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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. The Effect of Helium/Air Mixtures On The Floating Duration of
Balloons
2. How Does Age Affect Lung Capacity?
3. A Comparison of Filtered and Unfiltered Cigarettes and the
Amount of Tar That Enters Your Lungs
4. Instinctual Drives in Gerbil
5. The Relationship Between Chemical Reactions and Temperature
6. Soil Porosity
7. Hyperventilation and Level of Blood Oxygen
8. The Effect of Temperature on the pH of Liquids
9. Do Boys Have Faster Reaction Times Than Girls?
10. Do Video Games Affect Memory?
11. The Effect of Chewing gum on Heart Rate
TITLE: The Effect Of Helium/Air Mixtures On The Floating Duration
Of Balloons
STUDENT RESEARCHER: Justin Fehr
SCHOOL: Mandeville Middle School
Mandeville, Louisiana
GRADE: 6
TEACHER: John I. Swang, PH.D.
I. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND HYPOTHESIS:
I would like to know if different helium/air mixtures affect the
floating duration of balloons. My hypothesis states that the
balloon with a helium/air mixture of 50% air and 50% helium will
stay afloat the longest.
II. METHODOLOGY:
First, I wrote my statement of purpose, review of literature, and
developed my hypothesis. Then I laid out all of my materials and
made a stand to attach the balloons to. I then filled one of the
balloons entirely with helium until it was fully inflated and
attached it to the stand by a piece of string. The string was 26
inches long. To get the different mixtures in each balloon, I
measured the circumference of a filled balloon and then filled
each up with the different percents of helium and air listed
below. The second balloon was filled with 90% helium and 10% air,
the third with 80% helium and 20% air, the fourth with 70% helium
and 30% air and so on. The last balloon was completely filled
with pure air. The circumference of the balloons all measured
76.5 cm. For the balloons that did not float, I stood them up and
measured how long it took until they fell to their side. I also
measured the time over the next few days that it took for the
other balloons to fall to their side. Then I analyzed my data,
rejected or accepted my hypothesis, and wrote my summary and
conclusion. Finally, I applied my results to real life.
III. ANALYSIS OF DATA:
The balloon with 100% helium stayed airborne the longest and took
49 3/4 hours
until it laid on its side on the floor. The balloon with 80%
helium stayed up 29 hours and the balloon with 60% helium stayed
up 18 hours. The balloon with only 40% helium did not float, but
stood upright on the floor for 5 hours before it fell on its side.
The balloons with 30%, 20%, and 10% helium did not float and laid
on the floor within seconds of standing them upright. The
percentage of helium in the balloon made a big difference in the
time that the balloon stayed airborne. I also noticed that after
two days the balloon that had the most helium shrunk to the
smallest size. The balloon that started with 100% helium shrunk
to a circumference of 40 cm or 53% of the original size.
IV. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION:
The more helium in the balloon the longer it floated. Therefore,
I rejected my hypothesis which stated that the balloon with a 50%
mixture would stay up the longest.
V. APPLICATION:
The stores that sell helium balloons to parties could save money
by putting in different percentages of helium and air depending on
how long the party would last.
TITLE: How Does Age Affect Lung Capacity?
STUDENT RESEARCHER: Jessica Olson
SCHOOL: St. Patrick's School
McCook, Nebraska
GRADE: 8
TEACHER: Karrie Rowan
I. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND HYPOTHESIS
I wanted to find out how age affects lung capacity. My hypothesis
stated that older persons will have a greater lung capacity.
II. METHODOLOGY
I tested my hypothesis by asking 12 people, aged nine to 63, to
help me with my project. I filled a sink and a two liter bottle
full of water. I then tipped the bottle into the sink and
inserted tubing into the bottle. The person then took a normal
breath and exhaled all the air possible into the tube forcing
water out of the two liter bottle. Then I removed the tubing,
flipped the bottle over and measured the water left in the bottle.
Finally, I subtracted the amount of water left in the bottle from
2.0 to determine the person's lung capacity.
Example: 2.0 liters in full bottle
- 1.4 liters left in bottle
0.6 liters blown out of the bottle = lung
capacity (L.C.)
III. ANALYSIS OF DATA
My results showed that the subjects all had about the same L.C.
The average lung capacity was .75.
IV. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
After analyzing my data, I rejected my hypothesis because everyone
had close to the same lung capacity. The older subjects did have
a slightly smaller lung capacity than those of the younger
subjects.
TITLE: A Comparison of Filtered and Unfiltered Cigarettes and the
Amount of Tar that Enters Your Lungs
STUDENT RESEARCHER: Cade Felker, Danny Glass
SCHOOL: Mandeville Middle School
Mandeville, Louisiana
GRADE: 6
TEACHER: John I. Swang, Ph.D.
I. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND HYPOTHESIS:
We wanted to find out if filtered or unfiltered cigarettes
would allow more smoke to enter your lungs. Our hypothesis stated
that the unfiltered cigarettes would allow more smoke to enter
your lungs.
II. METHODOLOGY:
First, we stated our purpose, reviewed the literature, and
developed our hypothesis. Next, we took two types of cigarettes,
one of which had filters, one of which had no filters. Then we
made our smoking machine. The smoking machine is made as follows:
We took two squeeze bottles, one bigger and one smaller. Next, we
took a cotton ball and inserted it deep enough into the top of the
small squeeze bottle so that we still had room for the cigarette.
We thwn taped the cigarette to the top of the small squeeze bottle
so that the cotton was behind the cigarette. Next, we lit the
cigarette and insereted it into the larger plastic squeeze bottle.
The tops of the bottles were touching. After this, we used masking
tape to seal the two bottles together. To smoke the cigarette we
squeezed the bigger bottle. After we made our smoking machine we
began our experiment. First we weifged the cotton ball. Then we
placed it in the smoking machine. Next we smoked two filtered
cigarettes. After smoking them we weiged the cotton ball, observed
the surface area stained by the tar, and noted the color of the
cotton ball. We then repeated this two more times. After this we
repeated the entire process with the unfiltered cigarettes.
III. ANALYSIS OF DATA:
We used a code to score the darkness of the cotton ball. A four is
the lightest and 1 was the darkest. When we smoked the filtered
cigarette in the smoking machine, the darkness was a two and it
was half covered with tar. It was the same for all three trials.
When we smoked the unfiltered cigarette in the smoking machine,
the darknass was a 1 and the cotton ball was covered three-fourths
by tar. The second trial of the unfiltered cigarette showed that
the cotton ball was a 1 in darkness and fully covered in tar. The
third trial was the same as the first.
IV. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION:
We found that the unfiltered cigarette allowed more tar to enter
your lungs, therefore we accept our hypothesis which stated that
the unfiltered cigarette would allow more tar to enter your lungs.
V. APPLICATION:
We could apply this to the real world by telling smokers that
although smoking is hazardous to your health, it would be better
to smoke filtered cigarettes because less tar gets into the lungs.
TITLE: Instinctual Drives in Gerbils
STUDENT RESEARCHERS: Craig Chapman and Kyle Digby
SCHOOL: Mandeville Middle School
Mandeville, Louisiana
GRADE: 6
TEACHER: John I. Swang, Ph.D.
I. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND HYPOTHESIS:
We wanted to find out if a gerbil's instinctive drive was stronger
for a friendship or food. Our hypothesis stated that when given a
choice between food and companionship, a gerbil going through the
maze would choose being with another gerbil.
II. METHODOLOGY:
First, we stated our purpose, reviewed the literature, and
developed a hypothesis. Then we gathered our materials and built
a maze of cardboard and wood. Next, we placed a bowl of food at
one end of the maze and another gerbil at the other end. After
that we put a gerbil in the beginning of the maze to see which one
it went for. We tried this experiment in the morning when the
gerbil was hungry and in the evening after the gerbil had eaten
and was full. We recorded our results on our data collection
sheet. We repeated these step two more times. Then we analyzed
our data, rejected or accepted our hypothesis, wrote a summary and
conclusion, and applied our findings to the real world.
III. ANALYSIS OF DATA:
Half of the time the gerbils went for the food when they had not
eaten. After they had just eaten, the gerbils went for the food a
majority of five out of six times. Overall, the gerbils went for
the food a majority of 8 out of 12 times.
IV. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION:
We found that the gerbils' instinctive drive was stronger for the
food than for companionship. Therefore, we rejected our
hypothesis which stated that when given a choice between food and
friendship, a gerbil going through the maze would choose being
with another gerbil.
V. APPLICATION:
We could apply our findings to the real world by telling pet
owners that a gerbil prefers food over companionship.
TITLE: The Relationship Between Chemical Reactions and
Temperature
STUDENT RESEARCHER: Patricia Brightwell
SCHOOL: Mandeville Middle School
Mandeville, Louisiana
GRADE: 6
TEACHER: John I. Swang, Ph.D.
I. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND HYPOTHESIS:
I want to find out if there is a correlation between temperature
and the speed of a chemical reaction. My hypothesis stated that a
seltzer tablet will dissolve faster in hot water than in cold
water.
II. METHODOLOGY:
First, I stated my purpose, wrote my review of literature, and
developed my hypothesis. Next, I wrote my methodology and made a
data collection form. I then performed my experimentation. I got
six glasses and filled three with hot water and filled three with
cold water. I put a denture tablet in each one of the glasses and
measured how long each took to dissolve. I repeated this process
three times. I filled out my data collection form. Next, I wrote
my analysis of data and accepted or rejected my hypothesis. Then
I wrote my summary and conclusion, and application. Finally, I
published my work.
III. ANALYSIS OF DATA:
I found out that it took an average of sixty-one seconds for a
seltzer tablet to dissolve in cold water and it took an average of
thirty-five seconds for a seltzer tablet to dissolve in hot water.
IV. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION:
Seltzer tablets dissolve faster in hot water than in cold water.
Therefore, I accept my hypothesis which stated that a seltzer
tablet will dissolve faster in hot water than cold water. Heat
accelerates a chemical reaction.
V. APPLICATION:
I can apply this to the real world by telling people that use
seltzer tablets to dissolve them in hot water if you need to use
it quickly.
TITLE: Soil Porosity
STUDENT RESEARCHERS: Eric Oldfield and Justin Fehr
SCHOOL: Mandeville Middle School
Mandeville, Louisiana
GRADE: 6
TEACHER: John I. Swang, Ph.D.
I. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND HYPOTHESIS:
Porosity is a measure of how porous a material is. We wanted to
find out which of four different soils had the most pore space.
Our first hypothesis stated that gravel would be the most porous.
Our second hypothesis stated that clay would be the least porous.
II. METHODOLOGY:
First, we wrote a statement of purpose, review of literature, and
developed the hypothesis. We then wrote a methodology and listed
our materials. Next, we made a data collection form and began our
experiment. We filled four large plastic cups with the same
amount of mulch, gravel, clay, and sand. After that we poured
water into each cup until the water reached the top of the cup.
We recorded how many milliliters of water it took to fill each cup
on our data collection form. The amount of milliliters divided by
the size of the cup was the amount of porosity that each soil
exhibited. We then wrote an analysis of data and accepted or
rejected our hypothesis, Then we wrote our summary and
conclusion, and an application.
III. ANALYSIS OF DATA:
The mulch was the most porous with 162.5 milliliters of water
absorbed or 46% porosity. The gravel was the second most porous
with an average of 150 milliliters of water absorbed or 43%
porosity. The sand absorbed an average of 137.5 milliliters of
water or 39% porosity. Clay was the least porous with an average
of 12.5 milliliters of water absorbed or 4% porosity.
IV. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION:
The mulch had the highest porosity and the clay the least.
Therefore, we rejected our first hypothesis which stated that
gravel would be the most porous. We accepted our second
hypothesis which stated that clay would be the least porous.
V. APPLICATION:
We could inform gardeners to grow their plants in mulch because it
holds the most water and the plants would grow better.
TITLE: Hyperventilation and Level of Blood Oxygen
STUDENT RESEARCHER: Joey Brand
SCHOOL: Mandeville Middle School
Mandeville, Louisiana
GRADE: 6
TEACHER: John I. Swang, Ph.D.
I. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND HYPOTHESIS:
I want to find out if hyperventilation increases or decreases the
amount of oxygen in the blood. My hypothesis states that
hyperventilation will increase the amount of time that someone can
hold their breath because their level of blood oxygen will
increase.
II. METHODOLOGY:
First, I wrote a statement of purpose, review of the literature,
and developed a hypothesis. I then wrote a methodology, list of
materials, and developed a data collection form. I then got six
people and told them to hold their breath and I timed them. I
then told them to take five deep breaths and then hold their
breath, and I timed them. I then recorded and analyzed the data,
wrote a summary and conclusion, and applied my findings to the
real world.
III. ANALYSIS OF DATA:
Person #1 held their breath for 24 seconds with the 5 deep breaths
and 24 seconds without. Person #2 held their breath for 26
seconds with the 5 deep breaths and 29 seconds without. Person #3
held their breath for 41 seconds with the 5 deep breaths and 32
seconds without. Person #4 held their breath for 49 seconds with
the 5 deep breaths and 33 seconds without. Person #5 held their
breath for 43 seconds with the 5 deep breaths and 29 seconds
without. Person #6 held their breath 52 seconds with the 5 deep
breaths and 24 seconds without. The average time with the 5 deep
breaths was 39 seconds, and without it was 29 seconds.
IV. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION:
The people held their breaths longer with hyperventilation than
without. Therefore I accepted my hypothesis which stated that
hyperventilation would increase the time that someone can hold
their breath because their level of blood oxygen will increase.
V. APPLICATION:
I could tell people that they if they hyperventilate they can stay
under water longer.
TITLE: The Effect of Temperature on pH of Liquids.
STUDENT RESEARCHER: Cade Felker & Danny Glass
SCHOOL: Mandeville Middle School
Mandeville, Louisiana
GRADE: 6
TEACHER: John I. Swang, Ph.D.
I. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND HYPOTHESIS:
We wanted to find out if temperature affects pH of liquids. Our
hypothesis stated that temperature will not affect the pH of
liquids.
II. METHODOLOGY:
First, we wrote a statement of purpose, conducted a review of the
literature, and developed our hypothesis. We then listed our
materials. We used litmus paper to measure pH. We then took the
pH of each of our individual liquids at room temperature: water, a
mixture of baking soda and water, and vinegar. We then took the
pH of the three individual liquids at a temperature of 90 degrees
Celsius and after being cooled to 10 degrees Celsius. Then we
recorded our data on our data collection form. We then wrote our
analysis of data, and accepted or rejected our hypothesis. We
then wrote our summary and conclusion, and application.
III. ANALYSIS OF DATA:
We found that vinegar had a pH of 3.0 at 90 degrees Celsius, 1.0
at 50 degrees Celsius, and 2.0 at 10 degrees Celsius. The baking
soda had a pH of 9.0 at 90 degrees Celsius, 9.0 at 50 degrees
Celsius, and 10.0 at 10 degrees Celsius. The water had a ph of
8.0 at 90 degrees Celsius, 7.0 at 50 degrees Celsius, and 7.0 at
10 degrees Celsius.
IV. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION:
Due to inaccuracies in our measurement, the pH of each liquid
varied at each temperature. However, we found that vinegar stayed
an acid, baking soda and water stayed a base, and water stayed
neutral no matter what the temperature was. Therefore, we accept
our hypothesis which stated that the temperature would not effect
the pH of liquids.
V. APPLICATION:
We can apply this data to the real world by telling the EPA that
no matter where they take water samples to measure acid rain
pollution, the pH will not be effected by the temperature of the
water.
TITLE: Do Boys Have a Faster Reaction Time Than Girls?
STUDENT RESEARCHER: Nick Decker
SCHOOL: Mandeville Middle School
Mandeville, Louisiana
GRADE: 6
TEACHER: John I. Swang, Ph.D.
I. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND HYPOTHESIS:
I wanted to find out if boys and girls have a different reaction
time. My hypothesis states that the results of my experiment will
demonstrate a difference between the reaction time of boys and
girls.
II. METHODOLOGY:
First, I wrote a statement of purpose and reviewed the literature.
Next, I developed a hypothesis and gathered the materials needed
for my experiment. Then I developed a data collection form and
began experimentation and data collecting. I used 6 students, 3
girls and 3 boys in my investigation. Then I got a ruler and told
each student to hold their first finger and thumb at the bottom of
the ruler where it said 0 cm. I then dropped the ruler and told
each student to catch it as fast as they could. I recorded
whatever measurement the students' finger and thumb hit upon as
they grabbed the ruler. I repeated this process 5 times for each
student. Next, I analyzed my data and wrote a summary and
conclusion. Finally, I applied my data to the world.
III. ANALYSIS OF DATA:
When I dropped the ruler for the boys, an average of 15.2 cm of
the ruler went by their thumb and finger before they caught it.
When I dropped the ruler for the girls, an average of 17.6 cm of
the ruler went by before they caught it.
IV. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION:
Since the average measurement for the boys was 15.2 cm and 17.6 cm
for the girls, I can now say that the boys in my investigation had
a quicker reaction time than the girls. I accepted my hypothesis
which stated that the results of my experiment will demonstrate a
difference in reaction time between the two sexes.
V. APPLICATION:
If I were to make a team for sports, I would chose more boys than
girls since boys have a faster reaction time.
TITLE: Do Video Games Affect Memory?
STUDENT RESEARCHER: Craig White
SCHOOL: Mandeville Middle School
Mandeville, Louisiana
GRADE: 6
TEACHER: John I. Swang, Ph.D.
I. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND HYPOTHESIS
I wanted to find out if video games would affect someone's memory.
My hypothesis stated that video games will affect a person's
memory.
II. METHODOLOGY
First, I wrote my statement of purpose and review of literature.
Then I wrote my hypothesis and methodology. My test subjects
included one man, one lady, one girl, and one boy. One at a time,
I read them a short story (200 words long). Then I waited 30 min.
and asked them 8 questions about the story. Then I tallied up the
number of correct answers and recorded it on my data collection
sheet. Then, the next day, I read them another short story (200
words long). Then I waited 30 min. while letting them play a
video game. Then I asked them 8 questions about the story. Then
I tallied up the number of correct answers and recorded it on my
data collection sheet. Then I repeated my experiment once more
with different stories and questions. Then I analyzed my data,
accepted or rejected my hypothesis, wrote my summary and
conclusions, and applied what I learned to the real world.
Finally, I typed up my abstract and published it.
III. ANALYSIS OF DATA
The subjects were able to correctly answer 100% of the questions
about the stories after waiting 30 minutes without playing the
video game. The subjects correctly answered 95% of the questions
about the stories after waiting 30 minutes while playing the video
game.
IV. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
The video games affected the memory of three out of the four
people I tested. Therefore, I accepted my hypothesis which stated
that video games would affect a person's memory.
V. APPLICATION
I could use this information to help my grades. I now know that I
should not play video games before a test.
TITLE: The Effect of Chewing Gum on Heart Rate
STUDENT RESEARCHER: Craig White
SCHOOL: Mandeville Middle School
Mandeville, Louisiana
GRADE: 6
TEACHER: John I. Swang, Ph.D.
I. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND HYPOTHESIS:
I wanted to find out if chewing gum effects heart rate. My
hypothesis stated that chewing gum while sitting will decrease
heart rate more than just sitting alone.
II. METHODOLOGY:
First, I wrote my statement of purpose and hypothesis. Then I
reviewed my literature and developed a hypothesis. Then I took
three people and one at a time took their pulse. Then I had them
sit down and do nothing for 5 minutes. Then I took their pulse
again and recorded it on my data collection sheet. Later I took
their pulse and recorded it on my data collection sheet. Then I
had them sit down and chew sugarless gum for five minutes. Then I
took their pulse again and recorded it on my data collection
sheet. Then I repeated my experiment twice over the next two
days. Then I analyzed my data, accepted or rejected my
hypothesis, and wrote my summary and conclusions. Finally, I
applied what I learned to the real world.
III. ANALYSIS OF DATA:
While sitting still, Stephanie averaged 8 beats per minute (BPM)
lower than while standing, Barbara averaged 7 BPM lower than
standing, and Doug showed no difference in heart rate. While
chewing gum, Stephanie averaged 4 BPM lower than standing, Barbara
averaged 7 BPM lower than standing, and Doug averaged 1 BPM higher
than standing. The total average reduction in heart rate while
sitting still was 5 BPM. The total average reduction in heart
rate while chewing gum was 5 BPM.
IV. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION:
There was no difference in the average reduction in heart rate
while sitting and chewing gum while sitting. Therefore, I reject
my hypothesis which stated that chewing gum while sitting will
decrease heart rate more than just sitting alone.
V. APPLICATION:
I could apply my findings to the real world by telling people that
if they are tense, chewing gum will not relax their heart rate any
more than just sitting down.
© 1993 John I. Swang, Ph.D.