ALL High School Projects by CATEGORY the LAST NAME
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ALL High School Projects by CATEGORY the LAST NAME
Category Student 1 Name School Name Title Abstract
Behavioral & Social Ikram , Quratulan Sycamore High Got Sleep? Though everyone needs varying amounts of sleep to be able to operate for the
Sciences day, a lack of sleep affects many internal and external bodily functions. To go
about the day, having a balanced coordination is an important factor. The
objective is to discover: If high school students are sleep deprived for 24
hours, then their speech abilities and coordination will be affected. This topic
was chosen because many high school students do not obtain sufficient
amount of sleep. Studies have shown that, as a result of sleep deprivation, the
majority of individuals' coordination and speech are affected. But, most
research does not focus these factors on just high school students. High
school volunteers were kept awake for 24 hours, after an entire day of no
sleep, the participants were given a battery of cognitive tests. All of these tests
were given to challenge each sleep deprived student's abilities of coordination
and speech. The tests were given at the 18 hour period of sleep deprivation,
and again at the 24 hours period. The expected results are to see a decline in
the participants' coordination and speech as the hours of sleep deprivation
increase. This study is important because the results can be used to educate
high school students about how their lack of sleep affects them during the day,
and can also be used to inform educators about the current school-time
schedules.
Behavioral & Social Jubak, Josh McNicholas High Ambiguous Figures For the ambiguous figure experiment the main question was if age had an
Sciences effect on weather a black image or white image was seen in an even figure-
ground. Studies show that people see things in objects in different ways.
Some may see a tree and others may see a bat. It all depends on the way that
the image was looked at. That is why I believe age my have an effect on this.
To start testing for this experiment six black and white ambiguous figures and
had them grouped together on six sheets of paper. Then a unbiased answer
sheet needed to be made so that a scribe could write what was seen. After this
the testing could start. At least seven guys and girls from each age group (12
and under, 13-20, and over 30) needed to be evaluated to collect valid data.
Once all the data was collect and recorded results could be made.
The results showed that 83% of younger kids saw the white image over the
black one. Other results show that 66% of adults saw the black image over the
white, and teenagers saw a even range (48% black, 52% white) of images. It
can be concluded that kids 12 and under see white images faster or easier that
adults over 30 do.
There are many reasons that this could be true. The main reason is that
everyone is different and as they get older they want to know what they are
looking at.Category Student 1 Name School Name Title Abstract
Behavioral & Social Khan, Salman Turpin High Distracted Reactions This experiment was conducted to test the effects of distractions on reaction
Sciences times in teenagers. Each subject was tested with no distractions, with listening
to music, and with texting situations. Each of those tests was conducted three
times and the results averaged. The data was then compared by tests and by
gender. As predicted, the teenagers had the quickest reaction times while not
distracted, slight longer times while listening to music, and the longest times
while texting. There was also evidence to support that males have quicker
reaction times on all tests by around the same percentage.
Behavioral & Social McCane, Lauren Anderson High Catching a Criminal: An Analysis In July of 1984 Jennifer Thompson was robbed and raped in her home. During
Sciences of the Accuracy o her attack Jennifer made notes in her mind about her attacker, for example, his
height, race and facial features. So she was positive that she had chosen the
right man in the photo and physical line ups shown to her. Due to this
“evidence,” Ronald Cotton was sentenced to life in prison plus fifty four
years. Knowing he was innocent, Ronald took all the actions needed to get a
second trial and jumped on his chance when he heard inmate Bobby Poole
bragging that Ronald was doing some of his time. During his second trial,
Thompson denied ever seeing Poole in her life and maintained her previous
statement that Cotton was her attacker. Since this was very convincing to the
jury, Cotton was found guilty a second time. Despite this setback, he refused
to give up hope. When he heard of the DNA exoneration of football player
O.J Simpson in 1995 he demanded a DNA test for his own case. The DNA
from the case which had been kept in the police files was the key to Cotton’s
release. After almost eleven years of confinement, Cotton was released. One
of the many experts that have analyzed this case stated “The main problem
with eye-witness testimony is that the real perpetrator is not usually in the first
line up the victim sees.” This project will assess the validity of that statement.
Behavioral & Social Reed, Tiana Horizon Science Acad. How lack of sleep affects behavior? How does lack of sleep affect behavior?
Sciences Cincini Tiana Reed
Horizon Science Academy of Cincinnati, Ohio
The purpose of this study is to observe and record how human subjects
react to lack of sleep. The subject will be asked a number of questions upon
going to bed and waking up each day. Also the subject will be asked to go to
bed an hour later then their normal time. After that the subjects will be asked
to go to bed an hour earlier than their normal time.
My hypothesis was if someone receives less sleep then their mood will
change. I began my experiment by handing out survey questions to the human
subjects. As a result subjects who slept less than six hours were in a normal
mood. Subjects who slept between six-seven hours were tired, sleepy, or
hungry. Subjects who eight-nine hours were alert and in a good mood. And
subjects who slept more than nine hours their mood ranges.Category Student 1 Name School Name Title Abstract
Behavioral & Social Valenti, Stephanie Turpin High I Spy... A Metronome! In society today, humans put tremendous amount of strain on their minds. This
Sciences experiment is aimed towards helping scientists understand what environments
are the most beneficial for concentrating. The hypothesis stated that a person
listening to a faster tempo would take longer to complete a task because they
would be more distracted by the beeping of the metronome. To test this, the
volunteers were separated into: a control group listening to no metronome, a
group listening to 210 beats per minute (bpm), and a group listening to 75
bpm. Individually, the volunteer would be asked to complete a page of I Spy
while listening to the metronome. He or she would be timed to see how long it
took to identify items within the pages of an I Spy book. The data did not
support the hypothesis. The group with the 210 bpm had the fastest recorded
times. The second fastest group was the control group. The group with the
slowest times was the group with 75 bpm; the slowest tempo on the
metronome. The averages of the three groups were 3:22 for 210 bpm , 7:26 for
75 bpm, and 3:50 for the control group. Clearly, the group exposed to 75 bpm
had the most difficulty concentrating. There have been studies that conclude
that metronomes actually stimulate brain activity and increase neural activity,
and this experiment builds on that concept. It goes further to determine not
only if metronomes help, but which tempo increases concentration.
Biochemistry Agarwal, Soham Sycamore High Circadian Rhythms and Bioluminescence in organisms such as Pyrocystis fusiformis is a very
Bioluminescence interesting process. The parameters that control this are not fully known yet.
Full knowledge of these parameters could lead to control over
bioluminescence, which could make application of bioluminescence in other
locations practical and useful, such as bioluminescent trees along roads in
place of street lights to conserve power. One such parameter is believed to be
circadian rhythms. Circadian rhythms are the endogenous determination of
“dark” and “light”. They determine when an organism performs light
dependant and non-light dependant tasks. It is known that bioluminescence
occurs when an organism is experiencing “dark”, but the limits of the control
of circadian rhythms are untested. I took 8 samples of Pyrocystis fusiformis
and I changed the hours of light that the samples received in order to
determine the effects of these variables on the bioluminescent cycle of these
organisms. Bioluminescence occurred during the “dark” phase of the
specimens that received light, but also during the night hours for the sample
which received light 24 hours a day. This showed that bioluminescence was
regulated by endogenous circadian rhythms. Future studies would focus on
determining exactly what change occurs in the transition from light to dark to
cause bioluminescence to occur.Category Student 1 Name School Name Title Abstract
Biochemistry Barnes, Philemon Horizon Science Acad. Magnetic Field Magnetic Field
Cincini Philemon G. Barnes
Horizon Science Academy
The question that this experiment was designed to answer was if a magnetic
field has an effect on living organisms. The hypothesis is that living organisms
are effected by magnetic fields.
The hypothesis was tested using a fruit fly culture (Drosophila) and two
magnets. To test the effect of the magnets on the fruit fly culture, the magnets
were placed in five different locations around the test tube, and the response of
the fruit flies to the magnets recorded. Test one I put the magnets near the
side with the cotton. Test two I put the magnets near the side with their food.
Test three I put the magnets near the side with the cotton and a magnet on the
negative side near their food. Test four I put the magnets near the side with
their food and a magnet on the negative side near the cotton. Test five I put
both magnets on its negative side near their food and the cotton. I did each test
three times.
In the five test, it was observed that the fruit flies were attracted to the
magnets. These results indicate that the organisms are effected by magnetic
fields. An a result, my hypothesis was proven correct.
Biochemistry Monahan, Sean Turpin High Can Yeast Metabolize Sugar In this experiment, a comparison between sugar and sugar substitutes was
Substitutes the Same as made to see if yeast would ferment the same using sugar when using sugar
substitutes. A duel chamber system was used so that when gas was produced
by the yeast, the gas would go from one chamber to another that was filled
with water. Some of the water was displaced into a graduated cylinder
allowing someone to record how much gas was produced. The substitutes that
worked were aspartame and saccharin. The yeast that consumed Stevia and
Sucralose did not produce any gas.
Biochemistry Morand, Elizabeth Sycamore High Tasteful-ee Simple The tongue map is a widely used tool for certain industries, for example wine
tasting and health education classes. It is still commonly used in books,
however it was discredited in the early 1900’s.This study is an attempt to
validate the disproval of the tongue map. If a specific substance is applied to a
specific “taste region” on the tongue then the tongue will not respond
according to the tongue map. For this experiment five reagents were streaked
across six regions on the tongue. Tests were done on volunteers three different
times to observe the reaction of the tongue. The test results for each volunteer
were averaged. The expected outcomes of this experiment will be that each
“taste region” will have a similar number which would conclude the tongue
map is false. These results may be published and referred to in place of the
discredited tongue map.Category Student 1 Name School Name Title Abstract
Biochemistry Niehaus, Alex Turpin High The Effect of Water Pollution on The purpose of this experiment was to test the hypothesis, if harmful foreign
Dinoflagellate Bi agents are added to the marine environment in which Pyrocystis fusiformis
live, then the amount of light the organisms are capable of producing will
diminish because the chemical compounds within the agents will disrupt
homeostatic processes within the cells. To test this, five consecutive trials
were conducted to measure the amount of light exuded by the dinoflagellates
in three different marine environments. For each trial, 50 mL of Pyrocystis
fusiformis was added to three different cups, each labeled for their intended
purpose. One cup being a control, one in which 1 mL of standard motor oil
was added, and another in which 1 mL of standard detergent was added. After
allowing the dinoflagellates to adjust for 24 hours, each sample was measured
for light output. In each of the three trials conducted, the control cup in which
no additives were present exuded the greatest amount of light, followed by the
cup with standard motor oil, and lastly the cup in which standard detergent
was added gave off the least amount of light. The results supported the
presented hypothesis.
Biochemistry Sheth, Ravi Sycamore High Molecular dynamics simulations of Gramicidin A is an antibiotic peptide found naturally in the bacterial species
Gramicidin A at Baccilius brevis. When dimerized, gramicidin acts as a cation selective,
voltage gated transmembrane channel. Because of its small size and well-
defined structure, the channel has been the subject of many computational and
structural studies aiming to elucidate the properties and methods of ion
conduction.
Recent experimental studies have shown ion translocation to occur in
gramicidin at high temperatures. These findings have large implications;
gramicidin has many high temperature applications, most notably as a
membrane in proton exchange membrane fuel cells. However, the molecular
mechanisms and structural behaviors of the channel at these extreme
temperatures have not been previously examined.
Molecular dynamics simulations use known physics to approximate the
interactions of a system of atoms. To determine the effects of extreme
temperatures on the channel, gramicidin systems were examined using
molecular dynamics computer simulations. The two conformations of the
channel, the head-to-head helical dimer and the intertwined double helix, were
simulated at both 300K and 360K. Although higher temperatures were found
to slightly decrease both hydrogen bonding in the channel and the pore radius
of both conformations, overall structure was retained. Additionally, a possible
gating transition was observed in the double helix conformation at extreme
temperatures; no reports of gating behaviors in the double helix conformation
have been previously reported.Category Student 1 Name School Name Title Abstract
Biochemistry Srinath, Abhinav William Mason High Effects of Enzyme Catalase on Enzymes are catalysts that speed up chemical reactions by many thousand
Hydrogen Peroxide folds. Catalase is an antioxidant enzyme that breaks down toxic H2O2 into
H2O and O2. My project is to find the optimal conditions under which the
decomposition of H2O2 by enzyme catalase is maximized. In addition to
being a required bodily function, this decomposition has many industrial and
medical uses.
The factors I experimented included optimal temperature, the effect of H2O2
concentration, the effect of catalase concentration and different sources of
catalase.
Going into the project, I hypothesized that room temperature, higher H2O2
concentration and higher catalase concentration would increase the breakdown
of H2O2. In addition, from my research, I predicted sweet potato to have the
maximum amount of catalase.
My project is divided into 2 parts, an apparatus to measure the amount of
oxygen generated and a reaction vessel where the factors were varied. I used
a water displacement strategy to measure the oxygen generated. I connected
the reaction vessel thru rubber and copper tubes to the oxygen measuring
apparatus.
Following proven experimental guidelines, I conducted the experiment by
varying one of the above factors, while keeping the rest a constant. I always
kept the time for iteration a constant. Most of the readings were in line with
my hypothesis except that celery had the maximum amount of Catalase barely
beating sweet potato. My other hypothesize were correct and room
temperature, higher H2O2 concentration and higher catalase concentration
would increase the breakdown of H2O2.Category Student 1 Name School Name Title Abstract
Biochemistry Yao, Linda William Mason High Menadione-Induced Cytotoxicity The experiment tested whether adding Catalase and superoxide dismutase
Reduction in Yeast (SOD) to yeast suspensions exposed to menadione (Vitamin K3) would keep
cells alive by reducing oxidative stress caused by menadione-induced
cytotoxicity.
Catalase catalyzes the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide into water and
oxygen while SOD converts superoxide anions into hydrogen peroxide and
oxygen. Because SOD produces additional hydrogen peroxide, Catalase was
hypothesized to be more effective than SOD in reducing menadione-induced
cytotoxicity.
Throughout the experiment, to test the extent of menadione-induced
cytotoxicity to yeast cells (i.e. cell viability), MTT assays measured
absorbances using a spectrophotometer at 570 nm. Yeast cells with active
mitochondria reduce MTT (3-(4, 5-Dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2, 5-diphenyl-2H-
tetrazolium bromide) effectively to colored formazan crystals and have higher
absorbances than yeast cells with damaged mitochondria caused by
menadione. To determine the protective effect of SOD and Catalase, these
enzymes were added to yeast suspensions before adding menadione. MTT
assays were then conducted after menadione was added.
In the experiment, the yeast suspensions exposed to menadione showed
reduced cell viability (lower absorbances). When the menadione concentration
was 0.025 mM, the addition of both SOD and Catalase decreased menadione-
induced cytotoxicity. When the menadione concentrations were 0.1 mM and
0.5 mM, however, only Catalase significantly decreased cytotoxicity.
This experiment supports the hypothesis that both SOD and Catalase reduce
oxidative stress and consequently menadione-induced cytotoxicity, but
Catalase is more effective. This demonstrates the possibility of combating
menadione-induced cytotoxicity and Vitamin K3 poisoning through use of
Catalase and SOD.
Botany Craycraft, Mikaela Tri-County North High Leaf Photography not enteredCategory Student 1 Name School Name Title Abstract
Botany Parks, Alyshia Twin Valley South High Moss' Direction of Growth After watching a show on Discovery Channel about direction, we decided to
conduct our experiment on the theory that moss always points north. We
decided to test our experiment using local trees and a compass. We would
place our compass at the base of a tree where it shows dominate traces of
moss. We would then record our findings. While doing this we ran into the
problems of moss growing completely around the tree or on two sides of a
tree. After overcoming our obstacles by identifying the side of those problem
trees that were more lush, we concluded that moss does generally grow in the
northern direction here in Ohio, but is not a tool that should be counted on as a
way of direction for it only points north about 50% of the time.
Chemistry Block, Abby McNicholas High The Oven Race The problem tested was ‘which oven bakes a cake faster, convection or
radiant?’ The hypothesis stated that the convection oven would bake faster
than the radiant. This hypothesis was rejected because the radiant oven baked
the cake faster than the convection oven. The hypothesis was made based on
the fact that convection heat moves in multiple directions. The heat source
from a radiant oven comes only from one side of the oven.
In the experiment, two cakes were baked per trial, one in the radiant oven and
one in the convection oven. At five-minute intervals, the temperature was
checked in each cake, and data was recorded as the rate of temperature
increase. The radiant oven’s temperature stayed above the temperature of the
convection oven almost always. This may have been because the heat coming
from multiple sides of the oven in the convection may have been released
more when the temperature was taken. In the radiant oven, heat would not
escape as easily because it is traveling in one, vertical direction. In conclusion,
a radiant oven would probably be a better tool to use in the kitchen if the oven
will be opened often.
Chemistry Boehm, Jacob McNicholas High Effects of Urea from Bovine Urine The problem in this experiment involves determining whether introducing
on Diesel Fuel E bovine urine, as a source of urea, into a diesel engine by means of a cool mist
vaporizer will increase the fuel efficiency of that engine. The hypothesis states
that diesel engines consuming bovine urine along with diesel fuel will show an
increase in fuel efficiency over diesel engines running on the typical diesel
fuel and air mixture. This experiment follows the scientific method, using
diesel engines, diesel fuel and bovine urine to determine if the hypothesis is
supported. The engines, while performing the control tests, will combust a
normal diesel fuel and air mixture. The engines, while performing the
experimental tests will combust diesel fuel and air in the presence of bovine
urine. Both tests will power the same electrical load via a generator. The
independent variable is the presence of urea during combustion in a diesel
engine. The dependent variable is whether the engines performing the
experimental test show an increase in diesel fuel efficiency over those same
engines performing the control tests.
Each engine ran a test for one hour and followed the same testing sequence:
control, three urine tests, water test and two controls. Water tests determine if
the urea causes the change in fuel efficiency. The percentage of fuel efficiency
change is calculated from each engine’s control test fuel usage. At the end of
the experiment, two of the diesel engines show a scientifically significant
increase in fuel efficiency with bovine urine and one does not.Category Student 1 Name School Name Title Abstract
Chemistry Clausen, Emily Anderson High Need to Knead The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effects of kneading on
yeasted breads. To test this I followed a basic Italian bread recipe, once
kneading, and once eliminating the step of kneading to compare results.
Going further, I tested three aspects of the no-knead method; additional water,
a lengthened resting time, and additional heat while cooking. I tested each of
these separately without kneading in the same Italian bread recipe, and then I
tested all three elements together. Overall, I have summarized that kneading
is a crucial step in the bread-making process and that in order to eliminate this
step, all elements of the no-knead method must be followed, including a
reduction in yeast.
Chemistry Frey, Lucy McNicholas High Can Frozen Golf Balls go the How big of a difference does playing with a cold golf ball on the course make
Distance? compared to playing with a golf ball held at room temperature? Golfers that
play in cooler climates would love to know the answer to this problem. The
ball that will have the best performance would be the ball that was kept at
room temperature because the inside core doesn't compress as much when it is
cold. The difference between the room temperature balls will be very minute.
Golf balls have changed over the years. They’we gone from the “Featherie”
then to the Guttie and now to the present ball today. This experiment was a
tricky experiment filled with unexpected results. In this experiment, six total
balls were dropped off the roof. Three were frozen and three were kept at
room temperature. The height that each ball bounced was recorded. The
second part of this experiment was taking the balls to Ivy Hills Country Club
with the pendulum apparatus (to make sure each ball was struck with an even
amount of force.) Each set of balls were putted and then the results were
recorded in centimeters. The balls that were held at room temperature rolled
the furthest and bounced the highest.
Chemistry Kosuru, Madhuri William Mason High Suds of Fun! This project was done to determine which base is best for fat based organic
soap. We thought that lard, which consisted of the most percentage of fat,
would produce the best soap because of its high fat content.
To make the soap, we used the cold process method. We mixed a fat base with
sodium hydroxide and ethyl alcohol then added the solution to a salt water
solution. While we were making the soap, they mostly smelled a lot like
acetone. Though the lard, Crisco, butter, and coconut oil based soaps hardened
quickly and thoroughly, the others had a lot of liquid left over and left a
“slimy” solid instead of a dried solid.
We tested each soap on 3 variables: time to create suds, whether or not it left
residue, and time to completely wash pencil lead off of hands. We were
surprised at how fast some of the soaps were to lather and even more surprised
at how slow others were. We also found that only 3 of the 7 handmade soaps
didn’t leave a residue. We then timed how long it would take to wash off lead,
and the times varied by a lot.
Through all 3 tests, we concluded that the best fat base for organic soap was
the coconut oil. It produced the best results of all tests, and it didn’t leave our
hands with a repulsive odor.Category Student 1 Name School Name Title Abstract
Chemistry Lebowitz, Abby William Mason High A Vegetarian Substitiute for Gelatin The purpose of my experiment was to find a vegetarian substitute for collagen
so that vegetarians or people who keep kosher would eat gelatin desserts. The
majority of collagen is produced from pig bones. I hypothesized that dessert
gelatin would be more popular if it was made from plants. I could not find
any published documents discussing or products advertising plant based
collagen for use in gelatin products during my research. I had to think out of
the box and come up with potential substitutes without much direction. Three
protein based substances made from plants were chosen based on what I had
learned about the chemistry of gelatin products. I used a commercially
available gelatin as my control. I followed the recipe found on the gelatin box
for all test substances adding fruit juice and canned pineapple. The first
substance chosen was agar which is commonly used for growing bacteria in
Petri dishes. I had observed that agar had gelatin like properties. The second
was glycine which is a residue of collagen sold in health food stores. The third
substance I chose was peanut oil because of its high protein content. I found
that neither glycine nor peanut oil became gelatin like. The glycine did have a
melted smoothie looking substance at the bottom and peanut oil had a jelly,
foamy substance on top. Perhaps more could be done with process and
proportions. Agar proved to be an acceptable replacement even though it is a
bit stiffer than regular gelatin.
Earth & Space Paeltz, Katie McNicholas High From What Direction is Solar The study tested the heat of solar energy in accordance to the direction they
Sciences Radiation Hottest? come from. The hypothesis stated that sunlight hitting the western
thermometer is hotter than the sunlight hitting the other thermometers. The
solar radiation was measured through its solar energy, which was measured in
temperature. To test this, thermometers were mounted on wooden stakes that
were positioned parallel to northern, southern, eastern, and western walls of a
structure. The structure is directly aligned with the compass rose. Readings
from the thermometers were taken at: 6:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m., noon, 3:00 p.m.,
6:00 p.m., 9:00 p.m., and 11:00 p.m. The averages of all 3 p.m. readings were
computed for each thermometer parallel of the structure for comparison. Also,
weather conditions such as precipitation and cloud cover were noted for each
day that readings were taken. The eastern thermometer displayed the lowest
average followed by the northern thermometer. The southern thermometer
exhibited the highest average at 3 p.m., followed by the western wall.
Considering the typical weather patterns, climate, and seasonal averages, the
experiment was flawless. The hypothesis was deemed incorrect because the
southern thermometer presented the highest average at 3 p.m., rather than the
western thermometer as predicted in the hypothesis.Category Student 1 Name School Name Title Abstract
Engineering Behne, Alexandria William Mason High Sunny-Side Up! Science Fair Abstract 2009-2010
Sunny-Side Up!
Alexandria N. Behne
William Mason High School, Mason, Ohio, USA
This project was created as a way to determine if the output of a solar panel
could be increased using basic geometric concepts. Initially, the idea was to
prove if adding a “rig” or device set-up to a solar panel would have a larger
amount of output energy than a control solar panel with no “rig”. I
hypothesized a “rig” with a magnifying glass above the solar pane (Set-Up 1)
would increase the amount of output energy from the solar panel, more than a
second “rig” (Set-Up 2) will be a reflective dome opening up, toward the light
with the solar panel held over the center upside down.
The control was an unaltered solar panel tested under a 120V (42W)
fluorescent light bulb. Set-Up 1 was the same solar panel with a magnifying
glass held 4 inches above the center of the solar panel. Set-Up 2 was the solar
panel inverted 4 inches over a 15 diameter 3 inch depth dome. Each set-up
used the concept of having more light rays to hit a point of the solar panel
creating higher output energy. Set-Up 1 created more energy than the control
producing an average of .021V more. I reject my hypothesis as Set- Up 2 was
48% more efficient than the control while Set-Up 1 was 30% more efficient.
Engineering Carducci, Steven Horizon Science Acad. Magical Adventures of Insulation Magical Adventures of Insulation
Cincini Steven Carducci
Horizon Science Academy
The goal is to find out which of the three insulators work better in cold
temperatures and warm temperature to see if any or all of them insulate better
in different conditions. The hypothesis is the Standard Insulation will work the
best because that is what’s most commonly used in houses.
To test the hypothesis three separate mini-houses were constructed. Each of
the houses was constructed out of balsa wood with glue from a glue gun to
hold the houses together. Each house was made with a different type of
insulation Clay, Sand, and Standard Insulation. They were than subjected to
the following tests.
Test 1: The three houses were warmed to a temperature of 72F. They were
then taken outside where the temperature was 32F. While the houses were
outside their temperature was checked every minute for 20 minutes, and the
results recorded, this was done three times.
Test 2: The three houses were placed in a deep freezer where their temperature
cooled to 2F. They were then removed from the freezer where they were
exposed to room temperature of 70F. Their temperature was measured every
minute for 20 minutes. And the results recorded, this was repeated three times.
In conclusion, the hypothesis was shown to be incorrect. The results indicate
that Standard Insulation worked the worst out of the three. Sand came in
second, and clay came in first.Category Student 1 Name School Name Title Abstract
Engineering Guskey, Zachary St Xavier High Bamboo: Environmentally Strong Given the recent emphasis on developing environmentally friendly building
materials, the use of engineered composites of bamboo has become
widespread. The purpose of this research is to understand whether use of a
more environmentally friendly material results in a tradeoff in performance,
specifically, whether bamboo “hardwood composites” are as strong as
traditional hardwoods.
A series of strength experiments were conducted comparing natural color
bamboo to oak, poplar, pine, aspen, and darkened bamboo. All samples were
cut to approximately the same dimensions, 100mm x 4mm x 4mm, and tested
for force required to break using a Texture Analyzer TA-XT2 in rupture mode
at a speed of 10 mm/s. To minimize variability, results are reported as force
per average cross-sectional area. To further stress the materials, testing was
repeated after soaking samples for five days in water and saltwater.
The data indicates the bamboo composites are similar in strength to traditional
woods. Natural bamboo broke at 37,927 g/cm2 on average, while the force to
break darkened bamboo was 42,504 g/cm2. Only poplar tested significantly
stronger than the bamboo composites. Bamboo also performed comparably to
the woods in stress testing, with natural bamboo maintaining strength
performance after exposure to both distilled water and saltwater.
The results of this set of experiments indicate that bamboo, an
environmentally friendly, fast growing grass, can be substituted for traditional
woods in some applications without trading off strength. It can be concluded
that properly engineered bamboo composites are at least as strong as oak,
poplar, and aspen.
Engineering Moller, Mykaela McNicholas High Hot House/Cold House Controlling heat transfer can increase the comfort in homes. Heat transfer is
the movement or exchange of thermal energy by conduction, convection, or
radiation within an object and its surroundings. Heat always "wants" to move
to the colder area from the warmer area and insulation controls heat transfer.
This project explains which type on insulation will work best to prevent heat
transfer and answers the question: Does fiberglass or cellulose insulation work
better in hot and cold temperatures? The hypothesis that was developed states
that cellulose insulation would reduce heat transfer 50% more than fiberglass
insulation. For the experiment, a large box and a small box were created that
allowed insulation to be put inside the spaces, or "walls", between the boxes.
Two cups of crushed ice and two cups of boiling water were put inside the
boxes at different times with the different insulation. The temperature was
then recorded every half hour until it reached its starting, or room temperature.
From the raw data,the number of hours it took for the ice or hot water to reach
room temperature again was determined. With cellulose insulation,it took 10.5
hours for hot water and 11.5 hours for ice to reach room temperature. With
fiberglass insulation,it took 9 hours for water and 10.5 hours for ice to reach
room temperature. The experiment did not support the hypothesis. Instead of
the cellulose working 50% more efficiently than the fiberglass, it worked
9.5% better in the ice trials,and 16.7% better in the hot water trials.Category Student 1 Name School Name Title Abstract
Engineering Rogers, Gabriel Oak Hills High Aero-Nautics The topic i am focusing on mainly is Aero-Nautics. My project will consist of
a wind tunnel that is home made along with wing desings and data on each
wing desing. I will also be explaining Bernoulli's theory and how it works on
both the wing and in the wind tunnel. There will be more information on Aero
-nautics on the science fair day. I am still testing different designs and
finishing the wind tunnel.
Engineering Rosewood, Joseph Horizon Science Acad. Can Colorblind People See Out of I did my project so I could find out if color blind people can see out of 3D
Cincini 3D Glasses glasses so they can watch the new 3D movie, Avatar. The other reason I did
this project was because I wanted to know what this director did to make a
camera that was high definition and would show every thing in 3D even the
people’s faces. The director worked with an engineer for 5 years to design this
camera. My hypothesis was that these glasses would not work as well because
the tint was not light enough to see out of them but you might still be able to
have the 3D experience. Prior to the invention of this technology, color blind
people could not experience the 3D effects because of the red and blue
oppositional images.
My conclusion was that the new 3D glasses worked for color blind
individuals. The other thing was that this camera used a special lens that
would capture the 3D avatars in their true form. These technologies together
allowed colorblind people to view 3 dimensional films that they could not
previously view.
Environmental Bohl, Bryan McNicholas High How Dimmer Switches, Photo The world is consuming too much energy and we need to find ways to save.
Sciences Cells, & Timers Effect Will using different types of light switches save significant amounts of
electrical usage? Easy to obtain and install dimmer switches, timers, and
photo cells claim to save on electrical usage. This claim can be tested in the
real world by using a standard sixty watt bulb, a meter that measures electrical
usage, and the three different types of switches.
Installing five similar light fixtures with similar 60 watt light bulbs on a
plywood board each with a different switch and measuring their electrical
usage with a meter will tell you how much electricity you are using and
saving. Recording the meter readings in timed intervals and charting the
results will give a comparison between switch types.
It was proven right away that dimmer switches reduce electrical usage and
energy consumption while the lights are on. Photo cells and timers reduce
electrical usage by eliminating the human factor (not forgetting) and not
having lights burning when they are not needed.
Dimmer switches once intended for mood or ambiance save significant
amounts of energy. Dimmer switches set 50% volume, more than enough
needed in most instances for illumination, save 50% of electrical usage and
energy cost.Category Student 1 Name School Name Title Abstract
Environmental Gabbard , Samantha McNicholas High Urban vs. Rural Water Pollution The problem statement of the experiment was “Is water pollution greater in
Sciences urban areas or in rural areas of Ohio?” It basically asks which area is the water
considered more polluted- urban or rural? The hypothesis came out to be that
urban areas have more pollutants in the water than in rural areas of Ohio. I
tested in four different places: a suburban creek in Cincinnati, the Ohio River
in both Cincinnati and Ripley Ohio, and Eagle Creek in Adams County. The
variables that were tested in the experiment were phosphates and nitrates, a
chemical found in fertilizer and animal waste, dissolved oxygen and
temperature, pH, and turbidity. The LaMotte low cost Water Monitoring Kit,
which includes test tubes, instructions, and chemical tablets, was used in order
to carry out the experiment. It used tablets that changed the water different
colors in order to distinguish the amounts of pollutant in the water and a
thermometer was used to measure the temp, and bucket for the turbidity. This
kit only measures qualitative data. For the most part the water that was tested
was very healthy, so the results for both areas/ bodies were around the same.
An actual big difference between the bodies of water was the turbidity and the
amount of nitrates in the water and that was in the rural area of Ripley, Ohio.
So I did reject my hypothesis because in the end rural area Ripley, Ohio was
the most polluted.
Environmental Johnstone, Riley McNicholas High How Does Turbidity Effect Fresh water makes up one third of the earth and is home to many aquatic
Sciences Dissolved Oxygen Levels plants and animals. Turbidity and dissolved oxygen can effect a fresh water
environment. After doing research, it is hypothesized that dissolved oxygen
will increase as turbidity levels decrease. Turbidity and dissolved oxygen are
key to the survival of aquatic plants and animals. When dissolved oxygen
levels are low for a long period of time eutrophication can take place and large
number of aquatic life can perish.
Twenty-nine locations were tested for turbidity and dissolved oxygen levels at
a one-hundred-ninety acre lake. Turbidity was tested using a secchi disk.
Dissolved oxygen levels were tested using a test kit. Tests were taken
between ten and three o'clock when the temperature was between sixty-three
and seventy degrees Fahrenheit. Secchi disk readings ranged from twelve to
one-hundred-nineteen point five centimeters. Dissolved oxygen levels ranged
from four to twelve ppm.
Results showed secchi disk depths below forty centimeters had an average DO
level of six point five. Secchi depths between forty-one and fifty centimeters
had an average DO level of nine. Secchi depths between fifty and fifty-nine
point five centimeters had an average DO level of nine point four. Secchi
depth between sixty and one-hundred and twenty had an average DO level of
six point six. In conclusion as turbidity increased DO levels decreased with a
slight decrease in DO levels where turbidity levels were the lowest.
Therefore, the hypothesis is both true and false.Category Student 1 Name School Name Title Abstract
Environmental Schmidt, Steven St Xavier High Water Treatment Plants: Effect on This project describes testing designed to determine if sewage-treatment
Sciences the Little Miami plants located along the Little Miami River have a negative impact on water
quality. The hypothesis is as follows: Sewage-treatment plants along the
Little Miami River have a damaging impact on water quality. Multiple water
samples on three different collection days were taken both upstream and
downstream from five different water-treatment plants. Water samples, after
collection, were tested for nine different indicators of water quality, including
the presence of nitrates, nitrites, ammonia, and fecal coliform and the levels of
alkalinity, pH, turbidity, water hardness, and oxygen. These tests were done
using a variety of methods and materials, such as Easygel (for fecal coliform)
and dipstick tests (for almost all others). The data collected was analyzed for
trends that might indicate whether sewage-treatment plants are causing a
negative impact on the water quality of the river. The main method of
analysis compared samples upstream against samples downstream from each
plant. Of the nine experiments, two tests, ammonia and fecal coliform
displayed that water treatment plants have a negative influence on the Little
Miami River. The remaining seven tests displayed trends that either showed
no negative impact from sewage-treatment plants, or were inconclusive due to
variation in data or collection methods too coarse to accurately measure
results.
Environmental Sears, Aaron Sycamore High The TRUTH Behind the The intention of this project was to determine if three biodegradable bags from
Sciences Degradation of Biodegradable different manufactures, Company A, B, and C, will degrade under “backyard”
like conditions. Degradation of biodegradable bags is a concern for both
consumer value and environmental safety. Consumers spend extra money with
the belief that they are helping the environment. Environmental safety is also a
concern because if these bags do not degrade in “backyard” like conditions
then the “eco safe” purpose of these bags is void. To determine what
consumers think about biodegradable bags, surveys were handed out through
out the experiment and processed. The results uncovered the belief that many
biodegradable bags should degrade in backyard conditions. The bags in
question were buried in soil, exposed to constant room temperature, and
watered every week, stimulating “backyard” like conditions. Two tests, tensile
strength test and light test, were taken at the beginning and at the end of the
experiment, to verify that no change of these characteristics has occurred over
the nine week trial. We expect that the tensile strength test and the light test
results will remain the same at the end of the trial, signaling that degradation
cannot be possible under “backyard” like conditions because the optimal
settings for degradation cannot be simulated by a backyard condition.Category Student 1 Name School Name Title Abstract
Environmental Talreja, Sohum William Mason High Ecotoxicity of Highway Deicing The use of Highway Deicing Substance on roads is the preferred method to
Sciences Substance promote safe motor vehicle and pedestrian travel during winter months. But
what are the impacts of road-salt application to vegetation and plant growth?
To measure the impact on plant life, a dose/response experiment was
conducted to measure the response (seed germination & root length) of lettuce
seeds to 5 different concentrations of deicing solution (including control)
using the highway deicing substance used in Warren County. Hypothesis was
made that higher concentration of Highway Deicing Substance will inhibit the
seed germination and/or retard the growth of lettuce seedlings.
The experiment was conducted in 4 trials (Petri dishes) of 5 seeds each for 4
different concentrations ranging from 0.05M to 0.2M and also for control
solution. Distilled water was used as a control solution. 2ml of each solution
was added to each Petri dish. The Petri dishes were incubated in dark at a
constant temperature for 5 days. At the end of this time, the number of seeds
that germinated was counted and their root lengths were measured.
Based on experimental findings, seed germination reduced from 100% (for
control solution) to only 15% (for 0.2M deicing solution) and the average root
length reduced from 1.89cm (for control) to 0.07cm (for 0.2M deicing
solution) as the concentration of deicing solution increased. Hence, it was
concluded that the hypothesis, “Higher concentration of Highway Deicing
Substance will inhibit the seed germination and/or retard the growth of lettuce
seedlings” was correct.
Environmental Zimmerman, Hannah Turpin High Which Type of Recycled Paper is In this project, the strength of handmade recycled paper was tested. Thirty
Sciences the Strongest? pieces of paper were made: ten of cardboard, ten of newspaper, and ten of
cotton. Each piece of paper was hung with a basket attached to its base.
Weights were added in increments of ten grams until the first sign of breakage
or tearing appeared on the paper. The amount of weight present in the basket
at the time of this first damage was recorded as the result. The results showed
that recycled paper made from cardboard was the strongest, holding the most
weight before breakage. This was followed by recycled paper made from
newspaper. Recycled paper made from cotton was the weakest, breaking with
the lowest amount of weight added. The overall result is that recycled paper
made from paper is stronger than recycled paper made from cloth. These
results did not support the original hypothesis because it was expected that the
recycled paper made from cotton would be the strongest.
Mathematics Tseng, Dennis William Mason High Generalized Nonaveraging Integer Let the strictly increasing sequence S_{E_{m}} of nonnegative integers be
Sequences generated by the following conditions: Set the first term a[0]=0, and for all
nonnegative integer k, let a[k+1] be the minimum nonnegative integer such
that no element of {a[0],...,a[k+1]} is the average of m-1 distinct other
elements. Intuitively, S_{E_{m}} is the sequence generated by the greedy
algorithm to satisfy the specified "nonaveraging" condition. Szekeres gave a
closed-form description of S_{E_{3}} in 1936, and Layman provided a
similar description of S_{E_{4}} in 1999. We first find closed forms for some
similar greedy sequences that avoid averages in terms not all the same. Then,
we extend the closed-form description of S_{E_{m}} from the known cases
when m=3 and m=4 to any integer m>2. With the help of a computer, we also
generalize this to sequences that avoid solutions to specific weighted averages
in distinct terms. Finally, from the closed forms of these sequences, we find
asymptotic bounds to their growth rates, which are related to how efficiently
the greedy algorithm constructs dense sets of integers that satisfy the
"nonaveraging" conditions used to generate the sequences.Category Student 1 Name School Name Title Abstract
Medicine & Health Bacon, Cassie Turpin High Enamel at risk The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect certain acidic (low
in pH levels) beverages have on the erosion of tooth enamel. It involves
bovine incisors as the test system on which the effects of six test beverages-
regular Lemon Lime Soda, diet Lemon Lime Soda, regular Apple Juice, diet
Apple juice, distilled water, and decaffeinated black tea-were evaluated. In
order to determine the effect acidic beverages have on tooth enamel erosion,
three parameters were measured. These included change in pH of the beverage
after exposure of incisors, change in the calcium concentration in the test
beverages, and hardness of the tooth surfaces. The experiment consisted of
fifteen cycles in which teeth were exposed to specific beverage for twenty
minutes per cycle. In between exposures, the teeth were soaked in distilled
water for ten minutes. Depending on the cycle, the changes in pH, calcium,
and hardness were measured and recorded. After experimentation was
completed, there was evidence to support the conclusion that repeated
exposure of intact incisors to acidic beverages caused erosion of tooth enamel.
Medicine & Health Bao, Erik Sycamore High Oncogenes and Tumor Suppressor Lung cancer is the most common cancer in the world in both incidence and
Genes: Biomarkers f mortality. The purpose of this project was to identify a set of oncogenes and
tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) as biomarkers for lung cancer, which would in
turn contribute toward future diagnostic and therapeutic applications. This
project implemented comprehensive bioinformatics approaches to identify the
gene signature or finger print for lung adenocarcinoma.
First, I downloaded a mega microarray set of over 200 normal and lung
adenocarcinoma samples (PNAS. 2001; 98:13790). Multiple statistical
classification methods, including T-Test and k-Nearest Neighbor, were used to
identify differently-expressed genes and to predict classifiers between cancer
and normal samples. Second, I searched public disease databases and genome-
wide association studies (GWAS) for the up-to-date collection of lung cancer-
related genes and their associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).
Third, top-ranking genes collected from the previous two steps were combined
and further subjected to mutual-interactions analysis, functional classification,
and individual-gene research.
The study identified a number of known TSGs (CAV1 and WIF1) and
novel genes who behave as selective TSGs (AGER, FCN3, and C10orf116) or
oncogenes (SPP1 and S100P). The genes in this group are functionally related
and have a strong tendency to form physical or chemical interactions among
each other. “DNA replication, recombination, and repair” is the most enriched
functional category for these genes (3.7E-25). Because mutations and altered
expressions can both cause cancer, the integration of the analysis of
microarray and genome-wise SNP-phenotype association provided a
comprehensive gene signature for lung cancer.Category Student 1 Name School Name Title Abstract
Medicine & Health Bartel, Leah McNicholas High Does Straightening Hair Damage Many people today straighten their hair with a flat iron, which can be
It? damaging to the hair. To test this statement, an experiment was created that
compared straightened hair to hair that had never been straightened. The
hypothesis stated that the straightened hair will be more heavily damaged than
the hair that was not straightened. The background research broke down the
elements of a strand of hair; the two main parts, the hair follicle and the hair
shaft. To conduct the experiment, two types of hair were collected,
straightened and non-straightened. The strands of hair were then prepared on
slides and afterward, were looked at under a microscope. The data was
recorded in two graphs to make it easier to read and calculate the percentages.
By adding the tallies in each column and then dividing that number by the
total number of hair samples in that section (forty-five) is how the percentages
were calculated. The data showed that 46.67% of straightened hair was
heavily damaged while only 6.67% of non-straightened hair was heavily
damaged. The hypothesis was proven to be correct by the data and if there was
to be a continuation of this project, an experiment would be done to see the
effects of heat protectants on straightened hair.
Medicine & Health Chernyakhovsky, Alexander William Mason High Designing Vaccines for Emerging Influenza A viruses, including the highly pathogenic H5N1 strains, undergo
Influenza Pathogen punctuated genetic evolutions in Hemagglutinin (HA) that significantly alter
their antigenic characteristics potentially giving rise to pandemic strains. In
the past, pandemic strains have emerged due to reassortment events in a host
coinfected by human and avian strains. In 1997, the first outbreak of H5N1
human infections demonstrated the capability of humans to serve as mixing
vessels for such reassortment events. Consequently, temporo-spatial
forecasting of potential inter-species influenza in humans at the viral strain
level is vital for development of effective vaccines. Accordingly, this paper
describes a novel methodology involving the use of temporo-spatial, in silico
macro-epidemiological analysis comprised of bio-simulations and
bioinformatics to identify HA isolates from regions of infection with human
and avian influenza. The SEIR-based model utilizes real-world statistical data
on human infections with avian viruses, waterfowl migration (the primary
vector of avian influenza), global poultry population (an intermediate host)
and global human population. Results from the bio-simulations are subjected
to bioinformatics-based analysis to isolate candidate viral strains. Candidate
strains are compared to WHO vaccine strains to validate this methodology.
The candidate strains are then proposed for use in the heterologous influenza
vaccine targeted for emerging pathogens.
Medicine & Health Cradduck, Stephanie Anderson High Generic Vs. Name Brand My project is the cost analysis between generic brand and name brand foods. I
compared how long the food lasted to how much it cost to see which type was
better. I created to variables in my experiment the first being generic verses
name brand and the second being room temperature verses refrigerated. Both
variables intended to determine whether generic is truly a better deal. My
results were kind of complicated in the sense that there are many variables. I
found that from the shelf the generic foods would appear to be cheaper and
would be if you didn’t expect it to last all the way through its expiration date.
The name brand foods were a much better deal if you were planning on eating
any of the foods after seven days. I learned a lot about name brand and generic
foods during this process and am so glad I did my project on generic verses
name brand!Category Student 1 Name School Name Title Abstract
Medicine & Health Dahlem, Caroline Turpin High Potential Treatments of Parkinson's The purpose of this experiment is to further establish 1-methyl-4-phenyl-
in Zebrafish 1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) treated zebrafish (Danio rerio) as an
animal model for Parkinson’s Disease (PD). PD is a neurodegenerative
disease characterized by the death of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia
nigra. Treatments now available are not fully effective and have irreconcilable
side effects. MPTP is a neurotoxin that kills dopaminergic neurons, causing
PD symptoms. Zebrafish, when treated with MPTP, provide an accurate,
efficient and inexpensive model for PD that can be used to screen potential
treatments. In this experiment transgenic zebra fish that express green
florescent protein (GFP) in their vascular tissue were used to allow for
vascular tissue damage to be easily detected and measured. When compared to
fish treated only with water, fish treated with MPTP showed damage to the
vascular tissue in areas associated with dopamine neurons. Since these fish
have proven to be an accurate and effective model, potential treatments can be
tested using this method. Melatonin acts as an antioxidant, and is therefore
able to prevent the damage done by MPTP. By using tyrosine hydroxolase
(TH) staining and confocal microscopy dopaminergic cell death will be
determined. Preliminary results indicate that in this model fish treated with
melatonin are less susceptible to the dopaminergic cell death caused by
MPTP.
Medicine & Health Gingras, Abbey Anderson High Is Your Home As Clean As You The purpose of our experiment was to discover the different types of bacteria
Thought? and the diseases they cause on common objects we touch every day. For our
experiment, we would first sanitize our hands with hot water and soap. Then,
we would touch whatever object we wanted to test for 5 seconds. Next, we
would wipe the hand on the Agar in the Petri dish and allow the bacteria to
grow for 1 week. Then, we performed the Gram Stain test to color the bacteria
to see if it was Gram-Positive or Gram-Negative bacteria. Finally, we looked
at the slides with the stained bacteria under the microscope to identify the
color of the cell wall. Our results were that even though public objects are
touched more often and exposed to more diseases then objects in your house,
both had amounts of Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative diseases on them.
Medicine & Health Hykle, Stephen McNicholas High Digestion The problem is how an acid breaks down fats, carbohydrates, and proteins.
The hypothesis is that carbohydrates will break down the quickest and to the
finest of substances because carbohydrates are the main source of energy for
the human body and the enzymes and the starches and sugars will react
quickly. The hypothesis was correct, carbohydrates broke down the quickest
followed by proteins and then fats. Bread was used as the carbohydrate,
peanuts for the proteins, and a piece of steak fat for lipids. The acid used was
a house cleaner called “The Works” which contains a weaker acid, which is
not as strong as stomach acid which is hydrochloric acid. The acid was
effective, but not as effective as a hydrochloric acid. The variables used
would be more effective and the breaking down process would have gone
quicker if hydrochloric acid had been used. The Ph of hydrochloric acid is
lower than the one used thus a stronger acid.
The experiment took three to four hours because that’s the length of time that
food is in the human stomach before passing on to other digestive organs for
more simplifying. In the experiment the food was observed every fifteen
minutes to record data. The amount of acid used for proteins was double than
that of the carbohydrates and fats because proteins take longer to break down.
In conclusion, the acid didn’t seem strong enough to break apart the fat.You can also read
