JANUARY 2008

Hi Everyone,

Lets grow some more crystals.

This Science fair Project can be done as part of our previous experiment, the growing crystals form sugar and washing soda, Science Fair Project.

Here is your growing crystals from salt Science Fair Project.

Let’s Grow some More Crystals

In a previous experiment we grew crystals from sugar and from washing soda (sodium carbonate.) In this experiment we are going to grow them from salt (sodium chloride.) After you have completed this experiment you can compare the crystals you grew from the different substances, and record what you see. You’ll find that the crystals alone is not enough to reliably determine the kind of mineral, to identify a mineral you need more information, but the crystals gives us a good idea of how the minerals are formed.

For growing your salt crystals you need:

• 2 Cups of hot tap water
• A Spoon
• 2 Pencils
• 2 6-inch lengths of strings
• 4 Tablespoons of rock salt
• Your note book

This is what you have to do:

1. Add 2 tablespoons of the salt to 1cup of the hot water and stir it until the salt has completely dissolved.
2. Tie one of your pieces of string around one of the pencils and rest the pencil on the cup of salty water with the string dangling in the salty water.
3. Repeat the steps above with the other cup of hot water.
4. Now you have to leave one of your salt solutions in a hot and sunny spot.
5. Keep the other solution in a cooler and shady spot.
6. Observe what happens to the solutions and the strings over a few days and make meticulous notes.
7. Accurately describe the changes in the solutions as well as the strings dangling in the solutions.
8. Why do you think the crystals start to form as the water evaporates and become more salty?
9. Do you think the rate of evaporations will have an effect on the size of the crystals?
10. Why do you think it is so?
11. Does it have anything to do with the rate of evaporation of the water being different?

Explanation:

As the water starts to evaporate the water becomes more salty. We then get what is called a saturated solution. If the water evaporates even more it cannot hold all the salt anymore and crystals start forming. If the water evaporates slowly (your solution in the cool place) large crystals forms because of the grouping of the atoms in a few large crystals. If the water evaporates fast it activates the grouping of atoms in several small centers of crystallization. Why do you think that happens?

Remember as with all science projects, keep meticulous notes and give an explanation why it happens. To make sure you are following the correct scientific method, it is a good idea to get a good e-book such as 101 Easy Science Projects to help you. This e-book is suitable for all grades and will make sure you follow all the correct scientific procedures for winning science fair projects.

Download 101 Easy Science Projects. Access is instant!

Easy Science Projects

Why is a pyramid so strong?

Many thousands of years ago people built huge pyramids. The oldest pyramids were probably built by the Egyptians and it was started almost 4,600 years ago. Only as little as 600 years ago there were pyramids built in Central America. Building pyramids were a long and very difficult task and it took thousands of people up to 50 years to complete one!

With this experiment we are going to find out why pyramids are so strong, and that is of course the reason why they were built. You’ll see that a cube or a rectangle is not as strong.

For investigating the bases and heights here’s what you’ll need:

1. Non-hardening modeling clay.
2. A plastic modeling knife (Adult supervision is needed here).
3. A ruler.
4. A book.

What you have to do:

With the modeling clay build two cubes more or less 3-4cm. the two blocks has to be exactly the same size and that is what you have to use the ruler for, t

Measure them and make sure they are exactly the same size.

Now you have to reshape one of the blocks into a square-based pyramid. Remember to keep the base the exact same size, this is crucial for what we want to illustrate here. Make sure that you now have a cube and a pyramid with the exact same size base.

We now know that because they were originally the exact same shape and size that they have the same volume (let an adult explain this if you do not quite understand this.) Measure the pyramid with your ruler and you’ll find that the pyramid is three times taller as the cube and it is very strong and stable.

Now to demonstrate the strength of a pyramid here’s what you’ll need:

1. 20 Large plastic drinking straws.
2. Reusable adhesive.

Now this is what you have to do:

To do this experiment you are going to have to make two models, a cube and a square-based pyramid.

First you have to make your cube out of large drinking straws and reusable adhesive. First make your base and then complete the cube with more straws and make very sure your cube is even and that each face of the cube is the same size. Ask and adult to help you if you have any problems with the measurements.

To make your pyramid, you have to start with the base make the pyramid with another 4 straws.

Now to test the strength of your two structures:

Start with your cube. Gently push down over the center of your cube with your hand. Now move your hand gently to one side whilst still pushing down gently. You’ll feel the cube giving way and starting to collapse.

Now for the pyramid. Do exactly the same as above with your pyramid. You’ll feel the pyramid is much stronger and it does not collapse.

To record your experiments and to make sure you use the right scientific method it is a good idea to get some help and advice it might be a good idea to get a science fair e-book to help you. I can very strongly recommend 101 Easy Science Projects.

Download 101 Easy Science Projects, Access Is Instant.

Hi Everyone,

Welcome to my Science Fair Project Blog. Please feel free to add your comments.

Fun Science Project: Growing Crystals

The tiny particles of everything around are called atoms. Crystals again are formed by atoms arranged in a repeating pattern. Because of this the crystals have a fixed outer shape. We are going to grow crystals.

This project is suitable for elementary school students, but because we use heat, they have to do it under adult supervision.

Growing crystals from a sugar solution.

What you will need:

Water

A measuring Jug

A saucepan

Sugar

A tablespoon

A wooden spoon

A glass jar

What you have to do:

Heat up two cups of water until hot but not yet boiling.

Using the table spoon you now have to add sugar to the water until no more sugar will dissolve into the water.

Now you have to stir the solution very well and leave it to cool.

When the solution is cold you have to pour the solution into your glass jar and place it in a safe place where it will not be disturbed.

Take a look at your solution every day and make a note of what you see.

This project can take quite a long time as it can now take the solution to be left for days or even weeks before the crystals begin to grow.

Note the size of the crystals when it starts growing.

You will notice that the longer you leave the solution undisturbed, the larger your crystals will grow.

Try to think why this is happening.

Make notes of everything you see and look for the reasons why it is happening in the library or on the internet. A simple google search should give you all the answers you need.

Now we are going to grow crystals from washing soda:

What you need:

A jug

Hot water

Washing soda (sodium carbonate)

Spoon

Bowl

Straw

Cotton thread

Paper clip

Hand lens

What you have to do:

With the help of an adult pour one cup of hot water into a jug.

Add a spoonful of the washing soda.

Stir until it all dissolves into the water.

As with the sugar keep adding washing soda until no more will dissolve into the water.

Now you have what is called a saturated solution.

Now you have to pour this solution into a bowl taking care to leave all undissolved washing soda in the jug.

For a crystal to start growing, it needs somewhere to start growing.

Using your cotton, attach the paperclip to the straw.

Make sure the distance from the straw to the clip is about two thirds of the depth of the bowl with your solution.

Now you balance the straw on top of the bowl with the paperclip dangling in the solution.

With time, the evaporating water will form crystals on your paperclip.

After a few days when enough crystals have formed remove the clip and crystals from your solution.

Carefully rinse them under the cold tap.

With your hand lens have a look at them.

You will notice that all the crystals have the same shape.

Remember to record all your findings as well as all your steps in your project.

To make sure you are using the correct scientific method and keeping the correct records and logs, it may be a good idea to get a good science fair project e-book such as: 101 Science Projects. This E-book is suitable for all the grades from grade K- grade 12.

Download This E-book. Access is instant.

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