove their hypothesis. a. The role of
genetic mutations on cancer creation b. Statistical data on cancer due to various factors c. The risk of
cancer due to genetics d. The role of immune system in preventing cancer Based on the statistical data
collected from different sources, the team created a tool to assess cancer risk for humans based on
simple questions. Based on data synthesis, the team concluded that risk of cancer due to genetics can be
significantly reduced through healthy life style with some exceptions.

Space Number: 30

Student Name: Lillian Percy

Project Title: Resistors

Abstract: Resistors are commonly used to help lower voltage in projects and in homes. This project looks
at resistors in electrical flow and how much resistance they add to the electrical flow. The hypothesis is
the 1,500-ohm ¼ watt will have the most resistance out of the five resistors in this project. Using a
multimeter, change the setting to resistance to measure to resistance the resistor provides. Take the
probes, one on each side, and touch them to the resistor sides. The experiment hypothesis was correct
as the experiment showed the 1,500-ohm ¼ watt had .982 volts, which was the largest amount of volts
out of the five different types of resistors. This experiment also shows the higher the ohm of the
resistor, in its name, the higher the resistance it provides, so if you need more resistance you will need
to choose a higher ohm of a resistor. Resistors are important to ensure there is the right amount of
voltage in the electrical flow and to lower the voltage if there is too much. This project is important to
help people know which resistor to use and to have a safe and correct amount of voltage.

Space Number: 31

Student Name: Devi Dheekshita Nelakurti

Project Title: Detecting Hyperparathyroidism with DNA

Abstract: This science experiment studies one gene from MEN1, CDC73, CASR that has the most chance
it will result in familial isolated hyperparathyroidism phenotype if its alleles are mutated. The MEN1,
CDC73, CASR are clinically proven to cause familial isolated hyperparathyroidism phenotype if mutated
(U.S. National Library of Medicine). With the knowledge of that gene and its specific mutated alleles,
endocrinologists and geneticists can work together to determine patients who have
hyperparathyroidism accurately and efficiently by looking at one (1) high stake gene. Although there are
blood tests to test for hyperparathyroidism, it can get unreliable if certain medication, exercise, dairy
products interfere with the calcium concentrations. The proposed hypothesis stated that CDC73, if
mutated, has the most chance that it will result in familial isolated hyperparathyroidism phenotype
because CDC73 can cause a series of events to unstabilize the calcium homeostasis and it also has the
highest number of variant alleles (19,253) so more yield for mutations. In order to test the hypothesis,
the genes MEN1, CDC73, CASR were first recorded for the type of allelic variations and then their clinical
significance (pathogenic). So, each gene had two (2) quantitative values that are calculated: percentage
of pathogenic alleles to all the variant alleles and the number of the pathogenic variant alleles. The
results of the experiment showed that MEN1 had the highest percentage of pathogenic alleles to all the
variant alleles (5.58%) which shows that MEN1 has the high percent of mutations that are pathogenic.

Space Number: 32

Student Name: Phebe George

Project Title: Pencil Hardness

Abstract: How does lead (graphite) hardness affect how long you can write? For example, how long can I
write with a pencil with the lead hardness called HB? The purpose of this experiment was to find out
how long I can write with three mechanical pencils each with a different hardness. My hypothesis was If
the lead used in a pencil has more hardness then it will last longer because it is harder to erode. To
prove my hypothesis I assembled a drum test jig and pencil fixture to precisely measure how long it took
to erode exactly 0.100 inches of lead. This was repeated using three different hardnesses of lead. The
lead hardness known as 4H supported my hypothesis. My hypothesis was confirmed when the lead with
the most hardness (4H) lasted longer than the lead HB (Average hardness), and 5B (the least hardness).
Overall the 4H lead lasted the longest because of it being the lead with the most hardness. The HB lead
lasted the second longest because of it being the lead with the average hardness, and 5B lasted the third
longest because of it being the lead with the least hardness. In the end, I show how we could save over
81,000 trees by using a lead that last longer. I also discuss why we use HB as the most common lead.

Space Number: 33

Student Name: Frederick Shimp

Project Title: Do Heavy Metals Affect Grass?

Abstract: Abstract The problem is, “ Will the type and amount of a heavy metal in a soil affect the height
growth of grass?” It is hypothesized that the presence of heavy metals in the soil will stunt the growth of
grass that is growing in the soil. A brief procedure of the experiment is as follows. Two grams of cobalt,
manganese, iron, bismuth, and zinc were separately mixed into five plastic cups with soil and grass seed.
There was also five more cups with no metal filled into them. All of the pots were grown with the same
amount of sunlight and water. The height for all the seedlings were measured in centimeters. The final
results were taken 20 days after the start of the project. However, data was taken and recorded every
day of the project. The results did not support the hypothesis.

Space Number: 34

Student Name: Amelia Stranges, Megan Wallace

Project Title: Working All of the Angles with P-V Cell (TEAM PROJECT)

Abstract: The purpose of the research was to measure the angle of the sun and how it affects how much
energy photovoltaic cells absorb and produce. The hypothesis is that any angle other than a 90-degree
angle will cause the photovoltaic cell to absorb less energy and produce less electricity, and if it is at 90
degrees, it will produce the most electricity. To test the hypothesis, we used a clamp light, meter stick,
multimeter, duct tape, photovoltaic cell, and a large protractor. The protractor was put right side up on
the floor and lined up the meter stick with the 90-degree angle. We attached a clamp light to the meter
stick and tilted the meter stick at different angles. The results of our experiment point to the conclusion
that our hypothesis was correct. The data showed that the farther away the angle was from 90 degrees,
the voltage decreased, and when the angle was 90 degrees, the voltage was the highest. Because there
were some outliers, the mean especially helped to get an average. This data leads to this conclusion
because it showed that the more direct light results in a higher voltage and a less direct light results in a
lesser voltage. Ways to extend the project could be to investigate more about how weather (such as
clouds) affects the photovoltaic cells’ efficiency.

Space Number: 35

Student Name: Ainsley Bonaudi

Project Title: Moisturizers

Abstract: Moisturizers are one of many cures for dry skin, but which ones really work? This project is all
about which moisturizers work best to keep dry skin moist, and the real science behind them, the good
and the bad. The hypothesis was that the 100% petroleum jelly moisturizer would work the best. Over
the course of two weeks, five moisturizers were tested on Jell-O models acting as skin to find the
moisturizer that lost the least amount of height (millimeters) and weight (grams). After two weeks, the
best moisturizer was determined. Out of the five tested, four of them passed the test, but one could not
be beaten. The Aquaphor advanced healing/therapy moisturizer also known as the 100% petroleum jelly
moisturizer worked the best. The average lost only about 0.87 grams and 1.67 millimeters, helping to
prove the hypothesis made correct. The results were then turned into bar graphs that showed the
largest loss of the moisturizer’s height and weight, comparing all of the moisturizers.

Space Number: 36

Student Name: Meg Wolf

Project Title: Do competitive or non-competitive swimmers have a lower change in heart rate after
swimming two laps of freestyle?

Abstract: The problem is, “Do competitive swimmers or non-competitive swimmers have a lower
average change in heart rate after swimming 2 laps (45.72 meters) of freestyle?" It is hypothesized that
competitive swimmers will have a lower change in heart rate after swimming the 45.72 meter freestyle.
A brief procedure of the experiment is as follows. Have the swimmer take their initial resting heart rate.
They then entered the pool and swam 2 laps of freestyle. When they finished they took their heart rate.
All participants tested a total of three days, three trials each day. Data was taken and recorded. The
results supported the hypothesis.

Space Number: 37

Student Name: Divy Kumar

Project Title: Which Metal is Best At Inhibiting Bacterial Growth

Abstract: The reason for this research is to determine which metal has the best antibacterial qualities.
This research could be used in hospitals to help them change what their tray tables and I.V. poles are
made of. There was a study on copper’s antibacterial qualities. The report stated copper is the only big
bacterial super fighter but this research will try to prove there are other metals that can be used for
their antibacterial qualities. The methods that were used were based off of Ams test. After eight trials of
testing, there were no antibacterial signs on any metal. This could be because some areas did not have
as much bacteria as others considering I used a swab instead of a streaker.

Space Number: 38

Student Name: Richard Li

Project Title: Radiation Reflection

Abstract: Most TV remotes work by sending out a beam of infrared light. However, you can interfere the
path of this beam. My question was, “what materials will stop the signal of the remote from reaching
the TV?”. The purpose of my experiment was to find what materials did just that. I tested my hypothesis
by first testing the tv remote alone, and then testing it with different materials in front of the remote. I
placed my remote five feet away from the TV, turned the tv on, increased the volume by 1, decreased
the volume by 1, and turned off the TV. I repeated this twice. I tested various materials including my
hand, tinfoil, water, and printer paper. My data was very consistent. If a material didn’t let the signal
pass through once, then it would never let the signal pass. Overall I noticed that thin, translucent, or
clear materials would let the signal through. The only exception for this was the water. This is likely
because water can reflect radiation very effectively.

Space Number: 39

Student Name: Walt Conte

Project Title: Thermal Theories, A Study of the Electrical Generating Efficiency of Small-Array
Thermoelectric Plates

Abstract: The purpose of this project was to design a practical, compact thermoelectric generator. The
design goal for the device was to create a generator that could run off of small candles, and was capable
of producing at least five volts of electrical energy for at least 25 minutes without maintenance. The
criteria and test scenarios that were used as standards for the design were that after starting it up, I
could run it for at least 25 minutes without having to touch or adjust any part of the device, other than
periodically monitoring temperatures to determine when it would be unsafe to continue using the same
container of water. The device also had to be capable of charging a mobile phone a sufficient amount of
the way. Testing showed that the prototype could succeed in producing electrical energy, and could
charge a mobile phone. From the testing, it is concluded that the design goal was met with every test
conducted. When the prototype performance is compared to the design goal, it has greatly exceeded its
original requirements, by almost three times in some aspects. To further explore this design challenge,
the prototype would be redesigned to be incorporated into the average household fireplace, camping
fires, and even household furnaces.

Space Number: 40

Student Name: Ava Hemsley

Project Title: The Best Coverage Under the Sun

Abstract: There are many types of sunscreen available but which one gives you more protection? Spray
Sunscreen or lotion sunscreen? I chose this topic because I don’t like putting on sunscreen and my
parents usually give me the option of using spray or lotion sunscreen. And I have always wondered
which type works better. I think that lotion sunscreen will give you more protection from the sun. I think
that the lotion sunscreen will give you more protection because you can rub it in yourself. With spray
sunscreen instead of spraying all of your exposed skin, you could miss half of the skin and not give
yourself as much protection as you thought you did.

Space Number: 41

Student Name: Alexa Fischer

Project Title: Does Slow Cooling from Solution Temperature Affect Fatigue Life in Aluminum?

Abstract: The purpose of this project was to figure out if slow cooling from solution temperature affects
fatigue life in 6061-T6 aluminum.It is common practice in the forging industry to air cool parts, and it is
suspected that this lowers the fatigue life of those parts. The theory was that slow cooling from solution
temperature would affect the fatigue life of aluminum negativity. It seemed like this would happen
because slow cooling from solution temperature would allow large precipitates to form at the grain
boundaries. This would cause the aluminum to crack more easily. 40 parts were ordered from a local
machine shop and made on a computer controlled lathe. The parts were solution annealed in a furnace
at Ohio University. Half of the parts were quick cooled by quenching them in water. The other half of the
parts were slow cooled by leaving them in the furnace and turning it off. Once the parts were cooled,
they were aged in a kitchen oven at 175C for 8 hours. After that, they were tested using a Wohler
fatigue tester. The results were that slow cooling from solution temperature significantly decreased the
fatigue life of the metal. On average, the fatigue life of the slow cooled parts was over an order of
magnitude less than the quick cooled parts.

Space Number: 42

Student Name: Faith Truax

Project Title: Does the price of paintball affect the accuracy of the shot?

Abstract: The problem is, “Does the price of paintball affect how accurate the shot is?” It is hypothesized
that a more expensive brand of paintball will produce the most accurate shot. A brief description of the
procedures of the experiment is as follows. Take one Tippmann brand paintball gun and shoot seven
paintballs for each of the three different priced brands, at a target. The target was placed the same
distance from the shooting platform and all shots were fired using the same amount of air pressure. The
distance from the target from the shooting platform was measured in meters and the distance of each
shot from the center of the target was measured in centimeters. Data was taken and recorded in the log
book. The results did not support the hypothesis.

Space Number: 43

Student Name: Katherine Geniusz

Project Title: Which is the Best Face Wash?: Antimicrobial Effects of Facial Cleanser

Abstract: Acne affects most teenagers in western society and has even been linked to lower mental
health. Acne is primarily caused by a bacteria named Cutibacterium acne and if the growth of this
bacteria is inhibited then acne cannot be created. In this research, it is tested to see which face wash
inhibits bacteria growth the most. The hypotheses tested were both null and alternate to see if bacteria
growth was significant as well as “The face wash Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit Facial Cleanser will inhibit
the growth of bacteria the most due to the high salicylic acid content and the ‘recommendation’ of
dermatologists.” The bacteria that was used was for testing was Bacillus megaterium as opposed to
Cutibacterium acne due to time constraints but the bacteria is both gram-positive so they are likely to
react the same to antibacterial agents. The most successful face wash was Aveeno with the least
amount of bacterial growth with only 5 colonies. The objective of the research was met and the current
conclusion is that Aveeno is the best face wash that has been tested in this experiment.

Space Number: 44

Student Name: Elyse Holzer

Project Title: What is Truthfully a Sour Candy Flavor?

Abstract: Abstract My Hypothesis is: If ages 8-36 test different flavors of Warheads and Sour Patch Kids,
then they will agree with me that Blue Raspberry is the most sour and Apple is the mellowest for
Warheads. For Sour Patch Kids, the most sour will be Blue Raspberry and the melowest will be Orange. If
I test different flavors of sour candies for ages 37-58, then I believe that they will agree with the
following guesses. For Warheads, my guess is that Watermelon will be the most sour and Lemon be the
mellowest flavor. For the Sour Patch Kids, the most sour will be Cherry and the mellowest flavor will be
Lime. My Hypothesis was incorrect. My results were mostly Lemon was found to be the most sour flavor
for both candy brands. For the Warheads, there were 16 people that thought that Lemon was the most
sour flavor. Black cherry had 8 people think it was the least sour flavor for Warheads. For the Sour Patch
Kids, the most sour flavor was Lemon... 17 people thought it was the most sour. The least sour flavor for
Sour Patch Kids was Blue Raspberry, and it had 9 votes. My hypothesis was incorrect and I think I was
wrong because Lemon with its candy flavors have more acid than the other flavors. The other flavors are
real fruits, but they don't have acid in them like lemon does.

Space Number: 45

Student Name: Alex Buehrer

Project Title: Electromagnets

Abstract: Electromagnetics are the backbones to virtually our entire world. They are the driving force of
engines, computers, and generators, to name a few. As simple as it may sound, this project lays out
some of the basics of electromagnetics and a few of the laws of electromagnetism, some of which were
discovered as far back as 1820. The hypothesis stated that the more coils of wire that were wrapped
around the tunnel that the magnet was dropped through, the higher the outcoming voltage would be.
This project involved creating a tube out of transparency sheets, wrapping wire around it, and then
dropping neodymium magnets through the tube, measuring the voltage when the magnets passed the
coils, which were in turn connected to a multimeter. The number of coils of wire (independent variable),
the number of magnets dropped (control), and the outcoming voltage (dependent variable) all
supported the hypothesis: the more coils that were wrapped around the wire, the greater the voltage.
This project shows that wire that can carry voltage and also attracts magnetic forces is more effective at
generating voltage in larger quantities.

Space Number: 46

Student Name: Priyanka Agochiya

Project Title: A Novel Approach to Enhancing Surgical Training and Procedures Using Augmented Reality

Abstract: Surgi-Train is a device that aims to help enhance training for both inexperienced surgeons and
residents surgical procedures using augmented reality technology. Along with training, it can be used to
plan out procedures in advance by surgeons. This can also be used in the operating room so that the
surgeon has a constant enhanced view of the patient’s anatomy that is not visible to them to the naked
eye. The device will be helpful in hospitals with very limited resources. Surgeons in these areas do not
have access to the best resources to investigate and treat complicated cases. Medical residents
currently go through numerous simulations to practice surgical procedures and techniques, but these
simulations will become increasingly obsolete in the future as technological advancements change how
surgeries are performed. The application uses augmented reality to create and display anatomical
holograms of the patient’s anatomy. The anatomical holograms provide the surgeon/resident clearer
information (compared to other current imaging techniques) about what is wrong in that part of the
patient’s body. They will be used as a supplement to help the surgeon map out their methods of
treatment in advance. To determine the feasibility of the concept and device, interviews with
demonstration were conducted with surgeons. Based on these interviews, 80% of the surgeons
indicated their willingness to using this device and confirming that this concept will enhance the field of
surgery in the future. Thus, this device has been proven to make a positive impact on the field of
surgery.