Alternative Science Project
2008-2009
Students,
If you really are at a point where you just don’t know what to do for your science project
or you just don’t get how to do it then you may use the following project. However, there
will have to be a consequence. If you do this project then you will not be able to take
credit for all of the work and you will not be able to earn a grade based on the work that’s
not yours. If you do a thorough job of collecting data, analyzing it, and drawing a
conclusion then your grade will surely reflect your work.
You and your parent must sign the following statement accepting help with your project
and acknowledging that although you will not receive full credit for your science project
it will be eligible for a passing grade if it meets the criteria. Your project will not be
eligible to go to the school science fair.
I __________________________ understand that I have accepted
a great amount of help in preparing my science project. My
grade will reflect the fact that much of the work is not mine. I
have accepted this help so that I may do an acceptable
project and will be eligible to receive a passing grade based
on my work for the research paper and display board if they
meet the expected criteria. I understand that I also must
have a Science Project Data Log and will present my project
to my peers in class. This project is not eligible to continue
on to the Julia Landon Science Fair.
_______________________________________________________
Signature date
Parent Signature date
Alternative Science Project
2008-2009
QUESTION
Just like in the Mugs 1 and Mugs 2 investigations you need a question. Here’s one for
you to investigate.
Does fresh water or salt water freeze faster?
HYPOTHESIS
Again, just like in Mugs 1 and 2 you will need a hypothesis. You will need to use the
If … then… format. Here’s one for you. Just fill in the blank with your choice of faster
or slower.
If I add salt to fresh water, then the water will freeze _________________ than
fresh water with no salt added
EXPERIMENT
Variables:
You will need an independent variable to test. This is also called a manipulated variable.
The manipulated variable is the variable that you change. Your independent variable is
the amount of salt because you manipulate the amount of salt.
The dependent variable is the variable that you hope will respond or change as a result of
the manipulated variable. The dependent variable will be measured to gather your data.
Your dependent or responding variable is how long it takes water to freeze. You will
have to measure TIME to gather your data.
All of the other factors in the experiment will have to be controlled. You will have one set
of trials that will be only fresh water. That will be your control group. This group will
have no salt so that you can compare the results from the other groups to the results for
your control group.
Definitions:
How will you determine when the water is frozen? One way will be to put a stick
(toothpick, popsicle stick, skewer) into the water before putting it into the freezer. When
you can no longer pull it out, the water is frozen. Decide how often you will check the
freezer (choose one: every 1 minute, every 2 minutes, every 3 minutes, every 4 minutes
or every 5 minutes).
You will have to make salt solutions to use. Each solution will be mixed as a percent
solution. This means that a 1% solution would me made of 10grams of salt in 1 L of
water. Ocean water is about a 2.5 – 3% solution.
METHOD
Materials for every trial that is run.
Salt ( about 60 grams) (table salt will work)
Water – use the same type of water for all trials. Distilled water would be the best type to
use. It can be purchased in the grocery store.
Alternative Science Project
2008-2009
3 liters of bottled water (or may just use the empty bottles and refill them)
Sticks (toothpicks, straws, popsicle sticks, skewers, or another type of stick like object)
30 Small drink cups (bathroom paper cup size) or Ice cube trays
Access to a freezer
Stopwatch
Preparations
Mix a 3% solution of salt water by adding 30 grams of salt to 1 Liter of water.
Mix a 2% solution of salt water by adding 20 grams of salt to 1 Liter of water.
Mark 10 cups CONTROL GROUP and assign each a number 1-10.
Mark 10 cups EXPERIMENTAL GROUP A and assign each a number 1-10.
Mark 10 cups EXPERIMENTAL GROUP B and assign each a number 1-10.
Procedures
1. Pour an equal amount of fresh water (no salt added) to each of cups 1-10 in THE
CONTROL GROUP. Add a stick to each cup. If using ice cube trays then fill each
unit of the tray equally and put a stick into each of ten cubes.
2. Pour an equal amount of 2% solution (20 grams of salt/ 1L of water) to each of
cups 1-10 in EXPERIMENTAL GROUP A. Add a stick to each cup. If using ice
cube trays then fill each unit of the tray equally and put a stick into each of ten
cubes.
3. Pour an equal amount of 3% solution (30 grams of salt/ 1L of water) to each of
cups 1-10 in EXPERIMENTAL GROUP B. Add a stick to each cup. If using ice
cube trays then fill each unit of the tray equally and put a stick into each of ten
cubes.
4. Put the cups (or trays) into the freezer.
5. Start timing. This is 0 minutes.
6. Check the freezer every ________minutes and record the data.
7. When you can not move a stick in a cup or a cube then consider it frozen and stop
timing for just that particular cup or cube. Keep checking the freezer until all
samples are frozen.
8. Repeat entire experiment 10 times.
9. Clean up your work area.
Alternative Science Project
2008-2009
DATA (sample table – make yours so that you can record the data you observe. Your
table may look different from this table)
CONTROL GROUP
Time in Cup Cup Cup Cup Cup Cup Cup Cup Cup Cup
Minutes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
Make a table for each group. Record your data as you check the freezer.
Alternative Science Project
2008-2009
RESULTS
You will have to analyze your data. Identify how long it took each sample in a group to
freeze. Find the mean time to freeze for each group.
Graph the data.
That’s all the help that will be provided. It is up to each student to analyze the data,
graph it, write a discussion (see ISEF student handbook) and develop a conclusion.
You have to write a research paper and prepare both your backboard and oral
presentation.