How to Do Successful Science Fair Projects
ScienceNerdDepot.com
There are two methods of science project research: investigative research and experimental research. Investigative research consists of searching and collecting information related to your project. Resources for the investigative research phase of your project are listed below. Experimental research involves performing experiments and recording the results.
The researcher searches for information on the subject of interest. Based on the information collected ,he formulates a hypothesis. He then performs experiments which will prove or disprove the hypothesis.
(Be mindful of what Sir Isaac Newton- perhaps the greatest of scientists- wrote, "If I have seen farther than others it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants.”)
Investigative Research: Science Resources
Research for your science fair project will require an intense investigation of science resources. A variety of resources to do your science project research is listed below.
1. Your public library
2. Your school library
3. A college library
4. Access to any science publication through your library’s
Library Loan Program
5. The Internet
6. Bookstores
7. A science Museum
8. Science supply stores
9. The Catalog of United States Government Publications
10. Encyclopedias
11. American Academy of Science
12. Association of College and Research Libraries
13. The Scientific American magazine
14. Discover magazine
15. Nature Journal
16. Science News
Experimental Research: Examples
1. We all know that Thomas Edison invented the electric light bulb. But it was only after many experiments with metal filaments that he finally found success with a filament of carbon. Since then others have continued the experiments resulting in the modern light bulb with its tungsten filament.
2. Galileo, in order to demonstrate that Aristotle’s assertion that heavy objects fall faster than lighter ones was false, dropped two balls of different weights from the leaning tower of Pisa. The balls struck the ground at the same time, disproving Aristotle assertion. Additional information about this experiment is available on the website page, Scientific Method.
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