The National Student Research Center
E-Journal of Student Research: Science
Volume 7, Number 3, April, 1999
The National Student Research Center
is dedicated to promoting student research and the use of the
scientific method in all subject areas across the curriculum,
especially science and math.
For more information contact:
- John I. Swang, Ph.D.
- Founder/Director
- National Student Research Center
- 2024 Livingston Street
- Mandeville, Louisiana 70448
- U.S.A.
- E-Mail: nsrcmms@communique.net
- http://youth.net/nsrc/nsrc.html
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Brown Bananas
- Mold Growth On Bread
- The Great Paper Towel Challenge
- What Wrapping Keeps Things Colder?
- Sound
- The Electro Magnetic Spectrum
- Eyes and The Ability To Judge Distances
- The Effect of the Flow of Electricity
On the Direction A Motor Turns
- The Best Packaging Materials
- Paper Towel Absorption
Title: Brown Bananas
Student Researcher: Renee Kipp and Rosina Petty
School: Shepherd Elementary
Shepherd, Montana
Grade: 1
Teacher: Mrs. Sharon Cline
I. Statement of Purpose and Hypothesis:
Do bananas brown faster on the counter or in the refrigerator? I
think the bananas on the counter will brown faster.
II. Methodology:
1. Place one banana in the refrigerator.
2. Place one banana on the counter.
3. Observe over a one week period.
4. Record results
III. Analysis of Data:
The banana in the refrigerator browned faster than the banana on
the counter.
IV. Summary and Conclusion:
The cold temperature makes a banana's skin brown faster. The
banana in the refrigerator is still firm though, where as the
banana on the counter is softer.
V. Application
I will let Katie the cook in our school lunch program know about
my results so she does not have to throw away so many bananas. I
will also let my parent know so our bananas will stay fresher.
Title: Mold Growth On Bread
Student Researcher: Zane Seader
School: Shepherd Elementary
Shepherd, Montana
Grade: 1
Teacher: Mrs. Sharon Cline
I. Statement of Purpose and Hypothesis:
I think that mold will grow faster on moist bread.
II. Methodology:
1. Put one slice of bread into a labeled and sealed plastic bag.
2. Moisten another slice of bread with water. Place it in a
labeled and sealed plastic bag.
3. Put bags by window and check daily.
4. Record results
III. Analysis of Data:
Moist bread molded faster than the dry bread.
IV. Summary and Conclusion:
Mold needs moisture to grow. The water provided moisture. The
sealed bag kept he water the bag.
V. Application
This information will be passed along to my parents. They need
to be made aware of this when my lunch is packed.
Title: The Great Paper Towel Challenge
Student Researcher: Caitlin Hill, Kyle Joppa
School: Shepherd Elementary
Shepherd, Montana
Grade: 1
Teacher: Mrs. Sharon Cline
I. Statement of Purpose and Hypothesis:
Which paper towels are the strongest? I think that Bounty will
be the strongest.
II. Methodology:
1. Soak one section of each brand of towel in 1/4
cup water. We used Smiths, Hi-Dri, and Bounty
in our test.
2. Use gram stackers in increments of 20 grams.
3. Continue stacking on wet paper towel until
the towel breaks.
4. Record results
III. Analysis of Data:
Smith's paper towel held 120 grams, Hi Dri paper towels held 100
grams, and Bounty held 860 grams.
IV. Summary and Conclusion:
The Bounty paper towels were thicker than the other towels used
so they could hold more weight. The Bounty towels were also the
most expensive of the three brands.
V. Application
I will let our custodial staff here at Shepherd know what I found
out! They need to know that you get what you pay for and that
this towel may help them clean-up our school.
Title: What Wrapping Keeps Things Colder?
Student Researcher: Lacey Reyer
School: Shepherd Elementary
Shepherd, Montana
Grade: 1
Teacher: Mrs. Sharon Cline
I. Statement of Purpose and Hypothesis:
What keeps things colder, aluminum foil or plastic wrap? I think
plastic wrap will keep things colder.
II. Methodology:
1. Measure 2 inches of aluminum foil and plastic
wrap.
2. I used yarn to measure the sized of the ice
cubes.
3. I wrapped one ice cube in foil and the other
in plastic wrap.
4. I measured the cube every fifteen minutes
until they melted.
III. Analysis of Data:
The ice cube wrapped in aluminum foil melted faster than the cube
in plastic wrap.
IV. Summary and Conclusion:
The plastic wrap kept the ice cube colder. Aluminum is a metal
and it conducts heat better than plastic.
V. Application
This will be just the kind of information that our school lunch
program needs to know about! They have been using aluminum foil
to store cold items and I think they should switch to plastic
wrap.
Title: Sound
Student Researcher: Alta Peila
School: Shepherd Elementary
Shepherd, Montana
Grade: 4
Teacher: Mrs. Wittman
I. Statement of Purpose and Hypothesis:
Does sound travel through string? My hypothesis states that
sound will travel through string.
II. Methodology:
First, I collected two tin cans and some string. The string was
from six to eight feet long. Next, I hammered a nail in the
center of the bottom of each can. Then I made a hole and pulled
the string through, tied a knot at the end of the string and
repeated this once more with the other can. Now I have made a
telephone. I had two people test it by holding the two cans far
enough apart until the string was tight. I made sure that it
wasn't touching anything, otherwise it wouldn't have vibrated. I
talked into one can while the person on the other end listened.
III. Analysis of Data
My results demonstrated that the person on the other end could
hear me. The reason why the person could hear me was because
sound can travel through objects as vibrations.
IV. Summary and Conclusion:
Sound does travel through string. I accepted my hypothesis.
V. Application:
I learned that sound can travel through barriers. So if you were
to stand outside and someone was inside and I was by a window and
talked, the person on the inside probably would hear me.
Title: The Electro Magnetic Spectrum
Student Researcher: Thomas C. Morrison
School: Shepherd Elementary
Shepherd, Montana
Grade: 5th
Teacher: Mrs. Cindy Wittman
I. Statement of Purpose and Hypothesis:
How are the different forms of energy in the Electro Magnetic
Spectrum related?
I believe that the different forms of energy are related through
different lengths of waves.
II. Methodology:
Step one: Research the Electro Magnetic Spectrum through books
and on the Internet. Step two: Write a report on the energies
that make up the Electro Magnetic Spectrum. Step three: Find
pictures to illustrate these energies
III. Analysis of Data:
The energies that are in the Electro Magnetic are related through
wavelengths.
IV. Summary and Conclusion:
The Electro Magnetic Spectrum's energies are related through
wavelengths and some of these energies are essential to life now.
V. Application:
The Electro Magnetic Spectrum fascinates me. I hope to work with
these energies when I grow up. I would use this information in
my job. I would like to use this information for a radio station
that broadcasts events that happen at Shepherd School.
Title: Eyes and The Ability To Judge Distances
Student Researcher: A.J. Rohrer
School: Shepherd Elementary
Shepherd, Montana
Grade: 5th
Teacher: Mrs. Cindy Wittman
I. Statement of Purpose and Hypothesis:
Are two eyes better than one in judging distances. My hypothesis
states that, if you use two eyes, it greatly increases your
ability to judge distances.
II. Methodology:
I used four different methods to test my experiment. Below is
one of these methods.
1. Using an empty shoe box, cut two holes in one
side of the box. Cut one hole on the other
side of the box.
2. Glue or tape two identical objects at the
opposite sides of the hole.
3. Look through the side of the box with one
hole in it.
4. Judge the distance it is to the object.
5. Look through the side of the box with two
holes in it.
6. Judge the distance it is to the object.
7. Measure the distance to the object.
III. Analysis of Data:
My results indicate that when viewing a ball that is 11" away
while using one eye a person tends to judge the distance to be
about 18". When viewing the ball with two eyes a person tends to
judge the distance to be about 12".
Two eyes are better than one in judging distances because two
eyes give you a greatly wider and more accurate view of the
world.
IV. Summary and Conclusion:
After looking over my project, I decided that my results did
match my hypothesis because according to my results two eyes
really are better than one in judging distances.
V. Application:
I will relate this information to my everyday life by remembering
that two eyes are more accurate than one in judging distances
especially when I go hunting and have to decide how far the
bullet will drop after fired.
Title: The Effect of the Flow of Electricity On the Direction A
Motor Turns
Student Researcher: Paul Ganz
School: Shepherd Elementary
Shepherd, Montana
Grade: 5th
Teacher: Mrs. Cindy Wittman
I. Statement of Purpose and Hypothesis:
My hypothesis states that, if you reverse the flow of electricity
to an electric motor, it will spin in the opposite way.
II. Methodology:
I gathered the following materials for the construction of the
motor: wood blocks, insulated wire, a nail, 2 horseshoe magnets,
wood base, and 2 9-volt batteries. I then built my motor and
conducted my experiment by reversing the flow of electricity on
the motor.
III. Analysis of Data:
I found that if you reverse the flow of electricity that the
motor will spin the opposite way.
IV. Summary and Conclusion:
I have concluded that my hypothesis is right. If you reverse the
flow of electricity to an electric motor, it will spin in the
opposite direction.
V. Application:
You could have a conveyer belt on the lunch line so kids wouldn't
spill so much, you set your tray on the belt, the lunch ladies
put the food on the plate as it goes by and the kids pick it up
at the end. Therefore you save a few dollars on a new tray if a
kid drops one and breaks it.
Title: The Best Packaging Materials
Student Researcher: Deirdre Coe
School: Shepherd Elementary
Shepherd, Montana
Grade: 5th
Teacher: Mrs. Cindy Wittman
I. Statement of Purpose and Hypothesis:
I would like to find out which kind of protective covering works
best in protecting eggs. My hypothesis is that wool is the best
protection for eggs.
II. Methodology:
First, I put some wool in two plastic containers, then I put a
raw egg and a hard cooked egg in each of the two separate
containers. Next, I dropped them. Then I recorded what happened
to the eggs. Then I did the same thing several more times, using
newspaper, bubble wrap, a napkin, a coffee filter, and finally
foil as protective coverings inside the plastic container.
III. Analysis of Data:
When the raw egg was in the newspaper it didn't crack. When the
raw egg was in the wool it cracked a great deal and broke the
yolk.
IV. Summary and Conclusion:
My results and observation indicated that the best possible
lining to keep eggs from cracking is newspaper and the worst
possible lining is wool. Foil, bubble wrap, napkins, and coffee
filters are all fair protective coverings for eggs. In this
experiment, my hypothesis was incorrect.
V. Application:
The project had to do with packing materials, so people like
scientist and people who work in the UPS business can use this
information to pack valuable things.
Title: Paper Towel Absorption
Student Researcher: Dawn Carter
School: Shepherd Elementary
Shepherd, Montana
Grade: 5th
Teacher: Mrs. Cindy Wittman
I. Statement of Purpose and Hypothesis:
Which paper towel will absorb liquid better, Brawny or Smith's.
I predicted that Brawny would absorb liquids better the Smith's.
II. Methodology:
1. Cut paper towels into strips. 2. Put a dot of any color at
the end of the paper towel. 3. Tape the paper towel to a craft
stick. 4. Dip the paper towel into the cup of water. 5. Wait
and observe. 6. Measure how far the color of the marker went up
on the paper towels.
III. Analysis of Data:
I found out that Brawny paper towels absorbed liquids better than
Smith's paper towels.
IV. Summary and Conclusion:
My conclusion was that Brawny paper towels absorbed liquids
better than Smith's. I think that happened because Brawny was
thicker, so there was more paper to absorb the water. My
hypothesis was right.
V. Application:
I could share this information with the janitors at our school.
I will also buy Brawny instead of Smith's when I go to the store.