Good Science Fair Projects - Plants Reaching For Light (Part Two)

In our previous science fair project we had a look at chlorophyll and how plants use this chlorophyll, sunlight, water and carbon dioxide to produce glucose (a form of sugar.) What else, that is very important, is produced through photosynthesis? (In the process carbon dioxide is taken from the air, what is released back into the air?) Now we are going to do a good science fair project to demonstrate how plants actually reach for sunlight. We know by now that they cannot survive without light, which we proved in our previous science fair project. Now we are going to do a really fun science fair project. If you want to do a really good science fair project, it might be a good idea to combine these two science fair projects as it gives you a very clear and visual picture of plants growing and needing sunlight.

Today's science fair project is a good science fair project for someone that is a little handy. We are going to make a maze in a shoe box to demonstrate how the plant searches and reaches for light.

What you will need for this science fair project:

* First you need a shoe box

* You will need a pair of scissors

* Stiff card

* Some sticky tape

* Black paint

* A paint brush

* A pair of gardening gloves to protect your hands

* A runner bean

* A plant pot

* Some good compost

* Water

Now for the fun part: making your maze in your shoe box!

1. To start cut a hole in the one end of the shoe box.

2. Making a maze in your shoe box is very easy, start by cutting eight flaps out of the stiff cards. The flaps must fit securely into your shoe box in the width.

3. Now paint your shoe box and the eight flaps all over with black paint. Do you know why we are doing that? Think about the light reflecting...yes, the black paint is to stop the light entering through the hole from reflecting inside the shoe box!

4. Now you can make a maze by sticking the eight flaps of card inside the shoe box with sticky tape. Cut slots into your flaps at a different place in each flap to form a maze (if you are not sure how to do this, ask for the help of an adult who knows what a maze looks like.)

5. Plant a runner bean in a small plant pot with compost.

6. Water the soil each day to keep it moist but, do not make it too wet. Keep it in a warm place until the bean has a shoot. Remember to keep the soil moist, depending on the temperature; it may not be necessary to water the bean everyday.

7. When your plant has a shoot place it at the bottom of your maze.

8. Close the lid and place the maze in a sunny spot.

9. Remove the lid once a day to see if your plant needs water.

10. Now you can observe what is happening.

11. If you did it right, the plant will grow and find its way through your maze to steadily move towards the light.

12. Eventually your plant will poke through the hole at the top of your shoe box.

13. For display purposes it is a good idea to take a photo of your plant growing zig-zag through your maze and out the hole at the top.

This is a good science fair project for someone interested in gardening. It is also a good science fair project for someone that loves crafts as this can double as a craft because of the maze you have to make. Good science fair projects can never be done too fast, so give yourself enough time.

Magriet is a work at home "Gran" with websites on a number of family related subjects such as science fairs, kids crafts and homeschooling. Her webs are: http://www.learnerscience.com and http://www.homeschooling.topknacks.com and http://www.kidscrafts.topknacks.com Get all the excellent information on these subjects in an instant.

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Science Fair Project Ideas - Quick and Easy Project 4 - Light Intensity

One of the best science fair project ideas for students that are particular interested in the science and mathematics of light travel is the Joly Photometer. This project allows students to use the inverse square law to measure light intensity. This might not be one of the best projects for students in lower grades, as the project does require an understanding of some difficult mathematic concepts.

In order to perform this experiment, students will need to spend between $20 and $50. The project should take about a week, which makes it one of the more time-consuming science fair project ideas that I've come across. Also, students might want to have a parent around to make sure the project is done safely.

Objective:

During this project, you will measure the light intensity of light bulbs using your very own hand-crafted photometer.

Introduction:

Through this project, you will learn that different light sources have different powers to project light into a room. Every light bulb in your home might not have the same ability to emit light the same distance. During this project, you will learn about the basic differences between how light bulbs work. Plus, you'll build and use your very own photometer.

Terms and Concepts You'll Need to Know:

You'll learn much more about these terms and concepts through the course of your experiment, but it's a good idea to start with a basic knowledge of them:

Inverse square law (you'll learn lots about this law!)
Incandescent light bulbs (you may already have some in your home)
Compact fluorescent light bulbs
Photometer (you'll make your own)

Questions You'll Answer:


What makes incandescent light bulbs work?
Why do incandescent light bulbs die?
What makes fluorescent light bulbs work?
Why do fluorescent light bulbs die?
Which is the longest lasting light bulb?
Which light bulb makes light most efficiently?

Materials You'll Need:

You shouldn't have to pay more than $50 for all of these materials, but you'll probably find most of them in your home already:

One pound of paraffin wax
A sharp knife
Foil
Cardboard box (small)
Scissors
Tape
Identical light fixtures
Measuring tape (not a ruler)
Several kinds of light bulbs
Procedure:

Follow these steps in order to successfully complete one of the best science fair project ideas for determine how light works differently with different bulbs:

Cut one slab of the wax in half. (Each box of wax should have four slabs).
Cut aluminum foil to be the same size as the slabs and place it in between the 2 slabs.
Create a cardboard box around the slabs. Use tape to hold it together.
Make 3 windows in the sides of the cardboard box (one side will not have a window). This is your photometer.
Place the photometer straight between 2 light fixtures at equal distances and equal heights. Make sure these light fixtures are the only sources of light in a room.
With the light bulbs illuminated, move the photometer between the two light bulbs until the wax has the same level of brightness on each side of the aluminum foil.
To find the inverse square law, use the standard equation, which is found here.
One of your light bulbs should be your standard bulb. This bulb should be called I1. To find the intensity of the second light, make sure you divide the first light by the square of the distance and make it equal to the second light divided by the square of the distance so both lights are equidistant from the meter.
Measure the distance from each light bulb to your photometer (measure to the foil).
Use the equation to calculate the intensity of each bulb.
In order to find out how efficient each bulb is, divide the relative intensity by the wattage of the bulb.

Again, this is one of my favorite science fair project ideas for students that enjoy math and physics. However, it can be tough for those students that don't quite understand tricky equations. Science projects should be fun - so have fun doing this project!

If you're ready to get going with your own light intensity science project, your next step is to download a free copy of "Easy Steps to Award-Winning Science Fair Projects" from the link below right now.

A great resource for science project ideas, as well as how to do them, is the Science Project Blog at http://www.perfectscienceprojects.com Definitely worth bookmarking.

If you want the super-easy way to creating a winning science fair project, check out the complete "Science Fair Project in a Box" kits from http://www.awesomescienceprojects.com

About the Author Aurora L. has been teaching science to kids for over 10 years. She is also a mechanical engineer, university instructor, pilot, astronomer and a real live rocket scientist (You should see the lab in her basement!) She has inspired thousands of kids with the fun and magic of science

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Good Science Fair Projects - Plants Reaching For Light (Part One)

Let us do a good science fair project to learn about plants reaching for the light to grow.

First I think there is a definition we must learn, it is a Botany term:

Epiphyte: a plant that grows non-parasitically on a tree or other plant.

When looking at a leave, I am sure, you have noticed that the top of the leaf is a darker green then the bottom of the leaf. Have you ever wondered why? Do you know what the green color of the leaves is? What is the function of the "green" in the leaves?

The answer to these questions is the beginning of our interesting science fair project. As with any good science fair project, there are a few basic facts that we have to know before we start. When we know the basics we can start with our science fair projects.

Do you know where to start with your good science fair project? Well, let us start with the basic facts we need to know:

1. The green substance is called chlorophyll and it traps the energy from the sun.

2. Because plants cannot move around they have to make their own food.

3. Like tiny solar panels the leaves combine carbon dioxide from the air and water from the ground to produce glucose (a form of sugar) and oxygen. (Can you now see how it ties in with our project on trees and the rain forests?) For a really good science fair project you can actually combine the two.

4. This process is called photosynthesis.

The idea of this good science fair project is to show how plants make special efforts to reach the sunlight. Our first science fair project is going to demonstrate how epiphytes in the rainforests live high on branches to get closer to the light. They have to grow on another plant to be able to survive, but they do not draw on the host like a parasite. (Do you know what a parasite is?)

This is what you will need:

* A pair of gardening gloves

* Liquid plant food

* A branch or some driftwood

* Sphagnum moss

* Water spray

* Some cotton thread

* A plant pot

* Some gravel

* A trowel

* Epiphytes (available from garden centers or nurseries)

* Glue

This is what you need to do:

1. To protect your hand, put on the gardening gloves

2. Now you have to wrap one end of your branch or piece of driftwood with your sphagnum moss.

3. Secure your moss on your branch with a piece of cotton thread.

4. Fill your plant pot with gravel until it is almost full. Make sure you use a sturdy pot that will not break easily. There need to be enough gravel in your pot to be able to support your branch. Use your trowel to fill the pot.

5. When you have enough gravel in your pot you can push your branch into your pot until it can stand in your pot without tipping or falling out.

6. Now you have to use your water, with a few drops of liquid fertilizer in it, to spray the moss with water.

7. Arrange your epiphytes on the branch by gently pushing them into the moss.

8. Secure them with a drop of glue at the base.

9. Now you have to remember to spray the epiphytes from time to time to prevent them from drying out.

10. Now come the time to make your observations.

11. Do the epiphytes need soil to grow in?

12. Can the epiphytes grow indoors?

13. Do they need sunlight to grow?

14. How do they grow without soil?

To answer all these questions and to turn this science fair project into a really good science fair project you need to give your self enough time. Remember to do a really good science fair project you cannot start at the last minute. Leave your plants in different locations for a few weeks at a time and make meticulous notes of what happens. Place them in strong sunlight, then in relative dark etc. Remember to keep your moss moist at all times to make very sure that the changes that happen are due to the varying light and not water.

This is a very good science fair project to show how epiphytes grow in the rain forests. The next science fair project that we are going to do will be a good science fair project to demonstrate how plants search for light, be on the lookout for it.

Magriet is a work at home "Gran" with websites on a number of family related subjects such as science fairs, kids crafts and homeschooling. Her webs are: http://www.learnerscience.com and http://www.homeschooling.topknacks.com and http://www.kidscrafts.topknacks.com Get all the excellent information on these subjects in an instant.

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.