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A Sample Project: Problem and Hypothesis
After collecting and analyzing your project research, it's time to zero in on the problem.Let's say you've decided to investigate the relationship between the angle of the sun's noon rays and air temperature. The question doesn't have to be complex and wordy to be good. Make it as simple and to the point as possible. Look at these two examples:
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How does the angle of the sun's rays at noon affect seasonal temperatures?
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Does the difference in the angle of the sun's rays at noon affect the amount of energy received by Earth's surface? If so, how does that difference affect temperature during different seasons?
Both of the examples have the same goal of discovering how the angle of the sun's rays affects air temperature, but the first example is short and quickly read. Keep in mind that your project will be judged at the science fair, and you want each judge to know immediately the single purpose for your project.
With your problem stated, it's time to develop the hypothesis. The hypothesis might be "I believe that the size of sun ray angles at noon causes seasonal temperatures, small angles causing warm temperatures and large angles causing cold temperatures." This hypothesis is based on these facts:
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In my research, I discovered that shadow angles are the same as the angles of the sun's rays, and the shadow angles change during the day as well as from season to season.
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In my exploratory experiment, shadow angles were least at or near noon and greatest in early morning and late evening.
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I've observed that early morning and late evening are generally the coolest parts of a day and that midday is warmest.
Now You're on Your Own
Test your hypothesis by designing one or more project experiments to determine if the angle of the sun's rays during different seasons affects temperature. You might use the instrument in the exploratory experiment to measure the sun's ray angle. The ray angle would be equal to the angle of the pencil's shadow, which is the angle between the top of the pencil and the stretched string. Because the shadow angle is least at or near noon, you can make a comparison of shadow angles and temperatures at noon during different seasons. After you have designed one or more experiments, you can collect data, construct tables and graphs, draw diagrams, and take photos to represent results. The control can be when the sun is at its lowest or highest angle.
FromJanice VanCleave's Guide to the Best Science Fair Projects, Janice VanCleave (John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1997)
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