Listed below are several project ideas that your student might want to try for extra credit.

LONG-TERM PROJECTS & RESEARCH IDEAS

Randolph Atkinson eyed the glowing pit of red coals that lay before him. His bare feet twitched in anticipation. “Am I crazy?” he asked himself. “Why am I doing this?” Before his doubts got the better of him, he took a deep breath and stepped forward. His mind raced. “I’m walking on fire! I can’t believe this!” Believe it. Firewalking is real. The earliest stories of firewalking probably came from India around 1200 B.C. Since then, it has been an organized event in many different cultures and religions. In the 1930s, scientists began paying closer attention to this phenomenon and began to study how it is possible to walk across a bed of hot coals (around 425C!) without burning one’s feet. In the interest of science, some of these scientists even took the walk of fire themselves! SAFETY ALERT! You shouldn’t do this at home! Firewalking requires expert knowledge and preparation. INTERNET KEYWORD firewalking

1. Using the library and the Internet, investigate the history and physics of firewalking. How has it been explained in other cultures? What is science’s explanation for why firewalking is possible? Are there any tricks that firewalkers use to protect their feet from the hot coals? Present your research in the form of a magazine article or web page.

2. Nature knows best! Animals have developed several different adaptations to gather, conserve, and get rid of heat. For example, the hair of a caribou, or reindeer, is hollow. Caribou live in very cold climates, and the hollow hair traps air and provides good insulation. Choose an animal that lives in either a very hot or a very cold climate, and research its adaptations for dealing with the extreme temperatures. Make a poster display with illustrations to explain your animal’s adaptations.

3. Humans have been experimenting with their own ways of dealing with body heat. Investigate the relative warmth of several different fabrics. Why are some fabrics better insulators than others? Which materials stay warm when they are wet? Which do not stay warm when they are wet, and why? Are synthetic materials better insulators than natural ones? Devise an experiment to find out how well different fabrics insulate. Be sure to include fabrics used in cold-weather hiking or camping gear. Create a brochure that explains the properties and the best uses of different fabrics.

If you’ve ever been stuck in traffic with the windows rolled down, you know how noxious the fumes from a car’s exhaust can be. Not only do the fumes smell bad, but they’re bad for the environment as well. And the fossil fuels that power our cars and trucks today won’t be around forever. What can we do about these problems? Well, many people think that electric cars may be the answer. Several car companies and research groups have been experimenting with designs for clean, reliable electric automobiles for several years. Who knows, maybe someday you’ll drive a car that you plug in instead of filling up!

1. Using the library and the Internet, research electric cars. When was the first electric car built? How many different electric car designs can you find? What technological advances have made electric cars more realistic? How far and how fast can electric cars go? Are there any electric cars on the market today? How is the electricity for these cars generated? Does this cause pollution? Give an oral presentation to the class, and include visual aids.

2. Electricity from a salt pond? In Israel, test sites at the Dead Sea have used a salt pond to generate small amounts of electricity. The pond acts as a solar collector. Solar ponds have been built around the world. Research how they work and what locations make a good solar pond. Build a model of a solar salt pond, and design an experiment that tests whether it is a better solar collector than a similar body of fresh water.

3. You can’t always wire something the way you want. Research the local building codes for electrical wiring. Begin by calling the city or village hall and asking which department is responsible for inspecting electrical wiring. Or, interview a building inspector about the local codes for electrical wiring. Create a brochure explaining the importance of building codes to new home owners.

4. You’ve been told that you are not supposed to use electrical equipment near water. Do you know why? Research the safety precautions that you should take when using electrical equipment and the science behind those precautions. Create a pamphlet of safety precautions people should follow when handling electric equipment.