Science Fair Projects About the Properties of Matter, Using the Scientific Method

* Reviews *

One in the Physics Science Fair Projects series of by the publisher, this reviewed and revised text offers eighteen experiments that can be used in conjunction with a middle school science fair project. Starting with a brief introduction on the properties of matter, the author leads the reader through a detailed description of the scientific method, how to design an experiment, recording data, and tips on how to be successful in your project. Two pages are devoted to the use of proper safety techniques and the correct methods for disposing the materials used. The first section deals with atoms, molecules, and matter and provides experiments on Brownian motion and the conservation of matter. The next section looks at the elastic properties of solids and liquids, using experiments on compression and tension and shear stress to relate to the geometric shape of molecules. Density is covered next, and the would-be scientist can explore the density of gases and perform investigations that compare the various densities of liquids. The fourth section of the book examines pressure, buoyancy, and Archimedess Principle with projects that provide the student with a better understanding of these concepts and suggest variations to the basic experiments. The last section investigates the properties of expansion and contraction by using experiments that illustrate the practical application of the expansion of metals and takes a close look at the strange behavior of water as it turns to ice. Each experiment has an informative introduction, detailed procedure, and a results and conclusion section. Further ideas to expand the concept and experiment are included, and a glossary and research pages provide further information for the young scientist., Children's Literature