A Sample Project
Science fair projects can be so elusive. What exactly does one look like? How do you go about completing the project? What should one look like? This article will give a good example of what a project should look like and how it should be displayed..
Problem or Hypothesis:
Is blinking involuntary or can it be controlled?
Hypothesis:
When the cotton ball is thrown at the screen the person will blink. If enough cotton balls are thrown, the person will not blink because they will expect the action and know it can not hurt them.
Materials needed:
Plastic wrap
Two cardboard paper towel tubes
12 cotton balls
Tape
Your project journal ( a notebook) and pencil
Procedure:
- Wrap one end of the plastic wrap around one paper towel tube and tape to secure.
- Wrap the other end of the plastic wrap around the other tube and tape to secure.
- Now have your friend hold one tube in each hand in front of their face and pull them securely apart. This should form a mini clear screen in front of your friends face.
Stand a few feet away from your friend and without notice, toss a cotton ball at the plastic screen.
- Don’t throw it too hard. The cotton ball should hit the screen and fall.
- Watch carefully to see if your friend blinks.
- Record in your journal when your friend blinks.
- You may want to try this with several friends and record the results.
Results:
Blinking is a reflex reaction. It is something our body does without us thinking about it. We blink many times a day to keep our eyes moist, but we also blink to protect our eyes. Most animals will blink when something unexpected approaches their eyes.
If we concentrate we can control our blinking. We can train ourselves to not blink when the cotton ball is thrown at the plastic screen. Some people are better at controlling their blinking than others.
Next Time:
Next time I will try using another helper to throw cotton balls from a different direction, which will be unexpected. Next time I might try throwing a colored cotton ball after the person stops blinking at the white cotton balls because they are used to seeing the white cotton ball coming toward the plastic screen.
In addition:
Pictures of the test taking place would add to the display
Place the test materials on the table in front of the display.
Include your project journal.
A summary report should be made by summarizing what you logged in your journal and what you reported in your result section. The report can also include any information found in books or on the net about the eye, reflexes or blinking.
Make sure you review the project display suggestions on this site.
Go To Page: 1 2
