Topic of Research (Chun Leong) -- Rubber bands for energy

Topic Overview

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Rubber bands for energy

Time Required	Very Short (≤ 1 day)
Prerequisites	None
Material Availability	Readily available
Cost	Very Low (under $20)
Safety	No issues

Abstract

If you've ever been shot with a rubber band then you know it has energy in it, enough energy to smack you in the arm and cause a sting! How can the energy of a rubber band be put to work? In this experiment you will find out how the stretching of a rubber band affects the amount of energy that springs out of it.

Objective

In this experiment you will investigate how the distance of stretch in a rubber band at rest relates to the distance the rubber band travels after being released.

Credits

Sara Agee, Ph.D., Science Buddies

Hypothesis and Variables

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Hypothesis:
The longer a rubber band is stretched at rest, the further it will travel when released.

Dependent variable:
+ The distance the rubber band travels

Independent variable:
+ The distance of stretch in a rubber band

Constant:
+ The type of rubber band used

Research Questions

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1. Where does the rubber band get the energy from?

2. What does the energy do?

3. Is there a maximum that the rubber band can be stretched?

4. How will the experiment be carried out?

5. Are there any current research about the same topic going on?

6. What equipment do you need?

Topic of Research (Chiam Chuen) -- Wire Wilt: How light-emitting diodes fade as temperature increases

Topic Overview

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Wire Wilt: How Light-Emitting Diodes Fade As Temperature Increases

Time Required	Short (2-5 days)
Prerequisites	None
Material Availability	Readily available
Cost	Average ($50 - $100)
Safety	You should never look directly into an LED flashlight, as it can cause eye damage.

Abstract

What's your favorite thing to do on the hottest day of the year? Dip your toes in an icy river? Hang out by the pool? Retreat to a cool basement? Lie motionless in the shade? You're probably not too eager to move around and put out a lot of energy, like mowing the lawn in the mid-afternoon sun. Well, you're not the only one. In this electronics science fair project, you'll find out that some semiconductor devices, like light-emitting diodes (or LEDs), act the same way. As their internal temperature goes up, their light output goes down.

Objective

To determine how the output of an LED flashlight changes over time as its temperature increases.

Credits

Kristin Strong, Science Buddies

Edited by Steven Maranowski, PhD, Philips Lumileds Lighting Company.

Hypothesis and Variables

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Hypothesis:

If I increase the temperature around the LED light in a controlled environment, then the light output of the LED light will be lowered.

Variables:

Independent - Temperature

Dependent - Light output of LED light

Constant - Environment of testing and type of LED light

Research Questions

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What are they?

- LED is actually the short form for Light-Emitting Diodes, which are semiconductor light source, which are increasingly used for various purposes.

What are the current research?

- Most current researches focus on how the temperature affects its reliability, and not its light efficiency. An example would be an experiment conducted by the Department of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, Jiangsu Vocational And Technical College of Finance and Economics, Huaian

223001, China. They were conducting various tests on LED lights to investigate how each variable affects the LED lights, and to what extend.

Why is it important?

- It is beneficial to places with great temperature changes, which requires enough light throughout the temperature change. Reliability is also needed for large scale application. LED lights are also used often as indicator lights, and if they were to fail, they could cause misinterpretation of data, causing more problems.

Equipment required:

- Similar type of LED lights

- A controlled environment with a thermostat, cooling and heating systems installed

- Light sensor

- Data collector

Topic of Research (Wai Kit) -- What seeds do birds prefer to eat?

Topic Overview

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What seeds do birds prefer to eat?

Time Required	Long (2-4 weeks)
Prerequisites	None
Material Availability	Readily Available
Cost	Low ($20 - $50)
Safety	Adult supervision required for using power drill and staple gun

Abstract

Are you curious about the birds that live in your neighborhood? Would you like to find out more about them: what they look like close up, what they eat, how they sing? In this project you'll build a bird feeding platform with four separate feeding areas. You'll be able to observe birds at close range, find out what birds inhabit your area, and learn about their seed-eating preferences. So get out your woodworking tools and binoculars, and get ready to see some birds.

Objective

The goal of this project is to investigate the seed-eating preferences of local birds.

Credits

Andrew Olson, Ph.D., Science Buddies

Sources

This project is based on the following 2007 California State Science fair project, a winner of the Science Buddies Clever Scientist Award:

• Fukumitsu, K.S., 2007. "Dining with the Birds: What Type of Seeds Do Birds Prefer to Eat?" California State Science Fair Abstract [accessed May 31, 2007] http://www.usc.edu/CSSF/History/2007/Projects/J1910.pdf.

Source: http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas/Zoo_p028.shtml

Hypothesis and Variables

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Independent Variables:

+ Type of seeds

+ Type of housing (accommodation and shelter for birds, seed tray)

Dependent Variables:

+ Number of birds

+ Type of birds

Constants:

+ Location of housing

+ Time of day (when the recording of data starts)

+ Number of seeds

Hypothesis:

A larger variety of seeds would attract more birds and a larger population of them.

Research Questions

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Definition: Bird food, often varieties of seeds are eaten by birds. They are the main diet of them.

What are they?

- The types of seeds vary for different birds. However, black-oil sunflower seeds are the more favoured ones. They have a high meat-to-shell ratio, are full of fat, small and easily cracked by small birds. Other kinds of bird food, similar to seeds are: peanuts, popcorn (without addition of salt,sugar etc.), dried fruit.

Are there any current research?

- Aelred D. Geis tested the attractiveness of various seeds across four different locations in the United States. According to his earlier research in Maryland,  commonly used bird food such as wheat and cracked corn were relatively unattractive to wild birds. The oil-type sunflower was more  attractive. He also suggested that it can be more economical using specific foods rather than generalised food mixtures. 

Why is it important?

- This maybe especially useful in maintaining bird populations in large areas such as wildlife reserves. The birds can have a better and healthier diet suited to their requirements. This allows population to bloom. This would be more cost-efficient when ordering bird feeds.

Equipment needed?

- Various types of seeds (sunflower seed, dried fruit, peanuts, barley )

- Wood planks (for housing)

- Drills, files, wood cutters, glues or screws

- Plates for seeds, water grit

- Camera with tripod (to take photographs and count birds)

- Table (for data compilation)

- Weighing machine

How do I carry out the experiment?

We would first construct housing of the same dimensions (at least 2). Then we prepare roughly the same amount of bird feeds and place them into the respective plates (better to have one feed per housing and not a mixture). Prepare water and grit also. Make sure there is sufficient water (may run out due to birds drinking and bathing) at all times.  At a certain time of the day, prepare the camera. Take photographs and count the number of birds at each housing. Remember to differentiate the types of birds too. Repeat this experiment for at least 1 week. After that, compile the data in a table and the housing with the most amount of birds and type will be the feed that is the most suitable for birds.

Sources:

-http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/AboutBirdsandFeeding/BirdFoods.htm#SeedPreferences

- http://www.eastbaynature.com/fpref.htm

- Geis, Aelred D. 1980. Relative Attractiveness of Different Foods at Wild Bird Feeders. 

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Special Scientific Report No. 233. 11 pp.

Topic of Research (Lynnette) -- Drugs & Genetics: Why do some people respond to drugs differently than others?

Topic Overview
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Drugs & Genetics: Why Do Some People Respond to Drugs Differently than Others?

Time Required	Short (2-5 days)
Prerequisites	Basic understanding of what genes, DNA, and proteins are.
Material Availability	Readily available
Cost	Very Low (under $20)
Safety	No issues

Abstract

From 2005 to 2008, 48% of everyone in the U.S. was using at least one prescription drug, and 21% of people were taking three or more drugs. People are prescribed drugs all the time, but prescriptions can be dangerous because people can have different responses to drugs. These responses largely have to do with genetic mutations. Why are some genetic mutations associated with a different response to a drug? In this science project, you will explore an online drug and genetics database to identify how a genetic mutation can be associated with how a person's body processes, and responds to, a certain drug.

Objective

Determine why some gene mutations cause people to respond differently to a drug.

Credits

Teisha Rowland, PhD, Science Buddies

Sandra Slutz, PhD, Science Buddies

Hypothesis and Variables

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If I find out why some people respond to drugs differently than others, then I can improve the way medication is dealt with in the world.

Constant:
+ Drug

Independent Variable:
+ Genes

Dependent Variable:

+ Gene's response to the drug

Research Questions

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What I need to know:
- Definitions
- Importance of research
- Any current research projects

Equipment
- Computer with an internet connection
- PharmGKB online account
- lab notebook

Procedures - Find out the generic and trade names of a certain drug, the kind of chemical the drug is (draw the chemical structure), what other drugs it is related to, what medical condition the drug is used to treat, the drug's general effect on the body. Identify mutations in DNA that affect the response to the drug.

Research Plan

 ~ Question or Problem being addressed

Construction and design of a vertical garden with an automated watering and lighting system.

~ Goals / Expected Outcomes / Hypotheses
2. Watering system (automated with Arduino)
3. Lighting System (automated with Arduino)
• Risk and Safety:
1. List/identify the hazardous chemicals, activities, or devices that will be used.
~ Bibliography: 
Smithy Industries. (2013, July 16). Safety precautions on drilling machines. Retrieved from http://www.smithy.com/machining-handbook/chapter-6/page/2 
Self Nutrition Data. (2010, July 8). Spinach, raw. Retrieved from http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2626/2 
Science Buddies. (2005, February 16). Measuring plant growth. Retrieved from http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas/PlantBio_measuring_growth.shtml

The vertical garden can sustain itself with automation of lighting and watering system. The plants within the housing are able to grow similarly to those cultivated in soil.

• Methods:

1. Constructing the bottles (plant holder) (4 columns of 4 bottles)

- Drill a hole at the base of the bottle, wide enough to fit another bottle’s rim
- Cut a rectangular hole at one side (for plant to branch out from)
- Drill a large hole into the bottle caps; Make sure there is still some border left
- Along the perimeter of the bottle cap, glue wire gauze onto the hole, covering it (Prevents soil from escaping)
- Connect the bottles together by fitting one bottle’s rim into another bottle’s base. Glue them together while making sure they are straight. Let the glue settle before proceeding. 
- Screw the bottle caps onto the rims protruding through the base. Apply a little glue to make sure they are firm.
- Add soil into the bottles. Make sure the bottles are facing downwards. Do not fill too much soil, in case it overflows. 
- Make sure that water is able to flow through all the bottles adequately.

- Connect pumps, automated valve and water detection sensor into a system
- Rain collection tank above the structure and covered by a layer wire mesh to prevent foreign objects from polluting the water. It will also be connected to pipe when refill is required.

- Pole-like structure with light detector to alternate between sunlight and the artificial light
- Electricity from mains or solar panel

We require drills, bench drilling machine, files, pen knifes. We utilise them to cut plastic bottles that house the plants. The bases of the bottles are extremely hard and require a lot of effort to make a hole wide enough to fit  another’s rim. We also use glue guns and they are extremely hot at certain parts when in operation.

2. Identify and assess the risks involved.

One can cut his/her fingers when using the drills, files, pen knifes and bench drilling machine. The bench drilling machine operates at high speeds, hence sharp plastic fragments may be thrown around. oThe heat from the glue gun may burn and scald our fingers.

3. Describe the safety precautions and procedures that will be used to reduce the risks.

We have to place our fingers at a safe distance away from the blades and drills, and take extra precaution when using the hot glue gun. If the glue gun is not in use, we would turn it off to prevent it from overheating. Since the bench drilling machine operates at a high speed, we have to remove any accessories (e.g watches, gloves, tie) and wear safety goggles and mask. If the drill is filled with chips, use a brush to clean it. Do not use your hands.

4. Describe the disposal procedures that will be used (when applicable).

We will dispose of any fragments of plastic that has been cut properly into the dustbins provided. We would also use cutting mats and corrugated plastic to prevent any damage to other surfaces (table tops).

5. List the source(s) of safety information.

- Notices and instructions in the ADMT studio for using the bench drilling machine.
- Instructions given by teachers in regards to safety

- www.smithy.com/machining-handbook/chapter-6/page/2

• Data Analysis: 

We would plant seedlings, preferably spinach into the structure. With the automated lighting and watering systems, the setup would be left alone for about 2 weeks with supervision. We would at the same time also have a constant, where the same type of soil is placed into a separate pot with spinach seedlings. They are to receive approximately similar amounts of light and water. After 2 weeks, we would measure the height of the plants in both setups by placing a ruler against the tallest stalk on the surface of the soil. We would do this everyday for possibly 4-5 days to be able to plot a graph. Graphs would then be plotted for each day's growth. We would then proceed to analyse the graphs and derive a conclusion.

Mr Tan's Example

Hypothesis
If I use a camera to take pictures of the sky every night, then I will be able to find out the sky quality over a period of time.

Ask a Question (Random topic)

Chiam Chuen - Who stole the answer sheet yesterday, which is meant for the upcoming english exam, that was placed in the school safe, and how did he/she do it?

Chun Leong - Why did Wai Kit do such a bad thing like graffiti on the school wall outside the school gate on the day after math remedial?

Lynnette - How did the interview, that was conducted in the classroom at 2pm, between Mrs Lim and Stanley go, and what was it for?

Wai Kit - How am I able to walk through the forest and why did I do that?

What is the Scientific Method?

The scientific method is a process for experimentation that is used to explore observations and answer questions. Scientists use the scientific method to search for cause and effect relationships in nature.