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Atoms at the Science Fair EXHIBITING NUCLEAR PROJECTS
Atoms at the Science Fair EXHIBITING NUCLEAR PROJECTS
U.S. ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION/Division of Technical Information Each year more students undertake science fair projects, many of which involve some aspect of nuclear science or technology. The United States Atomic Energy Commission has prepared this booklet to help these young exhibitors, their science teachers, project counselors, and parents. The booklet suggests also some of the numerous nuclear topics on which students can base meaningful science projects. It offers all exhibitors—regardless
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Science Projects
Science Projects
In conducting a good science project, we work in much the same manner as professional scientists. Like them, we observe, experiment, investigate, speculate, and check the validity of our speculations with more experiments, all in order to learn something. If our work is good, others may learn from it too, but only if we present it adequately. Better understanding of an area of science is the least that we can gain from doing a science project. At their best, science projects foster habits of eff
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Project Exhibits
Project Exhibits
More and more, scientists are called upon to share their work not only with other scientists but also with legislators, administrators, sociologists, artists—all kinds of people in all kinds of professions. To follow this lead, student scientists also must tell other people about their science projects. When executed properly, exhibits are an effective way to do this. Exhibits which combine interesting visual materials with well-written messages can communicate much in very limited time and spac
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Science Fairs
Science Fairs
Fairs have been popular throughout history. Generally they have been occasions to display work or feats of which people are proud. Often they have stimulated progress and the exchange of goods and ideas. Early in this century some teachers encouraged their students to undertake individual science projects, then exhibit them before their classmates and fellow students. Between the two World Wars some individual school systems developed citywide science fairs to show the most outstanding of these
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Choosing the Topic
Choosing the Topic
Since you will necessarily spend considerable thought, time, physical effort, and (sometimes) money on your project, pick a topic from which you can expect to learn something. If you can avoid the temptation to pick one with which you are already familiar, you will probably get more out of it. Your project should be an adventure, not merely a drill! On the other hand your science project need not be in utterly unexplored areas; to be successful you need not come up with data and conclusions whic
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Where to Get Help
Where to Get Help
One mark of a truly educated individual is his willingness to discuss his problems with others and profit by their advice and help. One of the most important things that you can learn while doing a project is how and where to obtain information and assistance. Your science teacher may be an excellent source. If he cannot provide specialized help himself probably he can direct you to those who can. Your school librarian can point out specialized references such as scientific encyclopedias and “re
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Documenting Your Work
Documenting Your Work
Project Notebook Every scientist worth his salt keeps detailed notes on each project on which he works. You should do likewise. This notebook, which could as well be a set of file cards, contains a running, day-by-day account of everything that concerns the project—observations, speculations, experiments, materials, expenses, procedures, data and observations, hypotheses, checks for validity, conclusions, and conjectures. From such notebooks comes the information for the scientist’s formal repor
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Planning the Content of Your Exhibit
Planning the Content of Your Exhibit
Try to organize your exhibit content so that it will be meaningful to viewers who know less about it than you do. The following outline may be followed, but is not the only one possible. Don’t be afraid to let the unusual aspects of your project influence the organization of its exhibit. Title The same title you chose for your project report may be an acceptable exhibit title. It should be brief and as nontechnical as possible. A subtitle may explain or amplify the main title. The Summary Messag
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How Exhibits Are Judged
How Exhibits Are Judged
Rules for the judging of exhibits vary, but most science fairs stick fairly closely to the criteria and point values used by the National Science Fair-International, which are: I. Creative Ability Total 30 points How much of the work appears to show originality of approach or handling? Judge that which appears to you to be original regardless of the expense of purchased or borrowed equipment. Give weight to ingenious uses of materials, if present. Consider collections creative if they seem to se
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Designing Your Exhibit
Designing Your Exhibit
After you have finished your project, documented your work in a project report, planned and listed what must go into the exhibit, and familiarized yourself with the ground rules under which you will compete, you are ready to design your exhibit. The sections which follow suggest guidelines and construction hints on exhibit structure; ways of presenting information (text, photographs, transparencies, line drawings, captions, models, specimens, laboratory equipment, etc.); layout and location of e
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About Color
About Color
Properly employed, color is functional as well as aesthetically pleasing. You may find the following suggestions helpful in deciding which colors to employ in your exhibit, and where. In a space as small as your science fair exhibit, one or two basic colors, plus black and white, should suffice. Use your color in a few large blocks, not in many small patches. Different basic colors can be used to define different main areas of emphasis; then different shades of the basic colors can be used to de
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Completing Your Exhibit
Completing Your Exhibit
Before mounting your exhibit elements on the structure permanently, lay them out temporarily. (You will probably want to move them around several times to get the best position.) You can then pencil in your title, text, and caption blocks in actual size. Use separate sheets of paper for each, and try out various locations around the materials they explain. Use of too many letter styles will detract from the attractiveness of your exhibit. Headings can be all in capital letters, and subheads in s
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COMPETITION AND ITS REWARDS
COMPETITION AND ITS REWARDS
Some of you can look forward to enjoying within the next several years a thrilling experience. Some morning in May you will bid your parents farewell, walk up the steps of an airliner, and touch down a few hours later in a distant city. For the next five days you will be caught up in the excitement and fascination of the National Science Fair-International! The full impact of your nation’s science fair hits you the morning you set up your exhibit in the auditorium. You knew that you had a good e
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QUO VADIS?
QUO VADIS?
Or “where do you go from here?” First, resolve now to enter science fair competition this year. You may not win, but at least you will have started, and you will gain some of the experience needed for victory in later years. Next, choose a science project topic, and discuss your choice with your science teacher, science club adviser, or hobby counselor. Especially if this is your first attempt, choose a topic which can be investigated with materials and equipment available to you at school or at
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General and Theoretical Topics
General and Theoretical Topics
The Review and Future of the Atom Simplified Nuclear Physics Approach to the Study of Nuclear Physics Elementary Particles—an Investigation of the Fundamental Components of Matter and Energy Odd Nucleon Effect A Study of Binding Energies and Nuclear Reactions The Integrated Theory of Atomic Structure Through Inductive and Deductive Reasoning Tools of Nuclear Physics E = MC²—Energy Equals Mass Multiplied by the Speed of Light Squared Downfall of Parity How to Measure the Charge of the Electron Ho
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Special Apparatus Topics
Special Apparatus Topics
Construction and Operations of Wilson Cloud Chamber Geiger-Müller Counter: Theory and Construction Experiments with a Homemade Geiger Counter An Experimental High-Voltage Geiger Counter Design and Construction of a Scintillation Counter The Construction and Theory of Radiation Detectors for Radioactive Experiments The Underlying Principles of Accelerators for Positively Charged Particles Electronic-Equipment Construction and Applications to Nuclear Theory and Techniques A Germanium Linear Accele
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Radiation Topics
Radiation Topics
A Cosmic Ray Beta- and Gamma-Ray Analysis Calculating the Angle of Deflection for Beta-Ray Under Normal Atmospheric Conditions in Magnetic Fields of Differing Intensities Effects of Absorption and Geometry on Beta Count Rate Detection and Recording of Cosmic Radiation A Study of Alpha Particles by Means of the Continuous Cloud Chamber Visual Detection of Alpha Particles Detection of Subatomic Particles A Survey of Background Radiation Made with a Geiger Counter ⁵¹Ne as a Radiation Detector Detec
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Radioisotopes Topics
Radioisotopes Topics
Use of Radioactive Salts in Plant and Animal Nutrition Studies The Radioactive Isotopes: Its Uses in Medical Research and Treatment Chemical Activity of Deuterium as Compared with Hydrogen Radioisotopes in Medicine Pinpointing the Past with Carbon-14 Algae Uptake of ³²P Radioiodine and Construction of a Geiger-Mueller Counter Radioiodine in Guppies Uses of Radioisotopes Radioisotopes Chelation of a Radioactive Isotope in Rats The Role for Radioactive Testosterone on Hematopoieses Phosphorus-32 T
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Nuclear-Change Topics
Nuclear-Change Topics
Demonstration of Chain Reaction A Study of Chain Reactions The Theory and Construction of an Inexpensive Neutron Source of Moderate Strength A Study of the Reaction ₅B¹⁰(n,a)₃Li⁷ with the Aid of Nuclear Research Plates How Fission and Fusion Take Place Uranium Fission and Isotope Production From Uranium to Energy Atomic Transmutation Atomic Disintegration Conversion of Atomic Power to Electric Power Interactions Between Subatomic Particles A General Study of Atomic Energy: Its Fundamentals and I
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Biology
Biology
Biosynthesis of Compounds; Plant Genetics; Plant Metabolism; Plant Nutrition; Effects of Soil Density and Water Content; Disease Control; Pollination Agents; Crop Improvement; Photosynthesis; Ecological Cycles; Pest Control; Action of Pesticides; Ecology of Wildlife; Dispersion of Pesticides; Nutrition of Domestic Animals; Milk Production; Mammalian Aging; Animal Physiology; Genetic Chemistry....
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Medicine
Medicine
Blood and Water Volume Studies; Cardiac Output; Blood Flow; Measurement of Physiological Functions; Location of Appetite Control Centers; Formation of Blood Cells; Metabolic Processes; Cancer Study; Leukemia Study; Antibody Therapy; Study of the Central Nervous System; Vitamin Studies; Behavior of Viruses....
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Chemistry
Chemistry
Reaction Mechanisms; Catalysis; Exchange; Kinetics; Corrosion; Dilution; Diffusion; Mineral Flotation; Detergent Action; Mirror Formation; Metal Plating; Analysis....
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Physics
Physics
Standard Length Measurements; Film Thickness; Nuclear Structure; Vapor Pressures; Elementary Particles....
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Geology
Geology
Sedimentation; Ocean Currents; Underground-Water Resources and Movement; Geological Dating....
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Industry
Industry
Thickness Gauging; Process Control; Inspections for Defects; Volume Gauging; Leak Detection; Sterilization; Electron Printing; Flow-rate Gauging; Tool-wear Gauging; Dye-migration Measurement; Oil-well Acidizing Control; Lubricant Studies; Cleansing Efficiencies; Measurement of Oxygen in Metals; Food Preservation; Power Sources; Self-luminous Light Sources. The following is a partial listing of publications on science projects, science fairs, and atomic energy. Many of these publications also con
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Science and Science Projects
Science and Science Projects
Science Projects Handbook , Shirley Moore (Ed.), Ballantine Books, Inc., New York, 1960, 254 pp., $0.50. Ideas for Science Projects , V. Showalter and I. Slesnick, National Science Teachers Association, Washington, D. C., 1962, 53 pp., $1.00. Wonderful World of Science , Shirley Moore and Judy Viorst, Science Service, 1719 N Street N. W., Washington, D. C., 1961, 246 pp., $0.50. How To Do an Experiment , Philip Goldstein, Harcourt, Brace and World, Inc., New York, 1957, 260 pp., $2.60. Science N
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Science Projects and Science Fairs
Science Projects and Science Fairs
Project Ideas for Young Scientists , John Taylor, Phoebe Knipling, and Falconer Smith, Joint Board on Science Education, Washington, D. C., 1962, 173 pp., $1.25. Ideas for Science Fair Projects , Ronald Benrey and other winners of the National Science Fair-International, Fawcett Publications, Inc., Greenwich, Connecticut, 1962, 144 pp., $0.75. Science Fair Projects , Science and Mechanics Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1962, 162 pp., $0.75. Your Science Fair , Arden Welte, James Diamond,
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Atomic Energy and Nuclear Science Experiments and Projects
Atomic Energy and Nuclear Science Experiments and Projects
Sourcebook on Atomic Energy , Samuel Glasstone, D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc., Princeton, New Jersey, 1958, 641 pp., $4.40. Annual Report to Congress of the Atomic Energy Commission , available from the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C. (January 1964), 512 pp., $1.75. Fundamental Nuclear Energy Research (annual report), available from the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C. (December 1963), 412 pp., $2.50
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Preparation of Scientific and Technical Reports
Preparation of Scientific and Technical Reports
How to Write Scientific and Technical Papers , Sam F. Trelease, Williams & Wilkins Company, Baltimore, Maryland, 1958, 185 pp., $3.25. Writing Useful Reports , Robert E. Tuttle and C. A. Brown, Appleton-Century-Crofts, Inc., New York, 1956, 635 pp., $4.75. Technical Reporting , Joseph N. Ulman, Jr., and J. R. Gould, Holt, Rinehart & Winston, Inc., New York, 1959, 289 pp., regular edition $6.75; textbook edition $5.00. Report Writers’ Handbook , Charles E. Van Hagan, Prentice-Hall
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APPENDIX IV WORKING WITH RADIATION AND RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
APPENDIX IV WORKING WITH RADIATION AND RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
No scientist worth his title ever exposes himself needlessly to any potential hazards which confront him in his investigations. Thoughtful student scientists also will avoid any unnecessary exposure to ionizing radiation, particularly since bad habits acquired while doing student projects may be difficult to overcome later. Before undertaking experiments with radioactivity, consult your science teacher or project counselor. Any materials to be irradiated should be processed with professional equ
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APPENDIX V SUPPLIERS OF RADIOISOTOPES
APPENDIX V SUPPLIERS OF RADIOISOTOPES
Your science teacher or project counselor may know of a nearby laboratory from which you can obtain the radioisotopes required for your investigation. If you wish to write direct to a commercial source, some of the suppliers of application-exempt quantities are: Atomic Corporation of America 14725 Arminta Street Panorama City, California Abbott Laboratories Box 1008 Oak Ridge, Tennessee Bio-Rad Laboratories 32nd & Griffin Avenue Richmond, California Nuclear Consultants Corporation 9842 M
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S-R-I
S-R-I
Categories established for grouping and judging science projects at the ISF are: Botany Zoology Medicine and Health Biochemistry Chemistry Pure Physics Applied Physics and Engineering Mathematics and Computers Earth and Space Sciences Entries in any of these categories, if nuclear-related, will be considered for AEC Special Awards at the International Science Fair....
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S-R-I
S-R-I
Project exhibit size is limited to 30 inches deep (front to back), 48 inches wide (side to side), and 12 feet high (floor to top). Any project exceeding these dimensions is oversize and does not qualify for entrance in the ISF....
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R-I
R-I
Each exhibitor must assemble his or her exhibit without major outside help, except for transportation and unpacking....
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S-R-I
S-R-I
A typed abstract of the project, using not more than 250 words, is required and must be displayed with the project....
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S-R-I
S-R-I
Anything which could be hazardous to public display is prohibited. This includes: Live poisonous animals may not be displayed. No dangerous chemical substances such as caustics, acids, highly combustible solids, fluids or gases may be displayed. If such materials are required, inert substitutes should be used. No open flames are permitted. Any project producing temperatures exceeding 100°C must be adequately insulated from its surroundings. Highly flammable display materials are prohibited. Tank
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S-R-I
S-R-I
No live, warm-blooded animals may be displayed at the ISF. Projects involving the use of such animals may display photographs, drawings, charts or graphs to illustrate the conditions, developments, and results of the investigations. This eliminates the needless shipping, housing, care, harm, discomfort or loss of animals....
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S-R-I
S-R-I
During judging the exhibit area is closed to all except judges and authorized personnel. Exhibitors may be present only at a specified time during which they are to remain at their exhibits....
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S-R-I
S-R-I
All exhibitors must be interviewed at their projects by at least one judge. The purpose of all interviews is to determine the exhibitors’ familiarity with the project, the science involved, and to give the student an opportunity to meet the judges, react to questions and to discuss their work with a recognized leader. Care must be taken to allow a reasonable interview time within the time limits allotted for judging....
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I
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Not more than two students, male or female, may be certified as finalists to the ISF from an affiliated science fair. They must be students in 10th, 11th or 12th year classes in a public, private or parochial school....
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I
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A student who will have reached age 21 on or before May 1, preceding the ISF is not eligible to participate as a finalist in the ISF....
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I
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A student may enter only one project and it must be his own work. Group projects involving two or more students give experience to beginners and are acceptable in S or R fairs but may not be entered in the ISF....
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I
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The identical repetition of previous year’s project is not permitted. However, a student may again exhibit work on a continuing problem provided the work demonstrates considerable progress when compared with the previous year....
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I
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Finalists must be accompanied to the ISF by an official adult escort designated and/or sponsored by the regional fair. Responsibility and liability for entry in the ISF rests with the affiliated fair organization which finances the entry, provides transportation for the finalists and their projects, and living expenses during ISF....
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I
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Students planning to enter exhibits in the ISF which contain materials that may be regulated by a quarantine should first consult with a Federal or State plant pest control or animal health inspector, a county agricultural agent, or write to the Director, Plant Pest Control Division, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Federal Center Building, Hyattsville, Maryland 20782....
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S-R-I Regulations for Experiments With Animals
S-R-I Regulations for Experiments With Animals
This guide was prepared and approved by the National Society for Medical Research, the Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources (National Research Council), and the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (1968). 1. The basic aims of scientific studies involving animals are to achieve an understanding of life and to advance our knowledge of life processes. Such studies lead to respect for life. 2. Insects, other invertebrates and protozoa are materials of choice for many experiments.
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