The objective for this project involves determining which side of the brain is dominant in most people, if it is subject to gender and which is more common. You will need a test group of at least 20 people, keeping an even number of males and females. These can be neighbors, friends or family members. Let them know you will ask them to do a series of tests, but do not let them know what you are watching for.
Hands: Ask your subjects to write their name and observe which hand they use to do so. In addition, ask them to throw a ball and drink from a cup. Note which hand they use and if it is the same one.
Feet: Instruct your subject to kick a ball and note which foot they use. If there are stairs present, ask them to walk up the stairs and identify which foot is placed on a step first.
Eyes: Give your subjects a rolled-up piece of paper and ask them to look through it. Record which eye they hold the tube up to. Next, give them a piece of paper with a 1" hole in the middle and tell them to use both eyes to look through it. Instruct them to bring the paper slowly toward their face until they only can use one eye to look through the hole. Take note of which eye is dominant.
Ears: Whisper to your subject and note which ear they turn toward you to hear you. Or, give them one ear bud through which music is playing and let them place it in one ear. Write down which ear they choose.
Combine all your data in a graph or chart. Did your subjects generally have a more dominant side of the body? Was it consistent by gender? Draw your conclusions based on the parallels you find. As a hands-on demonstration, ask people to try doing basic tasks, such as writing their name, using a fork or cutting a piece of paper with their nondominant hand to show how strong the dominant side can be.
The objective of this science project is to dissect the process of how a flower receives nourishment. Select a white flower and carefully split the stem down the middle. Place two glasses side by side, each filled with water and several drops of food coloring. Place one half of the split stem in each glass and wait for a few hours until the dye has been carried up to the petals by the flower's capillary system.
Create a board that details how water travels through the roots and the miniscule sap tubes in the stem to nourish the flower.
The objective of this science experiment is to show how perceptions can be wrong based on your senses. In this experiment, you will make a pie that tastes like apples but doesn't contain any. The sugar and cream of tartar in the recipe react chemically with each other to create the taste of apples.
Make the pie according to the instructions:
Ingredients
1 double-crust pie pastry (freezer variety is fine)
2 cups water
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons cream of tartar
25 buttery round crackers
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons butter
Directions:
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Line a pie pan with the bottom pastry crust. Boil the water in a large saucepan. Mix the sugar and cream of tartar together in a small bowl and add it to the boiling water. Stir until it is dissolved in the water and add crackers one by one. Boil for 3 minutes, but do not stir.
Pour cracker mixture into the pastry-lined pie pan. Sprinkle the mixture with cinnamon and dot it with butter. Place the remaining pastry crust on top and seal the edges. Make four or five cuts in the top of the crust to allow steam to escape. Bake for 30 minutes, until crust is golden brown. If the top of the crust is over-browning before the time is up, cover it with a piece of aluminum foil.
Gather at least 10 people as your test group. Blindfold them and ask them to take a bite of your dessert. Note how many of them taste apple pie. Without confirming or denying what the pie is, remove the blindfolds and ask them to look briefly at the next bite they take. Note whether or not they still taste apple pie.
Consolidate your findings in a chart or table. Note any parallels between being blindfolded or not. Do not allow anyone to join your test group who is familiar with this experiment.
The objective of this science fair project is to explain what static electricity is and demonstrate how it works.
First, shake a teaspoon of salt and then a teaspoon of of pepper onto a glass plate. Mix the two together and spread the pile out in a thin layer on the plate. Rub a plastic comb vigorously on a piece of cloth and hold it an inch or two above the salt and pepper. The pepper will be attracted to the comb and will jump up to it, separating from the salt.
Second, rub an inflated balloon on the carpet or a piece of material and demonstrate how static electricity causes it to cling to almost any surface.
Create a poster board that identifies the basic physics of static electricity and draws parallels to how it relates to the electricity we use every day.