Which of these science fair topics is the best?

Question

1. The effect of different liquids on teeth
2. The effects of salt and other contaminants on rate of rusting
3. The effect of temperature on the growth rate of crystals


For #1, I was thinking about using either real teeth or egg skins to represent the teeth. Then I'd use three liquids (probably milk, orange juice, and soda) and see which dissolves the tooth or egg the most in a given amount of time.

For #2, I was thinking about using three different contaminants to see which would make an iron nail rust fastest. Any ideas for the contaminants?

For #3, I'd grow crystals somehow (?) and see if growing them in the cold differs from growing them in warmth.

Which one do you think is best? How could I go about doing these experiments? Any suggestions for different experiments?

Answer 1

Don't rule out the possibility of using real teeth. They're not that scarce. You could get your school to ask the parents to save some for you. Kids are losing them all the time.

Note also that it takes a long time for a liquid to have a measurable effect on teeth. Egg skins are not at all like teeth. Even egg shells have a very different purpose, composition, and lifetime.

Also note that you could test the effect only on the exterior of a non-living tooth. The major effects of milk, for example, are to provide calcium for your body to use to build teeth, and also to provide a rich medium for oral bacteria to grow.

You'll need to provide controlled conditions, and the same conditions for your tests, varying only the condition whose effect you are measuring. You won't be expected to control your environment within a hundredth of a degree, but you can at least show that the nails were in identical non-reactive jars in the same room, and that you weighed each accurately before starting and kept good records.

Also consider what you can learn from reading while you're doing your experiments. If you learn part way through that rust is affected more by humidity than contaminants, report that you had to start your experiments all over again and how you managed to control humidity. Or that one crystal isn't growing, not because it's warmer or cooler, but because the jar keeps getting moved.

But the best clue is what interests you and how you think you can learn.

Answer 2

I would say go for the first one. It seems to be the most thought out so far. If you have been thinking about it more, it would seem logical to do that one. Besides, it is more practical than the crystals one and you don't even know what contaminants you would use on the iron nail. So go for the first one. i would recommend the eggs shells... mainly because you can actually find them. I have no idea where you would get real teeth... I don't think the tooth fairy has a phone number..... so unless you have a little brother you can take some pliers to..... :o)

Answer 3

The effect of different liquids on teeth, that's a project you don't see too often. #2 and #3 has been done quite a lot. You kinda want to do something that hasn't been done before so the judges or whatever will be more interested in yours.

Answer 4

u seem 2 have more passion for #1.
i'd see if some big company nearby had an accelerated deteroration machine = simulates life years

if you are an interested student
that they might be interested in
they may let you place your experiment in it

i saw one in Iksan S.Korea

Answer 5

The classic volcano! and if now no longer that do something stupid with regard to the image voltaic gadget or our environment. those are the main nicely known have self belief me i did electric powered power and fantastically much lost a finger:(

Answer 6

#3 cause that shows more work would be a A-

Answer 7

the teeth one for sure thad be really interesting