Title: Rate Of Plant Growth In Different Types Of Soil
Student Researcher: Jennifer Hudson
School Address: Beach St. Middle School
West Islip, NY 11795
Grade: Sixth
Teacher: Mrs. Markham
I. Statement Of Purpose & Hypothesis:
What is the difference in the rate of seeds sprouting and growing using 3 different types of soil? I think the seeds in the potting soil will sprout first and grow quicker than the seeds in the Perlite and sand.
II. Methodology:
The materials used were: three paper cups, potting soil, Perlite (an all natural mineral soil), sand, Teddy Bear sunflower seeds, and water. I filled one paper cup with potting soil, one with Perlite, and one with sand. Then I put the seeds into the different soils and pushed them down so they were covered. Then I added water.
III. Analysis Of Data:
After watering the seeds every two days, I found out on the sixth day that the seed planted in the Perlite had started to sprout first. On the eight day, the seed in the potting soil sprouted. The seed in the sand did not sprout at all.
IV. Summary and Conclusion:
I realized that my guess was wrong. To my surprise, the seeds in the Perlite sprouted first rather than the seeds in the potting soil.
V. Application:
My research can be used in the world today. Organic soils such as Perlite enhance natures own minerals which help aid in plant growth. By using natural soils, we can reduce and maybe even eliminate the need of harsh chemical based fertilizers.
Title: Subliminal Messages
Student Researcher: Abbey Marshak
School Address: Edgemont Jr./Sr. High School
Scarsdale, New York
Grade: 7
Teacher: Ms. Russo
I. Statement of Purpose and Hypothesis:
At first I had a lot of trouble picking an experiment. After a lot of searching for ideas, I decided that I wanted to see whether the subconscious could have an impact on the conscious aspect of a person's mind. My hypothesis stated that subliminal messages would have an impact on a person's decisions.
II. Methodology:
To set up this experiment I used a four-track recorder, mood music, and my voice. The four-track recorder let me combine four recordings on one tape. I combined the mood music and my voice saying the subliminal message. To actually do this experiment I needed five different crayons including green. I also needed a tape player, to play the tape, and an isolated area with no distractions where the person should be tested.
To begin this activity I made a recording. On this recording I had mood music and in very high and low pitches, messages that say "You are thirsty. You want orange juice." And "You like the green crayon the best." I combined all of these things so that they were on one tape. To conduct my experiment I had two different groups. I had a control group and a manipulated group. The control group was asked what their favorite color crayon is out of 5 and they were asked what they would like to drink. They were asked these questions without any suggestions. To make my experiment a little more interesting I had one message coinciding with an activity asked to do, and the other message just a random thing.
The manipulated group was sitting down listening to the tape made. The controlled variables for the manipulated group was the atmosphere, they were sitting on the floor of my basement with a clipboard in their lap, the fact that they had crayons and paper in front of them and they were asked to draw, and the message itself being played. At the end of the time listening to the music they were asked the same questions as the control group.
The responding variable was the response to a particular question. I graphed the results and came to conclusions whether the subliminal message actually went through to the persons conscious.
III. Analysis of Data:
Crayons
| Red | Blue | Yellow | Green | Orange | |
| Control | 3 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Manipulated | 2 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
Juices
| Grapefruit | Apple | Cranberry | Lemonade | Orange | |
| Control | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 6 |
| Manipulated | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 7 |
The above data table indicates that there is no significant difference between the choices of the manipulated and control groups.
IV. Summary and Conclusion:
I disproved my hypothesis in this experiment. From my information gathered, I realized that there is no significant pattern in the responses as a result of the subliminal message. When I was testing the results of the manipulated group, the results did not show anything more than opinion in taste of each person.
V. Application:
I can not apply my information found to everyday life. Although, through doing this experiment, I have begun to get interested in how people develop different favorites. I now want to know how we choose favorites and why majorities of the people like one color better than another color. I also want to know whether it is a genetic influence. I feel that I have learned through this experiment that even though some things don't work out, they will turn up O.K. in the end. This is because when my experiment didn't work as hoped it would, I still continued with it and I was able to draw conclusions.
Title: The Effect of Light on the Productivity of Ants
Student Researcher: Amelia Skolnick
School: Edgemont Jr./Sr. High School
Scarsdale, New York
Grade: 7
Teacher: Mr. Rubenstein
I. Statement of Purpose and Hypothesis:
I wanted to know more about living things and their environments. I thought ant farms would be a good, unique experiment. I tested three different ant farms, one in light, one in the dark, and one which was a control that got a normal dawn to dusk day. My hypothesis was that the farm in the light would be the most productive, because the ants would have more light to see what they were doing.
II. Methodology:
As I stated before, I set up three ant farms to test to see which one would be the most productive. I ordered the ant farms, then set them up one by one. Each farm was given a pound of sand, 6 ounces of water every two days, and 2-3 grains of their special food once a week. Each ant farm held about 25-30 ants. I observed the ants daily, and wrote down on my data charts the day, amount of tunnels, the length of tunnels, and the amount of dead ants for each individual farm. I took pictures of the ants every Wednesday and Saturday. Each farm had the same amount of food, water, sand, ants, feeding time, and temperature. I placed one farm in the light indirectly under a lamp, the lamp was left on all day. The farm in the dark was placed under a large towel. The control was a farm placed in the center of the room near a window.
III. Analysis of Data:
After collecting my data over a span of about 20 days, I figured out that the farm which was placed in the dark was the most productive, disproving my hypothesis.
IV. Summary and Conclusion:
In conclusion, I figured out that ants are most productive in the dark. This is probably because an ant's normal habitat is underground, which is constantly dark. The controlled farm with the ants in it was the next productive, and the ants in the light were the least productive.
V. Application:
My science experiment proved that every animal species work differently and more efficiently in their own environment. While humans may work better in light, and bats better in dark, they both have their own style which they have adapted to over the years. These facts are very interesting and I have enjoyed studying them.
Title: How Much Water Do Plants Absorb?
Student Researcher: Akie Yabuuchi
School: Edgemont Jr./Sr. High School
Scarsdale, NY 10583
Grade: 7
Teacher: Ms. Russo
I. Statement of Purpose and Hypothesis:
I wanted to know more about how plants absorb water. I wanted to find out if the number of leaves affected the amount of water a plant absorbed. I also wanted to find out how much water the plants absorbed per hour. My hypothesis stated the more leaves a plant has the more water will be absorbed. My other hypothesis stated the more sunlight the plants are exposed to, the more water they will absorb.
II. Methodology:
First, I wrote my statement of purpose, conducted a review of the literature about plants, and developed my hypothesis. I then got a box, fourteen straws, water with red food coloring, two kinds of plants (two of each kinds), tape, and a thermometer. I put the straws together by inserting one straw into the other. I taped it so it wouldn't leak. I tested to be sure that the straws did not leak. I did this process until I made seven straws shaped like a U. Then I put the red colored water into all of the straws and taped them it onto the box. I then put the plants in, one with most of the leaves taken off, the other with half of the leaves taken off, and the last one left alone. The manipulated variable was the number of leaves and the different places that I conducted the tests. I conducted three tests in each of three locations at daytime and three at night. I put marks on each of the straws every hour and measured how many millimeters the plants sucked in an hour. I recorded the data on my data sheet. Next, I conducted an analysis of my data. Finally, I accepted or rejected my hypothesis and wrote my summary and conclusion. Then I applied my findings to the world outside my classroom.
III. Analysis of data:
My data were reasonable. I noticed that, in a sunny place on a nice day, the absorption was less than the shady place on a sunny day. The absorption was even less on rainy days. I also noticed that for more leaves on a plant, more water is absorbed. This was true for most of the trials.
IV. Summary and Conclusion:
Both plants had nearly the same results. They both had more absorption if they had more leaves. I found out that in a shady place on a sunny day, the plants absorbed the most water. In a sunny place on a sunny day, the absorption was in the middle and, on a rainy day, the plants didn't really absorb any water. To my surprise, the plants in the shady place absorbed more water than in the sunny place. However, this may be due to the difference in moisture of the air between the two days since I could not conduct the testing on the same day. There was a slight inaccuracy in this data. The plant with medium number of leaves absorbed more water than the plant with lots of leaves, but mostly my data was correct. Therefore, I accepted my hypothesis, which stated that the more leaves a plant has, the more it will absorb the water.
V. Application:
There is a type of farming called hydroponics. This method of growing is used in areas where people want to grow crops, but they have no soil to grow them on. Instead they grow them in water. That is when my data becomes useful. By looking at my data you can approximate how much water to give the plants so the plants don't die from too little or too much water. I hope my data will be useful for this new method of growing crops.
Title: The Decay of Teeth in Various Solutions
Student Researcher: Bobby Noll
School Address: Edgemont Jr./Sr. High School
Scarsdale, NY
Grade: 7
Teacher: Ms. Russo
I. Statement of Purpose and Hypothesis:
I wanted to find out more about tooth decay. My hypothesis stated that teeth soaked in toothpaste and fluoride would take longer to develop a cavity, than teeth soaked in a soda solution.
II. Methodology:
I tested my hypothesis by placing teeth and various solutions into small containers as follows:
The manipulated variables were the different solutions and the responding variable was the rate of decay on a scale of one to ten. The controlled variables were the size of the container, amount of solution, and source of teeth.
III. Analysis of data:
The data I collected indicate that the best substance to fight tooth decay is toothpaste, therefore everyone should brush their teeth on a regular basis. The data also indicate that if a person eats a lot of sugary foods and does not brush their teeth they will develop cavities. In this experiment, the data I collected were as follows: the 2 teeth in the soda didn't start to decay until the fifth and eighth day. The teeth in the fluoride didn't start to decay until the eleventh and twelfth day. The teeth in the toothpaste didn't start to decay until the twentieth day. The other teeth developed no cavity. The teeth in the mouthwash developed cavities on the thirteenth and fifteenth day. Finally the 2 teeth in the hydrogen peroxide decayed on the tenth and thirteenth day of this project.
IV. Summary and Conclusion:
I found out that the toothpaste worked very well in helping to prevent cavities and so did the water. The teeth in fluoride didn't hold up as well as I thought they would. I would reject my hypothesis because the fluoride did not prevent the decay of the teeth as well as I thought it would. I think that part of the shortcoming of this project might be the condition of the teeth in the beginning of the project. I had no way of knowing if all the teeth were healthy when I started the project except by visual inspection.
V. Application:
In this project I have concluded that the toothpaste is the best way to control cavity and tooth decay. I also found out that the 2 teeth in Hydrogen Peroxide were covered in plaque and therefore very yellow in the beginning of the project and became bright white and looked clean towards the end of the experiment. I think that people should take care of their teeth. If they eat sugary foods, they should brush their teeth and maybe even apply Hydrogen Peroxide to their teeth to brighten them up.
Title: Pyramid Power - Myth or Fact?
Student Researcher: Liam Cronin
School Address: Edgemont Jr./Sr. High School
Scarsdale, N.Y. 10583
Grade: 7
Teacher: Maria Russo
I. Statement of Purpose and Hypothesis:
I wanted to find out more about the theory of Pyramid Power and whether it is true. People who believe in Pyramid Power believe that the shape of a pyramid somehow magnifies energy and focuses it on whatever is inside. My hypothesis stated that food or plants left inside a clear pyramid would stay fresher or grow taller than food or plants left in a clear cube or left out in the open. (I did not, however, think that the difference would be significant.)
II. Methodology:
A. Calculating size:
My experiment first involved background research, both historical and mathematical. The theory of Pyramid Power is based on the Egyptian structure known as the Great Pyramid of Cheops, or Khufu. In order to test the theory as accurately as possible, I wanted my pyramids to be built exactly to scale.
I learned that The Great Pyramid's base forms almost perfect right angles. Each side of the base is 365 cubits-the number of days in a year. Since one cubit is 18" (1.5 feet) that made each side of the base 547.5 feet (365 x 1.5). The height of the Great Pyramid is one billionth of the distance from the earth to the sun. Since the earth is 93,000,000 miles from the sun that makes the height of the Great Pyramid .093 miles or 491.04 feet (5280 feet in one mile x .093). Rounded off, that is 490 feet.
I now knew the base and the inner height of the Great Pyramid. My calculations, which follow, show the two-step process I used to figure out the distance from each corner to the top. That figure came out to be 624.5 feet.
The dimensions of the Great Pyramid were, base: 547.5 feet; corner to top: 624.5 feet; and inner height: 490 feet. In order for my pyramid to be in the same proportion, I divided these numbers by 100. This gave me a pyramid with a 5 1/2" base, which was too small. So I divided by 50, making the base 10.95" and the distance from the corner to the top 12.49". Rounded off, my final dimensions were, base: 11"; distance from corner to top: 12.5"; height from top down to center of base: 9.8".
B. Calculating volume:
Because I wanted to compare the effect of the pyramid against the effect of a cube, I wanted them to have the same volume. The volume of my pyramid was X.
The volume of a cube is length x width x height, with all three numbers being the same. So I needed the cubed root of 395.3. Through trial and error (and a calculator) I figured out that 7.34 x 7.34 x 7.34 = 395.4. Therefore, each side of my cube would be 7.34".
C. Construction:
Using clear plastic, foam board, floral wire, and tape, I constructed four pyramids with 11" bases and 12.5" from each corner to the top, and four cubes, each 7" X 7" X 7". I placed two bananas into pyramid #1, cube #1 and plate #1. I placed three strawberries into pyramid #2, cube #2 and plate #2. I placed two slices of French bread into pyramid #3, cube #3 and plate #3. Finally, I placed a pot of soil with flower seeds into pyramid #4, cube #4 and plate #4. Although the cubes and pyramids were sealed, I made it possible to open the ones with the seeds in order to mist them.
The controlled variables were: the bread slices all came from the same loaf, the bananas all came from the same bunch, and the strawberries were chosen so that they all appeared equally fresh.
Items were added to all structures on the same day, and they were all kept in the same environment. The manipulated variables were the different structures and items inside them. The responding variable for strawberries was % mold, for the plant was height in inches, and for the bananas was the % of spots.
III. Analysis of Data:
With regard to the bread, there was no difference between the pyramid, the cube, and the plate. I had chosen fresh French bread because it has no preservatives in it. But none of the bread grew any mold at all. The pieces just got stale.
With regard to the seeds/plants, the open plate grew the slowest the first week, then the cube; the pyramid grew the fastest and tallest the first week. But during the second week the plant leaves in the pyramid began to touch the slanted plastic sides and gradually parts of the plant died off.
With regard to the bananas, judging by the number of brown spots on the peels, the pyramid did the best, then the cube, and then the uncovered plate (the uncovered plate had the most brown spots). This held true for the entire time of the experiment.
However, on the ninth day, mold appeared on the stem of the bananas in the pyramid and in the cube, but not on the plate. I don't know if mold on the woody stem indicates the relative freshness the way that brown spots usually do. Perhaps when I peel the bananas at the end of the experiment I will get a better idea.
The strawberries were the most interesting food to watch. The ones on the open plate shriveled smaller and smaller each day, turning darker and darker with black mold that seemed to grow into the strawberries rather than out of them. The strawberries in the cube did not shrivel, but started growing mold the second day; this mold was light gray and airy and fuzzy. The mold eventually grew to the sides of the plastic cube and started to grow up them. The strawberries in the pyramid didn't shrivel either, and they didn't start growing mold until the third day. This mold was thick and dark and dense and stayed confined to the area of the three strawberries. (My mother said it looked like a dead mouse!)
IV. Summary and Conclusions:
It would appear from the data and from my observations that the bananas and the plant did better in a pyramid shaped structure, at least initially. The pyramid made no difference to the bread, and although the strawberries reacted differently in the pyramid, I couldn't really say whether the reaction was better or worse. My hypothesis that food or plants left inside a clear pyramid would do better than food or plants left in a clear cube or left out in the open, was only partially proven.
In conclusion, I would say that the use of pyramids and their "power" or energy seems most promising with regard to plant life, especially if some variables are changed, such as using bigger pyramids or regulating the humidity more.
I accept my hypothesis on a limited basis, but feel that more research needs to be done.
V. Application:
If the pyramid power theory had worked on a grander scale, then people could have used pyramid power as a basis for plans to build greenhouses or to keep food fresh at home and in the stores. I think this would have helped farmers and consumers and maybe even help world hunger.
Title: The Effect of Eggshell on Plant Growth
Student Researcher: Mallika Devarapalli
School: Edgemont Junior/Senior High School
Scarsdale, New York
Grade: 7
Teacher: Mrs. Russo
I. Statement of Purpose and Hypothesis:
I wanted to know the effect of egg shell on plant growth. I want to find out whether eggshell accelerates plant growth when it is added to the soil. My hypothesis stated that the plants in eggshell would grow faster than the plants in soil.
II. Methodology:
First, I wrote my statement of purpose, conducted my review of the literature, and then I wrote my hypothesis. I bought six big pots and planted three tomato plants (not seeds) in the three pots and three sweet banana plants (not seeds) in three pots. I mixed soil and eggshell in two pots and I planted four tomato plants in one pot and four sweet banana plants in other pot. I only added soil to the other two pots and I planted four tomato plants in one pot and six sweet banana plants in other pot. Finally, for the last two pots, I just added eggshell without soil and planted four sweet banana plants in one pot and four tomato plants in other pot.
My controlled variables are light, temperature, water, and humidity. My manipulated variable is type of soil and eggshell. The responding variable was the growth of each plant which I measured every day for fourteen days. I recorded my observations and measurements on my data chart and wrote a summary and conclusion.
III. Analysis of data:
The data showed that both tomato plants and sweet banana plants in soil mixed with eggshell grew faster and higher than the plants in other pots. Three tomato plants planted in eggshells only, died. Final data for my tomato plants were: Growth in Eggshell: died, died, died, 2.1; Growth in only soil: 2.6, 2.7, 3, 2.8; Growth in Eggshell + soil: 4.3, 4.3, 4.2, 4.2. Final data for my Banana plants were: Growth in Eggshell: 2.3, 2.7, 2.9, and 3.2. Growth in only soil: 3.5, 3.7, 3.6, 3.4 and Growth in Eggshell + soil: 4.9, 4.8, 5, 5.
Tomato Plants
| Eggshell | died | died | died | 2.1 |
| Soil | 2.6 | 2.7 | 3.0 | 2.8 |
| Eggshell + Soil | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.2 |
Banana Plants
| Eggshell | 2.3 | 2.7 | 2.9 | 3.2 |
| Soil | 3.5 | 3.7 | 3.6 | 3.4 |
| Eggshell + Soil | 4.9 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 5.0 |
IV. Summary and Conclusion:
My experiment showed that eggshell has an important role in plant growth. Initially the growth was the same for both plants in only soil and plants in soil mixed with eggshell. Later the plants in soil mixed with eggshell grew faster. I think my findings indicate that eggshell can be added to soil for improving plant growth.
V. Application:
The results of my experiment gives a clue that something in the eggshell is important in the process of plant growth. It is necessary that my experiment should be done in a broader range with a different controlled variables and manipulated variables. It is also important to observe for side effects to the plants in the long run. This information can be applied by farmers to help their crops grow faster by adding eggshell to the soil.
Title: Antacid Experiment
Student Researcher: Melissa Finell
School Address: Edgemont Jr./Sr. High School
Scarsdale, NY 10583
Grade: 7
Teacher: Ms. Russo
I. Statement of Purpose and Hypothesis:
What effects do antacids have on stomach acid? Is there a difference between brands of antacids? My hypothesis stated that antacids would reduce the acidity of the stomach acid and that some brands of antacids would work better than others.
II. Methodology:
My materials were: four different antacids, HCL, two Pyrex measuring cups, a graduated cylinder, water, pH paper, a funnel, and a medicine dropper. My controlled variables were: the amount of stomach acid, the amount of antacid, the amount of time between pH readings, the brand of pH paper, and the concentration of the stomach acid. My manipulated variable was the brand of antacid. The responding variable was the change in pH.
I decided to test four antacids. These antacids were: Pepto-Bismol, Fast Relief Mylanta, Fast Relief Maalox, and the CVS brand. After researching in the library, I learned that stomach acid has a concentration of about 0.5% HCL. The HCL that I bought was a concentration of 31.45% HCL. To make a simulated stomach acid, I diluted my HCL with distilled water, to a concentration of 0.5% HCL. For each trial, I poured 100 ml of the simulated stomach acid into a clean Pyrex measuring cup. After trial and error, I found that using a dose of 3 ml per teaspoon of the dosage recommended on the antacid's bottle, showed a change of pH in time and therefore enabled me to compare the results of different antacids. I called this the sample dose. For each antacid, I poured the sample dose into 100 ml of the simulated stomach acid. Every thirty seconds for ten minutes, I measured the pH of the mixture with pH paper and recorded the results.
III. Analysis of Data:
There were some differences in how well the antacids worked. With the CVS brand, for the first two and a half minutes, the pH stayed at one. Then it moved to two for the next four minutes. For the last three and a half minutes, the pH was four. With the Fast Relief Maalox, the pH stayed at one. For the next two minutes, the pH was two. For the next minute, the pH was three. It was four for thirty seconds, and then it was five for two minutes. It was six for the last minute. Mylanta was similar to Maalox. For the first two minutes, the pH was one. It was two for the next three and a half minutes, and then it was three for thirty seconds. Next it was four for two and a half minutes, and five for thirty seconds. It was six for the last minute. Pepto-Bismol was the slowest. It had a pH of one for the first four and a half minutes, and a pH of two for the last five and a half minutes. All of them worked differently but they all affected the stomach acid by making it less acidic.
IV. Summary and Conclusion:
Antacids reduce the acidity of stomach acid. Some antacids work better than others. My hypothesis was correct. Fast Relief Maalox shows quicker results than the other three. Next is Fast Relief Mylanta, then CVS Brand, and then Pepto-Bismol. For all of the antacids that were tested, the changes in pH were gradual.
V. Application:
This information would be very useful to consumers with stomach problems such as: heartburn, ulcers, etc. It is important for them to know which brand of antacid will help them the most. It is also important for them to know for obvious price reasons. Are they paying more because it works well or because it's a brand name? With the Maalox and Mylanta, consumers are paying for a good quality antacid. With the Pepto-Bismol they are paying more because it's a brand-name antacid.