…… Science project idea needed and WTF is going on with our schools

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Thinwater

Firearms Manufacturer
I am trying to figure out a science project for my 12-year-old grandson. I have a full machine shop with all CNC equipment- lathes, mills, waterjet, lasers, CNC plasma etc. I have a full aluminum melting foundry, 3d printers, advanced CAD/CAM software etc..

My problem is they have banned any of the following from being used.

Matches, lighters, fire, mold, fungus, dirt, most chemicals that can hurt you, weapons of any kind, explosives, dry ice, motor oil, any human tissues, alcohol, fertilizers, any sharp items,. On the display no liquids are permitted, no batteries with open cell tops, no dried plant material dirt or soil.

They have completely woosified any cool project that fits in my normal scope of abilities. Any suggestions, considering the above resources are welcome.
 
BassMan

BassMan

Veteran Member
Just passin' through, but seems like if you limit motors to electric (not ICE) and avoid hazardous materials you're good. Maybe something re: conservation of energy with electric motors and magnets.

Hand-crank electric generator with lights, voltmeter comes to mind. Compare import force/energy to output, which is never 100%.

Not defending the PC crap...
 
BadMedicine

BadMedicine

Would *I* Lie???
Something ephemeral, like a field trip for the mind. Maybe an expose on Schrödinger's cat and have a box contraption (microwave oven or the like) That the "expirementee- 'observer' " can open at the end, AFTER realizing the cat remain alive until they look, and a second teir/hidden agenda/ phycology experiment-study running tally on percentage and demographics of folks who open it to see the cat, knowing the cat will be dead, and the opening cause it.

plot twist, no cat. Just a microwave and outline/bullet points of Schoedinger's experiment and what he proved/didn't prove.

Some recorded cat sounds-quite, random, subtle, and intermittent... on a hidden tape place/ speaker (under the microwave) would make nearby looky-loos think there WAS a cat SOMEWHERE.
 
nomifyle

nomifyle

TB Fanatic
My mother and I did my science project on cotton, everything from the seed to the finished product, I can't really remember the details. We got the material needed from some kind of cotton facility. The project was so good that an older cousin used it for his high school science project and he went to the state science thing.

Sorry no suggestions, guess my project would be banned now.
 
Kathy in FL

Kathy in FL

Administrator
_______________
MOC a house into a modern diorama. Run wiring and small lightbulbs to "fixtures." Cannibalize a small solar powered gadget ... in my case I would use the ones from a solar powered string of Christmas lights. That's what I use instead of strings of bulbs you have to plug in. I've added to my collection over the last three years from wallyworld.

Then find a way to measure how long the light stays on through one charge. Then how long two of the lights stay on with one charge. Etc etc. Until you see how long all of the lights in your "house" stay on with one charge.

It will tickle their little green hearts and it is actually a good experiment to see how realistically a solar set up will work in an emergency setting.
 
Meemur

Meemur

Voice on the Prairie / FJB!
Stuff done with Leggos and robotics seem to be popular right now. That would fit the rules.

1703094117139.jpeg

Sigh. This doesn't help, but I'm glad I attended school when I did. I'd be a total rebel and loud mouth if I were in high school, now: too many rules! Too much having to respect dim-wits. Blah!
 
T

thereisnofork

Veteran Member
Could you build a simple wind tunnel and then model various airplane wings, shapes, changes in sweep, mounted above/below and airframe? Have some kind of a smoke generator and video to determine turbulence, and a sensitive measurement to test drag? maybe even lift?
When I was young I did projects on rocket fin design and a boost/glider project measuring various wing angles. But back then we were allowed to use Estes rockets.
 
Milkweed Host

Milkweed Host

Veteran Member
I loved working with my three children in their science fair projects.

some of the projects:

building a simple battery with use of copper plates,
vinegar soaked rags, jumper wires. Series connection between a rag and
the next copper plate and so on. Used about a dozen plates, rags, jumper wires
from harbor freight. Powered a small LED and buzzer. The setup is extremely
impressive with all the wires. The poster explained electron flow with the help
of vinegar kicking the electrons down the line

Another one was a dynamo with lights and buzzer.
I cut the top off an old lawnmower for this one.
Poster explained how a generator works.

Another one was a model wood C172 aircraft built from a kit.
the poster explained aerodynamics.

Another one was use of night vision, how it worked.
Poster explained field testing with measurements.

Another project was building a robot from stuff around
the house/farm. The drive wheels come from 12 volt DC drills
Smaller twelve volt battery, lights, buzzers. Control board
cut from wood, toggle switches, with lots of wires leading to the
robot. The robot was a foot square in size.

there were more projects, I just don't remember???

I didn't built any of these projects for the kids, but explained how to build them.

My kids had to be able to comfortably blow smoke up the asses of the physics
class judges.
 
20Gauge

20Gauge

TB Fanatic
Thinwater said:
I am trying to figure out a science project for my 12-year-old grandson. I have a full machine shop with all CNC equipment- lathes, mills, waterjet, lasers, CNC plasma etc. I have a full aluminum melting foundry, 3d printers, advanced CAD/CAM software etc..

My problem is they have banned any of the following from being used.

Matches, lighters, fire, mold, fungus, dirt, most chemicals that can hurt you, weapons of any kind, explosives, dry ice, motor oil, any human tissues, alcohol, fertilizers, any sharp items,. On the display no liquids are permitted, no batteries with open cell tops, no dried plant material dirt or soil.

They have completely woosified any cool project that fits in my normal scope of abilities. Any suggestions, considering the above resources are welcome.
Click to expand...
Make baking soda. Three items that need to be combined. Not 100% sure of the whole process.
 
packyderms_wife

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
Meemur said:
Stuff done with Leggos and robotics seem to be popular right now. That would fit the rules.

View attachment 451178

Sigh. This doesn't help, but I'm glad I attended school when I did. I'd be a total rebel and loud mouth if I were in high school, now: too many rules! Too much having to respect dim-wits. Blah!
Click to expand...

Same, my HS science project was a new and improved way of dissecting a frog. -->>> this is what happens when your mom is NA and hunts for frogs during the summer. Hmmmm I sure do miss frog legs. The science teachers method left that poor frog mutilated!
 
CaryC

CaryC

Has No Life - Lives on TB
thereisnofork said:
Could you build a simple wind tunnel and then model various airplane wings, shapes, changes in sweep, mounted above/below and airframe? Have some kind of a smoke generator and video to determine turbulence, and a sensitive measurement to test drag? maybe even lift?
When I was young I did projects on rocket fin design and a boost/glider project measuring various wing angles. But back then we were allowed to use Estes rockets.
Click to expand...
If that is allowed would be a good idea. Most could be done with posters and drawings, but a nice demonstration would be great.

For instance comparing the P51 to say the P47.

The P51 got better gas milage due to the hump on the top of the wing.

The P 47's hump was more forward, and as air passed over, before the air got off the wing it would create drag by rolling under

The P 51's hump was moved back slightly so the air moved off the wing before it curled under no drag, better milage. And got a little more horses out of the motor.

Along with the hump creating a low pressure above the wing, and high pressure below to create lift.

Might get a lego set? Put Tom Cruise in the cockpit. He has his own P51 and flies it.

You do know why they don't allow dry ice? You can blow up bottles with it. Take an empty water bottle put in a small amount of dry Ice and throw/let sit and in a minute it will blow up. In a woke world, people will die. It's great fun, we used it to clean molds at work. We didn't play though, only serious work.
 
pauldingbabe

pauldingbabe

The Great Cat
Last project we did:

An animal cell supper bouncy ball.

Hollow out half of a 6 inch Styrofoam ball.

Make cell parts out of different colors molding clay and bake to set clay. Different colors for the different parts.

Use florist epoxy to suspend the cell parts and let dry. After the epoxy is dry (clear) you can see the cell parts and the epoxy is the membrane.

Label the color parts with corresponding parts of the cell.

Drop that muther from about 6 ft and watch the fun!
 
Sacajawea

Sacajawea

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Sounds like you're limited to air. So why not HOT air? As in record all the psy-op & "nudging" and "influencing phrases, memes, etc???? Measure how many people automatically agree, how many have doubts, and how many can contradict the BS?????

Still science. Just not what they think science is.
 
Firebird

Firebird

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thinwater said:
I am trying to figure out a science project for my 12-year-old grandson. I have a full machine shop with all CNC equipment- lathes, mills, waterjet, lasers, CNC plasma etc. I have a full aluminum melting foundry, 3d printers, advanced CAD/CAM software etc..

My problem is they have banned any of the following from being used.

Matches, lighters, fire, mold, fungus, dirt, most chemicals that can hurt you, weapons of any kind, explosives, dry ice, motor oil, any human tissues, alcohol, fertilizers, any sharp items,. On the display no liquids are permitted, no batteries with open cell tops, no dried plant material dirt or soil.

They have completely woosified any cool project that fits in my normal scope of abilities. Any suggestions, considering the above resources are welcome.
Click to expand...
Forget the science project, adopt me so I can work in your shop!!
 
T

Thinwater

Firearms Manufacturer
BadMedicine said:
Something ephemeral, like a field trip for the mind. Maybe an expose on Schrödinger's cat and have a box contraption (microwave oven or the like) That the "expirementee- 'observer' " can open at the end, AFTER realizing the cat remain alive until they look, and a second teir/hidden agenda/ phycology experiment-study running tally on percentage and demographics of folks who open it to see the cat, knowing the cat will be dead, and the opening cause it.

plot twist, no cat. Just a microwave and outline/bullet points of Schoedinger's experiment and what he proved/didn't prove.

Some recorded cat sounds-quite, random, subtle, and intermittent... on a hidden tape place/ speaker (under the microwave) would make nearby looky-loos think there WAS a cat SOMEWHERE.
Click to expand...
Fun fact, Schrodinger came up with the cat in the box analogy to show how ridiculous the hypothesis that observation of a phenomenon influenced the outcome. It turned out to actually explain it even as he was attempting to make fun of it.
 
dawgofwar10

dawgofwar10

Veteran Member
Teach him how to build a Lower at your machine shop, then invite the judges to the machine shop and after he builds the lowers have him engrave the names into each one for each judge…
 
Dobbin

Dobbin

Faithful Steed

Vortex tube - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org

Described in one of Owner's books. "The Amateur Scientist" by C.L. Stong.

Interesting device which separates air flow into "cold air" and "hot air" using only the power of compressed air. The operating modus is still not adequately explained.

I see available in various reprints (Amazon has it) but also online at The Amateur Scientist : C. L. Stong : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

IIRC, the Stong version of this device is made from a block of wood and a couple of pieces of iron pipe.

There are many other interesting "science fair level" projects described in the book.

Dobbin
 
LoupGarou

LoupGarou

Ancient Fuzzball
It's a shame they won't let you use the 3d printer... You could make a bunch of Tesla Valves and show them how they work (and even have a few dozen small ones to give out to people).

There are all sorts of things that would be allowed. Light beam communication using LEDs and Solar cells (simple earphone tied to a single solar cell, and an LED hooked to a radio via a 8 ohm to 1000 ohm transformer) (and you could even expand the project with various lenses in front of the LED and solar cell to extend the range, OR try using different LEDs to make the "beam" visible versus invisible).

How about various CVT transmission types expanded on, like dual cone versus bowl and roller types?...

Or maybe use a sensitive Geiger counter and show which foods and other natural objects are radioactive... (Like bananas)
 
Persimmon

Persimmon

Contributing Member
nomifyle said:
My mother and I did my science project on cotton, everything from the seed to the finished product, I can't really remember the details. We got the material needed from some kind of cotton facility. The project was so good that an older cousin used it for his high school science project and he went to the state science thing.

Sorry no suggestions, guess my project would be banned now.
Click to expand...
I did something similar for mine one year, but it was about wheat. That would be banned now also.

Then the next year was yeast, and the year after was on siphoning. Sure those would be frowned upon as well lol.
 
Macgyver

Macgyver

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thinwater said:
I am trying to figure out a science project for my 12-year-old grandson. I have a full machine shop with all CNC equipment- lathes, mills, waterjet, lasers, CNC plasma etc. I have a full aluminum melting foundry, 3d printers, advanced CAD/CAM software etc..

My problem is they have banned any of the following from being used.

Matches, lighters, fire, mold, fungus, dirt, most chemicals that can hurt you, weapons of any kind, explosives, dry ice, motor oil, any human tissues, alcohol, fertilizers, any sharp items,. On the display no liquids are permitted, no batteries with open cell tops, no dried plant material dirt or soil.

They have completely woosified any cool project that fits in my normal scope of abilities. Any suggestions, considering the above resources are welcome.
Click to expand...
Only human tissue?
I see an opening there for some sort of severed horse head.
 
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