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THE E-JOURNAL OF STUDENT RESEARCH has been made possible through grants provided by the United States Department of Education, South Central Bell Telephone, American Petroleum Institute, Intertel Foundation, Springhouse Publishing Corporation, Graham Resources, Inc., Chevron Oil Company, Central Louisiana Electric Company, Louisiana State Department of Education, and National Science Foundation. Mandeville Middle School and the National Student Research Center thank these organizations for their generous support of education.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. What Is The Best Fertilizer?
2. What Is The Effect of the Human Voice on Plant Growth?
3. Which Vegetables Contain The Most Starch?
4. What Are The Effects of Exercise on Heartbeat?
5. What Conditions Promote The Ripening of Fruit?
6. What Effect Does Air Pressure Have On The Movement of a Solid?
7. Accelerating The Rate of Decomposition
TITLE: What Is The Best Plant Fertilizer?
STUDENT RESEARCHER: Alan Leung
SCHOOL: Mandeville Middle School
Mandeville, Louisiana
GRADE: 6
TEACHER: Debbie Knick
I. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND HYPOTHESIS
I would like to do a scientific research project on what the best
plant fertilizer is. My hypothesis states that manure will be the
best plant fertilizer.
II. METHODOLOGY
First, I labeled each plant as A, B, C, D, or E. Then I
fertilized plant A with manure, plant B with ground coffee, plant
C with mineral water, plant D with powdered milk, and plant E with
tap water for one month. I kept each plant in sunlight. I
recorded the observations. I used manure, five potted plants of
the same kind and size, ground coffee, mineral water, powdered
milk, and tap water in my project.
III. ANALYSIS OF DATA
I found that the plant treated with manure showed the best
results. The plant treated with ground coffee showed the next
best results. The plant treated with mineral water showed the
next best results. The plants treated with powdered milk and the
control showed the worst results.
IV. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
The plant treated with manure showed the best results. Therefore,
I accept my hypothesis which stated that manure would be the best
plant fertilizer.
V. APPLICATION
I will use manure for my fertilizer instead of anything else.
TITLE: What Is The Effect Of The Human Voice On Plant Growth?
STUDENT RESEARCHERS: Erin LeCorgne
SCHOOL: Mandeville Middle School
Mandeville, Louisiana
GRADE: 6
TEACHER: Mrs. Simon
I. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND HYPOTHESIS:
I would like to find out what effect the human voice has on plant
growth. My hypothesis states that the plants I talk to will grow
stronger and taller than the plants I don't talk to.
II. METHODOLOGY:
First, I stated my problem and my hypothesis. Then, I gathered
the materials I needed which were ivy, potting soil, a ruler,
water, six plastic cups, a marker, paper, and a pencil. Next, I
cut leaves off an ivy plant and put the leaves in water until they
grew roots. After the roots were grown, I put them in six plastic
cups filled with potting soil and numbered each cup 1-6. I then
put the plants in sunlight and watered them when needed. I talked
to the plants 1-3 for three weeks. I observed the plants and
measured how tall they grew each week. Then I recorded my
observations and formed my conclusion. I then applied my findings
to the real world.
III. ANALYSIS OF DATA:
The plants I talked to were plants 1, 2, and 3. When I first
planted the plants, plant 1 was 7" tall, plant 2 was 7 1\4" tall,
plant 3 was 4 1\4" tall, plant 4 was 6 3\4" tall, plant 5 was 6"
tall, and plant 6 was 5 1\4" tall. The second week, plant 1 was 7
1\2" tall, plant 2 was 7 1\2" tall, plant 3 was 5" tall, plant 4
was 7" tall, plant 5 was 6" tall, and plant 6 was 5 1\2" tall.
The third week, plant 1 was 8" tall, plant 2 was 8" tall, plant 3
was 6" tall, plant 4 was 7 1\2" tall, plant 5 was 6" tall, and
plant 6 was 6 1\4" tall.
IV. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION:
I observed that the plants I talked to grew stronger and healthier
than the ones I didn't talk to. I therefore accepted my
hypothesis which stated that the plants I talk to will grow
stronger and taller than the ones I don't talk to. This happened
because plants need love, encouraging words, and care just as much
as babies and children do.
V. APPLICATION:
Now that I know that plants need love and care, I can tell people
to talk to their plants if they want them to grow stronger and
healthier.
TITLE: Which Vegetables Contain the Most Starch?
STUDENT RESEARCHER: Abra Murray
SCHOOL: Mandeville Middle School
Mandeville, Louisiana
GRADE: 6
TEACHER: Mrs. Sullivan
I. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND HYPOTHESIS:
I would like to do a scientific research project to determine
which vegetable contains the most starch. My hypothesis states
that potatoes will contain the most starch.
II. METHODOLOGY:
First, I cut the vegetables in half with a knife. Then I put one
tablespoon of iodine on each vegetable and spread it with a
dropper. The vegetable that turns the darkest brown contains the
most starch. Finally, I recorded the results of my experiment on
my data collection sheet and analyzed my data.
III. ANALYSIS OF DATA:
The potato turned the darkest brown. The avocado turned the next
darkest brown and the tomato turned light brown.
IV. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION:
The potato turned the darkest brown. Therefore, I accept my
hypothesis which stated that potatoes would contain the most
starch.
V. APPLICATION:
If I go on a diet, I will know not to eat potatoes because they
are high in starch. I also know how to measure starch in other
foods.
TITLE: What are the Effects of Exercise on the Heartbeat?
STUDENT RESEARCHER: Angela Geraci
SCHOOL: Mandeville Middle School
Mandeville, Louisiana
GRADE: 6
TEACHER: Mrs. Crow
I. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND HYPOTHESIS:
I would like to do a scientific research project on the effects of
exercise on heartbeat. My hypothesis states that exercise will
speed up my heartbeat.
II. METHODOLOGY:
First, I wrote my statement of purpose and conducted a short
review of literature. Then I came up with a hypothesis based on
my review of literature. After that I found a clock to help me
measure my heart rate. Then I took my resting pulse for one
minute. Then I ran in place for one minute and took my pulse
again. I did this for a total of four times and recorded my data.
Then I analyzed my data, wrote my summary and conclusion, and
application. Finally, I published my abstract in the student
research journal.
III. ANALYSIS OF DATA:
On trial one, my resting heartbeat was 100. After exercise, it
was 130. On trial two, my resting heartbeat was 92 and 110 after
exercise. On trial three, my resting heartbeat was 88 and after
exercise, it was 110. On trial four, my resting heartbeat was 79
and 128 after exercise.
IV. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION:
My heartbeat increased after exercise. Therefore, I accept my
hypothesis which stated that exercise will speed up my heartbeat.
V. APPLICATION:
I can apply my findings to the world by telling people that, if
they are not in good condition, strenuous activity might be
harmful since it increases their heartbeat a great deal.
TITLE: What Conditions Promote the Ripening of Fruit?
STUDENT RESEARCHER: Brian South
SCHOOL: Mandeville Middle School
Mandeville, Louisiana
GRADE: 6
TEACHER: Ellen Marino, M. Ed.
I. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND HYPOTHESIS:
I would like to do a research project to see under what conditions
fruit ripens fastest: the refrigerator, kitchen counter, or a shoe
box in the pantry. My hypothesis states that a green banana and a
green kumquat will ripen faster in a shoe box in the pantry than
in the refrigerator or on the kitchen counter.
II. METHODOLOGY:
First, I wrote my statement of purpose, reviewed the literature,
and developed my hypothesis. Then I gathered all my materials.
Next, I put a banana and a kumquat in a different shoe box in the
pantry. I also put one of each produce in the refrigerator and on
the kitchen counter. Then I checked them every other day for a
period of 7 day. I repeated this three times. Next, I analyzed
the data, accepted or rejected my hypothesis, and wrote my summary
and conclusion. Finally, I applied my findings to the real world.
III. ANALYSIS OF DATA:
The bananas on the counter had all the green almost gone by day 3.
On day 5, there were some brown spots, but they were totally ripe.
On day 7, the bananas were almost all brown. The bananas in the
pantry were starting to loose their green on day 3. On day 5, the
bananas were totally ripe. On day 7, there were a lot of brown
spots. The bananas in the refrigerator had no ripening signs, but
brown spots on day 3. On day 5, they were mostly a greenish
brown. On day 7, the bananas were totally greenish brown.
The kumquats on the counter had green spots beginning to leave on
day 3. The kumquats on day 7 were turning orange and beginning to
shrivel up. Kumquats in the pantry were 2/3 ripened. The
kumquats in the pantry were totally ripe by day 5. The kumquats
on day 7 had all of the green spots gone. There was no change in
any of the kumquats in the refrigerator.
IV. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION:
>From the experimental data, I found that the bananas on the
counter ripened the fastest and so did the kumquats. The fruits
in the pantry took longer to ripen. The kumquats in the
refrigerator did not ripen at all and the bananas did not ripen,
but turned a greenish brown. Therefore, I reject my hypothesis
which stated that a green banana and a green kumquat will ripen
faster in a shoe box in the pantry than in the refrigerator or the
kitchen counter.
V. APPLICATION:
I can apply this to the real world by knowing where to put a
banana or a kumquat if I wanted to ripen them. If I bought the
bananas a week from when I needed them, I could probably put them
in the pantry in a shoe box, but if I needed them sooner I could
probably leave them on the counter.
TITLE: What Effect Does Air Pressure Have on the Movement of a
Solid?
STUDENT RESEARCHERS: Jared Monroe
SCHOOL: Pine View Middle School
Covington, Louisiana
GRADE: 6
TEACHER: Mrs. Phillips
I. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND HYPOTHESIS:
I wanted to find out what effect air pressure has on the movement
of a solid. My hypothesis stated that the egg will fall into the
bottle because the air pressure on the outside is greater than
that on the inside of the bottle.
II. METHODOLOGY:
The first thing I will do is put my bottle onto the table.
Second, I will take the boiling water and pour some into the
bottle. Third, I will pour the water out of the bottle and put
the egg on top very quickly. Fourth, I will wait a couple of
seconds and observe what happens to the egg. Finally, I will blow
on the mouth of the bottle. I will record the results.
III. ANALYSIS OF DATA:
Pouring hot boiling water in the bottle caused the air to heat up,
expand, and exit the bottle. After I poured the boiling water out
of the bottle, I put the hard boiled egg without a shell on top.
After five seconds, the air in the bottle began to cool and
contract. The air pressure inside the bottle became less that on
the outside of the bottle. The egg started to move into the
bottle. It kept moving for fourteen seconds and finally went in
at fifteen seconds.
IV. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION:
I accept my hypothesis. In my experiment my egg went quickly into
the bottle. Before I put the water into the bottle, the pressure
on the inside of the bottle was equal with the pressure on the
outside of the bottle. When I poured the hot water into the
bottle the pressure on the inside of the bottle was lower than the
pressure on the outside of the bottle. Thus the egg went into the
bottle. When I blew on the mouth of the bottle the pressure on
the inside of the bottle became higher than on the outside of the
bottle and the egg was pushed out of the bottle.
V. APPLICATION:
My research could be used to predict hurricanes and tornadoes
ahead of time so people can move to a safer area.
TITLE: Decomposing
STUDENT RESEARCHER: Lindsay Flexer
SCHOOL: Mandeville Middle School
Mandeville, Louisiana
GRADE: 6
TEACHER: Mrs. Fortner
I. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND HYPOTHESIS:
I wanted to do a scientific research project on what helps to
speed up the decomposing process of a slice of banana; yeast,
sugar, or nothing. My hypothesis stated that the banana with
yeast on it will decompose faster than a banana with sugar or
nothing on it.
II. METHODOLOGY:
First, I wrote my statement of purpose, wrote my review of
literature and developed my hypothesis. I took three slices of a
banana, one with yeast on it, one with sugar on it, and one that
was plain. I took the three slices and put them into a plastic
bag and put them on the counter for a week and observed what
happened. I recorded the results on my data collection form and
repeated this procedure two more times. I analyzed my data, wrote
my summary and conclusion, and finally I applied my results to the
real world.
III. ANALYSIS OF DATA:
In all three trials, the banana with yeast on it decomposed the
fastest. Even though on trial 2 the plain banana turned black and
moldy and the yeast banana was more mushy and spread out. On all
three trials, the sugar banana got wet and sloppy, but were not as
decomposed as the yeast bananas. On two of the trials, the plain
banana the only turned a little brown and a little mold was
growing on them. For trial 2, the plain banana had black edges
and lots of mold on it, but this banana was not soft. It was
harder than the yeast and sugar bananas.
IV. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION:
In all of the trials of all the bananas, the bananas sprinkled
with yeast on them decomposed the fastest. Therefore, I accept my
hypothesis which stated that the banana with yeast will decompose
faster than a banana with sugar or a banana with nothing on it.
V. APPLICATION:
With the data I have gotten from my experiment, I can now put
yeast on a compost pile to accelerate decomposition. I can also
ask garbage companies to put yeast on garbage piles so that the
garbage will decompose faster.
© 1994 John I. Swang, Ph.D.