science experiment ideas for 9th graders

25 Incredible 9th Grade Science Project Ideas To Try

Categories Education/School

Forget quizzing your class on all 118 elements of the periodic table. Gather them together for some fun science projects instead!

If you’re teaching grade 9 students, there’s no better way to increase their interest in the wonders of science than by letting them play mad scientist.

Looking to add some spark and energy to your science lessons?

Let your students get creative and experimental with these 25 incredible 9th grade science project ideas to try that are sure to wow and amaze your class!

These incredible grade 9 science projects cover chemistry, physics, biology, and more. For health and safety reasons, just make sure to provide adult supervision where necessary.

1. Pressure Bottle Rocket

Firing this list off is an explosive science project idea that’s as educational as it is heaps of fun. This science project will have your students building their very own pressure rocket from a plastic bottle and a few other basic materials. Just watch out, as you might get wet!

2. Homemade Radio

Turn your students into inventors with this science project that will teach them how to make a homemade radio out of a few household items. They’ll even learn how to make their own headphones using a small magnet, a nail, a tin, and some fine wire.

3. Popping Boba Balls

Science projects can also be tasty! This science project will get your students to turn their favorite drinks into semi-solid boba balls that they can eat like pieces of candy. It’s a fun and effective way to teach your class about spherification and molecular gastronomy.

4. Flying Teabag

Ever seen a flying teabag? Your students probably haven’t either. This flying teabag science project is impressive yet simple, only requiring matches, markers, a non-flammable plate, and as many as many teabags as your students want to see flying!

5. Floating Rice

Teach your students about friction with this fun science project that’s as close as it gets to performing magic. All you need are uncooked grains of rice, a plastic bottle, and a chopstick, pencil, pen, or stick. It’s a simple project, but it’s sure to make their jaws drop!

6. Flaming Torch

Your students will jump at the idea of creating their own fire vortex from rising heat and wind. The main items you’ll need are a turntable, wire mesh bucket, and borosilicate glass beakers. The flames can rise above the bucket, so make sure to do this experiment outside.

7. Glowing Water

Show your students something interesting about tonic water with this glowing water science project idea. You can use tonic water or regular water soaked with the ink from a highlighter pen. Then it’s simply a matter of shining a black light on the water!

8. Rainbow Fire

Here’s a simple science project for teaching your students about chemical reactions . All it involves is a bunsen burner and several chemicals, including boronic acid, strontium chloride, sodium chloride, and potassium chloride, which will turn the flames into different colors.

9. PET Bottle Bridge

This science project idea is perfect as a group activity. It involves building a bridge out of PET plastic bottles using screws and tape. What will amaze your students is how sturdy the finished structure will be (thanks to one amazing science principle), as they’ll be able to walk on it!

10. Infinity Mirror

Optical illusions are always fascinating. And that’s exactly what your students will create with this fun infinity mirror science project. These infinity mirrors will dazzle and impress and also make for a great display item that your students can take home after class.

11. Lemon Volcano

Your students have probably made an erupting playdough volcano using bicarbonate of soda, vinegar, and food coloring – a classic school science project. But what about a lemon volcano? Just a word of caution: this science project can get messy!

12. Stained Glass Candy

Get your students to create their own edible peppermint candy that they take home and share. This science project idea is like a cooking class and a science experiment in one! It will also teach your students about the importance of measuring accurately in chemistry.

13. Vertical Hydroponic Farm

Teach your class about hydroponics and hydroculture with this fun science project that will get them to grow their own vertical farm. This is a large project that also involves building a support frame with microcontrollers that monitor the plants!

14. Rubber Band Racer

Kick-start a drag race competition with this science project idea that will teach your students how to make their own rubber band racers. This science project requires a hot glue gun and an electric drill, so just make sure the students have enough adult supervision.

15. Is Denser Fruit Healthier?

Organize a fun science experiment for your class with this project idea that will get them to test the density of different fruits and vegetables and whether density signifies their nutritional value. Teach them about science and healthy eating in one!

16. Marble Roller Coaster

Transform the classroom into a miniature theme park with this thrilling science project that involves building roller coasters out of foam pipe insulation and masking tape. The students will then measure how much height is needed to make the marbles loop the loops.

17. Teleidoscope

Get the students to create their own DIY kaleidoscopes with this teleidoscope science project. You’ll need to gather a few materials to make the teleidoscopes, but the finished product is something they’ll be peering through for the rest of the day!

18. Electric Play Dough

Teach your students about conductivity with this electric play dough science project idea. It involves piecing together the electrical components as well as creating the playdough itself. Add some creativity by letting your students create their own playdough shapes to electrify.

19. Water Quality

Here’s an environmental science project idea that will also teach your class an important survival skill! Your students will learn about water safety and contamination, as well as how to test the quality of water from any water source and whether it’s safe to drink.

20. Charging Gadgets With Solar Power

Wireless charging? Your students will jump at this science project idea that will teach them how to charge their gadgets with solar power. Several tools are required (including a soldering iron and wire cutters), so just make sure the students are well supervised.

21. Magical Plastic Bag Experiment

Here’s another incredible science project that will have the students believing they’re performing magic. It’s a simple experiment involving pencils and plastic bags filled with water. Will the water spill when punctured? Get your students to find out!

22. Easy Heart Pump Model

Help your class learn more about how the human heart works with this STEM science project idea that will instruct them to build a model heart pump. All you need is a small jar, bendy straws, a balloon, tape or glue, water, and red food coloring.

23. Tiny Dancers

This simple and fun science project idea will teach your class how to make a homopolar motor out of an AA battery and magnet. Your students will also get to create their own “tiny dancers”, which will start to spin once placed on top of the batteries.

24. Heat Sensitive Color Changing Slime

Let your students get messy with this science project idea that will teach them how to create heat sensitive color changing slime. All it requires is white school glue, water, thermochromic pigment, liquid starch, and different food colorings for them to get creative with.

25. Magic Spinning Pen

Have your class discover the power of magnets themselves with this school project idea that involves creating a small structure with a magnetic field. Gluing a ring magnet to a pen and placing it in the middle of the other magnets will cause the pen to spin on its nib!

That wraps up our list of 25 incredible 9th grade science project ideas to try with your class, which will help them discover more about the world of science through their own creativity and experimentation.

The above science project ideas are perfect for students aged 14 to 15 and are guaranteed to fascinate them no matter whether science is their favorite subject or not. Try these as soon as possible to add some excitement to your science lessons!

Further reading: How to homeschool a 9th grader.

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25 Interesting 9th-Grade Science Project Ideas

By Beth Roberts | Last Updated May 4, 2022

The only thing stopping you from thinking of a worthy project for 9th-grade science class is your lack of inspiration. Trust us; we’ve got plenty of ideas to get you started. We have learned that at this level through trial and error. Ready to have some fun and get your hands dirty? Here are 25 of the most interesting 9th-grade science project ideas.

1. Floating Rice 

The floating Rice project is a classic and interesting one at that. It’s simple, it’s fun, it’s cheap, and most importantly – it works. This is suitable for 9th-grade rooms if your students are still interested in scientific experiments after being exposed to formulae and equations.

2. Hydroponic Garden 

Hydroponic Garden is another exciting option to explore . You can get an aquarium and use it to grow plants, or use an enormous container, such as the ones you can buy from a hardware store, mix the soil yourself or simply buy soil from somewhere else. You will have to have a water source for the container that is kept moist throughout the day.

3. Crystal Powered Radio 

Crystal Powered Radio is a classic and exciting project for 9th-grade science students. It is fun to do, cheap, and it can be in a space as small as a classroom. You will need some crystals or stones and an AM transmitter that you can build on your own.

4. Plastic Bottle Bridge 

If you are on the quest for interesting 9th-grade science project ideas , you need to let your students explore this fun and interesting little project. It is cheap, easy to do, it can be indoors and outdoors, and most importantly – your students will learn a lot from this.

5. Apple Wrecking Ball 

Apple Wrecking Ball is another cheap and fun project. It is simple, requires very few resources, and can be indoors and outdoors. Your students will need nothing other than a few apples, some ping pong balls, and a string. It may not appear to be a particularly engaging project at first glance, but it investigates a variety of fascinating topics, including pressure, to mention just one.

6. The Chemistry Of Colorful Fire 

The Chemistry of Colorful Fire is a project for 9th-grade science students interested in chemistry and physics. It is simple, requires very few resources, and can be indoors and outdoors. 

7. Optical Illusions In Color And Black & White 

Optical Illusions in Color and Black & White is an exciting project to explore for 9th-grade students. The project is pretty simple, and indoors or outdoors. In addition to its educational value, your students will have a blast while trying it out on their friends, even if they are unsure what they are doing.

8. Rubber Band Car 

Rubber Band Car is another exciting project for 9th-grade science students. You need nothing more than some rubber bands, some toothpicks, and a few other things to make it work. The idea is simple, and the assembly process is straightforward. Your students will enjoy doing something like this without knowing that they are learning something simultaneously.

9. Earthquake Science 

This is an excellent project for 9th-grade science students , mainly if they are interested in geology. It is cheap and fun, and it is safe to conduct outdoors. However, keep in mind that your students will have to know how to read the signs and take some time to play around with their creation before trying it out on an unsuspecting person.

10. Forensic Fingerprints 

If you have a 9th-grade science class interested in criminal investigation and forensics, then the Forensic Fingerprints project is what you need. It is suitable for the more advanced students in this group, and it can be both indoors and outdoors.

11. Effects Of Antibiotics On Bacteria 

Effects of Antibiotics on Bacteria is a fun and interesting 9th-grade science project idea. Students will be able to observe the effects of antibiotics on bacteria by growing the bacteria in an environment with and without the drug.

12. Glowing Water 

Glowing water is an easy and fun experiment that you can do at home. You can use this as a science fair project for 9th-grade science class or just have your kids learn about glowing water as an interesting 9th-grade science project idea.

13. Candy Lab 

Candy Labeling is a fun and interesting 9th-grade science project idea. You can have your students label the types of candy in a jar that resembles a rainbow. This will also help them to become more confident with marking things.

14. Rain Or Snow: Which Is More Acidic? 

Rain or Snow: Which is more Acidic? This is an interesting 9th-grade science project idea. You can have your students compare the amount of acid produced by rain vs. snow on apples. This will let them know the differences and similarities between rain and snow.

15. Is A Dense Fruit A Healthy Fruit? 

Is a Dense Fruit a Healthy Fruit? is an interesting 9th-grade science project idea to let students know about fruits’ density and nutritional value. Students will be able to check the thickness of different fruits and correlate it with their nutritional value and their density. This will help them to determine the health benefits of these fruits.

16. Effect Of Acid Rain On Seedling Germination 

Effect of Acid Rain on Seedling Germination is a fun and interesting 9th-grade science project idea. You can have your students test different species of seedlings in an environment with and without acid rain. This will let them know the effects of acid rain on seedlings used for farming.

17. How Do Roots Grow When The Direction Of Gravity Changes? 

How Do Roots Grow When the Direction of Gravity Changes? This is an interesting 9th-grade science project idea. Students will be able to observe how roots grow when gravity changes. They will keep a seedling in an environment with and without altered gravity. This will show them how hearts react in different kinds of environments. 

18. Electromagnetism 

Electromagnetism is an interesting 9th-grade science project idea. It can be a fun and exciting experiment for your students to observe the effects of electromagnetism on a coiled plastic wire. This will let them know the results of electromagnetism on us daily.

19. Rubber Band Racer 

Rubber Band Racer is an interesting 9th-grade science project idea that lets the students know about the relationship between the mass, speed, and tension of a rubber band. This will help them to understand how their cars work. They will create a roller coaster with rubber bands instead of rails.

20. Flaming Torch 

Flaming Torch is an exciting 9th-grade science project idea that lets the students know about the relationship between pressure, temperature, and volume of gas. They will be able to create a flaming torch with a bicycle pump attached to a balloon. They can perform some other experiments with this flaming Torch as well.

21. Flying Tea Bag 

Flying Tea Bag is a fun experiment enjoyed by kids and adults alike. This simple experiment will enthrall your audience and make them wonder how a teabag can fly. All you need are some tea bags and some rubber bands. You want to stretch the rubber band over the teabag, preferably around the middle portion of the pack. Then, you want to let it go by pulling off the rubber band in a quick motion.

22. Pressure Bottle Rocket  

This is a simple rocket experiment . You need to take a two-liter plastic soda bottle, something to hold the end, and fill it with water or air. Make sure you don’t accidentally throw it into the fire and have a huge mess. Take a strip of aluminum foil and wrap it around the bottle cap to ensure it doesn’t fly off when you light the bottle.

23. Origami Sightings 

Origami is an art that anyone can do . And with this experiment, you can show your audience that paper can fly. All you need are some sheets of paper and scissors to do this. You can also use a larger sheet of paper if you’d like. Fold the sheet along the natural crease to form wings. Then take the report and fasten it onto a wall or ceiling using glue, tape, or nails and strings.

24. Chemistry Of Ice-Cream Making 

Chemistry of Ice-Cream Making is a fun experiment that you can do using ice cream or yogurt. It’s an easy experiment, and your class can enjoy watching it get warmer as the chemical reaction occurs. You need some sugar, food coloring, and water with a spoon. Put the sugar in the scoop and add food coloring gradually. Keep stirring until the color throughout the mixture. Then add water bit by bit until you have a spoonful of liquid.

25. Levitating With Eddy Currents

Eddy currents are conductive materials used in many applications such as motors, speakers, satellites, or microwave ovens. They are also used to detect changes in the density of liquids. In this experiment, you will use eddy currents to levitate objects using water and paint. You will need a bowl of water and some paint for the project. 

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70 Best High School Science Fair Projects in Every Subject

Fire up the Bunsen burners!

The cool thing about high school science fair projects is that kids are old enough to tackle some pretty amazing concepts. Some science experiments for high school are just advanced versions of simpler projects they did when they were younger, with detailed calculations or fewer instructions. Other projects involve fire, chemicals, or other materials they couldn’t use before.

Note: Some of these projects were written as classroom labs but can be adapted to become science fair projects too. Just consider variables that you can change up, like materials or other parameters. That changes a classroom activity into a true scientific method experiment!

To make it easier to find the right high school science fair project idea for you, we’ve rated all the projects by difficulty and the materials needed:

Difficulty:

• Easy: Low or no-prep experiments you can do pretty much anytime
• Medium: These take a little more setup or a longer time to complete
• Advanced: Experiments like these take a fairly big commitment of time or effort
• Basic: Simple items you probably already have around the house
• Medium: Items that you might not already have but are easy to get your hands on
• Advanced: These require specialized or more expensive supplies to complete
• Biology and Life Sciences High School Science Fair Projects

Chemistry High School Science Fair Projects

Physics high school science fair projects, engineering high school stem fair projects, biology and life science high school science fair projects.

Explore the living world with these biology science project ideas, learning more about plants, animals, the environment, and much more.

Extract DNA from an onion

Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium

You don’t need a lot of supplies to perform this experiment, but it’s impressive nonetheless. Turn this into a science fair project by trying it with other fruits and vegetables too.

Re-create Mendel’s pea plant experiment

Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium ADVERTISEMENT

Gregor Mendel’s pea plant experiments were some of the first to explore inherited traits and genetics. Try your own cross-pollination experiments with fast-growing plants like peas or beans.

Make plants move with light

By this age, kids know that many plants move toward sunlight, a process known as phototropism. So high school science fair projects on this topic need to introduce variables into the process, like covering seedling parts with different materials to see the effects.

Test the 5-second rule

We’d all like to know the answer to this one: Is it really safe to eat food you’ve dropped on the floor? Design and conduct an experiment to find out (although we think we might already know the answer).

Find out if color affects taste

Just how interlinked are all our senses? Does the sight of food affect how it tastes? Find out with a fun food science fair project like this one!

See the effects of antibiotics on bacteria

Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Advanced

Bacteria can be divided into two groups: gram-positive and gram-negative. In this experiment, students first determine the two groups, then try the effects of various antibiotics on them. You can get a gram stain kit , bacillus cereus and rhodospirillum rubrum cultures, and antibiotic discs from Home Science Tools.

Learn more: Antibiotics Project at Home Science Tools

Witness the carbon cycle in action

Experiment with the effects of light on the carbon cycle. Make this science fair project even more interesting by adding some small aquatic animals like snails or fish into the mix.

Learn more: Carbon Cycle at Science Lessons That Rock

Look for cell mitosis in an onion

Cell mitosis (division) is actually easy to see in action when you look at onion root tips under a microscope. Students will be amazed to see science theory become science reality right before their eyes. Adapt this lab into a high school science fair project by applying the process to other organisms too.

Test the effects of disinfectants

Grow bacteria in a petri dish along with paper disks soaked in various antiseptics and disinfectants. You’ll be able to see which ones effectively inhibit bacteria growth.

Learn more: Effectiveness of Antiseptics and Disinfectants at Amy Brown Science

Pit hydroponics against soil

Growing vegetables without soil (hydroponics) is a popular trend, allowing people to garden just about anywhere.

More Life Sciences and Biology Science Fair Projects for High School

Use these questions and ideas to design your own experiment:

• Explore ways to prevent soil erosion.
• What are the most accurate methods of predicting various weather patterns?
• Try out various fertilization methods to find the best and safest way to increase crop yield.
• What’s the best way to prevent mold growth on food for long-term storage?
• Does exposure to smoke or other air pollutants affect plant growth?
• Compare the chemical and/or bacterial content of various water sources (bottled, tap, spring, well water, etc.).
• Explore ways to clean up after an oil spill on land or water.
• Conduct a wildlife field survey in a given area and compare it to results from previous surveys.
• Find a new use for plastic bottles or bags to keep them out of landfills.
• Devise a way to desalinate seawater and make it safe to drink.

Bunsen burners, beakers and test tubes, and the possibility of (controlled) explosions? No wonder chemistry is such a popular topic for high school science fair projects!

Break apart covalent bonds

Break the covalent bond of H 2 O into H and O with this simple experiment. You only need simple supplies for this one. Turn it into a science fair project by changing up the variables—does the temperature of the water matter? What happens if you try this with other liquids?

Learn more: Covalent Bonds at Teaching Without Chairs

Measure the calories in various foods

Are the calorie counts on your favorite snacks accurate? Build your own calorimeter and find out! This kit from Home Science Tools has all the supplies you’ll need.

Detect latent fingerprints

Forensic science is engrossing and can lead to important career opportunities too. Explore the chemistry needed to detect latent (invisible) fingerprints, just like they do for crime scenes!

Learn more: Fingerprints Project at Hub Pages

Use Alka-Seltzer to explore reaction rate

Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Easy

Tweak this basic concept to create a variety of high school chemistry science fair projects. Change the temperature, surface area, pressure, and more to see how reaction rates change.

Determine whether sports drinks provide more electrolytes than OJ

Are those pricey sports drinks really worth it? Try this experiment to find out. You’ll need some special equipment for this one; buy a complete kit at Home Science Tools .

Turn flames into a rainbow

You’ll need to get your hands on a few different chemicals for this experiment, but the wow factor will make it worth the effort! Make it a science project by seeing if different materials, air temperature, or other factors change the results.

Discover the size of a mole

The mole is a key concept in chemistry, so it’s important to ensure students really understand it. This experiment uses simple materials like salt and chalk to make an abstract concept more concrete. Make it a project by applying the same procedure to a variety of substances, or determining whether outside variables have an effect on the results.

Learn more: How Big Is a Mole? at Amy Brown Science

Cook up candy to learn mole and molecule calculations

This edible experiment lets students make their own peppermint hard candy while they calculate mass, moles, molecules, and formula weights. Tweak the formulas to create different types of candy and make this into a sweet science fair project!

Learn more: Candy Chemistry at Dunigan Science on TpT

Make soap to understand saponification

Take a closer look at an everyday item: soap! Use oils and other ingredients to make your own soap, learning about esters and saponification. Tinker with the formula to find one that fits a particular set of parameters.

Learn more: Saponification at Chemistry Solutions on TpT

Uncover the secrets of evaporation

Explore the factors that affect evaporation, then come up with ways to slow them down or speed them up for a simple science fair project.

Learn more: Evaporation at Science Projects

More Chemistry Science Fair Projects for High School

These questions and ideas can spark ideas for a unique experiment:

• Compare the properties of sugar and artificial sweeteners.
• Explore the impact of temperature, concentration, and seeding on crystal growth.
• Test various antacids on the market to find the most effective product.
• What is the optimum temperature for yeast production when baking bread from scratch?
• Compare the vitamin C content of various fruits and vegetables.
• How does temperature affect enzyme-catalyzed reactions?
• Investigate the effects of pH on an acid-base chemical reaction.
• Devise a new natural way to test pH levels (such as cabbage leaves).
• What’s the best way to slow down metal oxidation (the form of rust)?
• How do changes in ingredients and method affect the results of a baking recipe?

When you think of physics science projects for high school, the first thing that comes to mind is probably the classic build-a-bridge. But there are plenty of other ways for teens to get hands-on with physics concepts. Here are some to try.

Remove the air in a DIY vacuum chamber

You can use a vacuum chamber to do lots of cool high school science fair projects, but a ready-made one can be expensive. Try this project to make your own with basic supplies.

Learn more: Vacuum Chamber at Instructables

Put together a mini Tesla coil

Looking for a simple but showy high school science fair project? Build your own mini Tesla coil and wow the crowd!

Boil water in a paper cup

Logic tells us we shouldn’t set a paper cup over a heat source, right? Yet it’s actually possible to boil water in a paper cup without burning the cup up! Learn about heat transfer and thermal conductivity with this experiment. Go deeper by trying other liquids like honey to see what happens.

Build a better light bulb

Emulate Edison and build your own simple light bulb. You can turn this into a science fair project by experimenting with different types of materials for filaments.

Measure the speed of light—with your microwave

Grab an egg and head to your microwave for this surprisingly simple experiment. By measuring the distance between cooked portions of egg whites, you’ll be able to calculate the wavelength of the microwaves in your oven and, in turn, the speed of light.

Generate a Lichtenberg figure

See electricity in action when you generate and capture a Lichtenberg figure with polyethylene sheets, wood, or even acrylic and toner. Change the electrical intensity and materials to see what types of patterns you can create.

Learn more: Lichtenberg Figure at Science Notes

Explore the power of friction with sticky note pads

Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Basic

Ever try to pull a piece of paper out of the middle of a big stack? It’s harder than you think it would be! That’s due to the power of friction. In this experiment, students interleave the sheets of two sticky note pads, then measure how much weight it takes to pull them apart. The results are astonishing!

Build a cloud chamber to prove background radiation

Ready to dip your toe into particle physics? Learn about background radiation and build a cloud chamber to prove the existence of muons.

Measure the effect of temperature on resistance

This is a popular and classic science fair experiment in physics. You’ll need a few specialized supplies, but they’re pretty easy to find.

Learn more: Temperature and Resistance at Science Project

Launch the best bottle rocket

A basic bottle rocket is pretty easy to build, but it opens the door to lots of different science fair projects. Design a powerful launcher, alter the rocket so it flies higher or farther, or use only recycled materials for your flyer.

More Physics Science Fair Projects for High School

Design your own experiment in response to these questions and prompts.

• Determine the most efficient solar panel design and placement.
• What’s the best way to eliminate friction between two objects?
• Explore the best methods of insulating an object against heat loss.
• What effect does temperature have on batteries when stored for long periods of time?
• Test the effects of magnets or electromagnetic fields on plants or other living organisms.
• Determine the best angle and speed of a bat swing in baseball.
• What’s the best way to soundproof an area or reduce noise produced by an item?
• Explore methods for reducing air resistance in automotive design.
• Use the concepts of torque and rotation to perfect a golf swing.
• Compare the strength and durability of various building materials.

Many schools are changing up their science fairs to STEM fairs, to encourage students with an interest in engineering to participate. Many great engineering science fair projects start with a STEM challenge, like those shown here. Use these ideas to spark a full-blown project to build something new and amazing!

Construct a model maglev train

Maglev trains may just be the future of mass transportation. Build a model at home, and explore ways to implement the technology on a wider basis.

Learn more: Maglev Model Train at Supermagnete

Design a more efficient wind turbine

Wind energy is renewable, making it a good solution for the fossil fuel problem. For a smart science fair project, experiment to find the most efficient wind turbine design for a given situation.

Re-create Da Vinci’s flying machine

Da Vinci sketched several models of “flying machines” and hoped to soar through the sky. Do some research into his models and try to reconstruct one of your own.

Learn more: Da Vinci Flying Machine at Student Savvy

Design a heart-rate monitor

Smartwatches are ubiquitous these days, so pretty much anyone can wear a heart-rate monitor on their wrist. But do they work any better than one you can build yourself? Get the specialized items you need like the Arduino LilyPad Board on Amazon.

Race 3D printed cars

3D printers are a marvel of the modern era, and budding engineers should definitely learn to use them. Use Tinkercad or a similar program to design and print race cars that can support a defined weight, then see which can roll the fastest! (No 3D printer in your STEM lab? Check the local library. Many of them have 3D printers available for patrons to use.)

Learn more: 3D Printed Cars at Instructables

Grow veggies in a hydroponic garden

Hydroponics is the gardening wave of the future, making it easy to grow plants anywhere with minimal soil required. For a science fair STEM engineering challenge, design and construct your own hydroponic garden capable of growing vegetables to feed a family. This model is just one possible option.

Learn more: Hydroponics at Instructables

Grab items with a mechanical claw

Delve into robotics with this engineering project. This kit includes all the materials you need, with complete video instructions. Once you’ve built the basic structure, tinker around with the design to improve its strength, accuracy, or other traits.

Learn more: Hydraulic Claw at KiwiCo

Construct a crystal radio

Return to the good old days and build a radio from scratch. This makes a cool science fair project if you experiment with different types of materials for the antenna. It takes some specialized equipment, but fortunately, Home Science Tools has an all-in-one kit for this project.

Learn more: Crystal Radio at Scitoys.com

Build a burglar alarm

The challenge? Set up a system to alert you when someone has broken into your house or classroom. This can take any form students can dream up, and you can customize this STEM high school science experiment for multiple skill levels. Keep it simple with an alarm that makes a sound that can be heard from a specified distance. Or kick it up a notch and require the alarm system to send a notification to a cell phone, like the project at the link.

Learn more: Intruder Alarm at Instructables

Walk across a plastic bottle bridge

Balsa wood bridges are OK, but this plastic bottle bridge is really impressive! In fact, students can build all sorts of structures using the concept detailed at the link. It’s the ultimate upcycled STEM challenge!

Learn more: TrussFab Structures at Instructables

Looking for more science content? Check out the Best Science Websites for Middle and High School .

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18 Mind-Blowing 9th Grade Science Project Ideas

• High School

As a 9th grader, you’re just beginning to explore the fascinating world of science. This is the perfect time to start experimenting with creative, engaging, and educational science projects. Here are 18 mind-blowing ideas for your next 9th grade science project:

1. Build a Crystal Radio: Understand how a simple radio receiver works by constructing your own crystal radio set.

2. Investigate Bacterial Growth: Compare the bacterial growth on different household surfaces (e.g., kitchen countertops, door handles) and analyze which areas require more careful cleaning and sanitation.

3. Earthquake Simulation: Build a shake table to simulate earthquakes and test how various building designs perform under seismic stresses.

4. Food Chemistry: Experiment with chemical reactions in food by exploring how various acids and bases affect the taste and texture of certain ingredients.

5. Solar Oven Design: Learn about solar energy by constructing a solar oven using everyday materials and see how efficiently it can cook food.

6. DNA Extraction from Fruit: Practice extracting DNA from strawberries or other fruits using safe household items like dish soap, salt, and rubbing alcohol.

7. Tornado in a Bottle: Create a model tornado to understand how these powerful weather phenomena form and develop.

8. Homemade Glue: Research natural adhesives found in nature, then develop your DIY glue formula using household materials.

9. Invisible Ink: Study the chemistry behind invisible ink and test different methods for writing secret messages that can only be revealed with the right reactions or substances.

10. Self-Inflating Balloons: Discover the principle behind self-inflating balloons by experimenting with baking soda and vinegar reactions in closed containers like water bottles or balloons.

11. Taste vs. Smell: Observe the relationship between taste perception and olfactory senses with various flavors of jelly beans or other strong-tasting candies while blindfolded or with a friend.

12. Water Filtration: Design and test your water filtration system using household items, like coffee filters or sand, and assess its effectiveness in removing impurities from contaminated water.

13. Homemade Thermometer: Construct a simple thermometer using a clear straw, rubbing alcohol, and a water bottle to observe temperature changes in different conditions.

14. Rocket Launch: Investigate the principles of physics and aerodynamics by constructing DIY rockets using plastic bottles and fuel options like baking soda and vinegar or Alka-Seltzer tablets.

15. Grow Your Own Bacteria: Investigate the different types of bacteria that grow on various surfaces by swabbing them and cultivating colonies on agar plates in petri dishes.

16. Air Pressure Explorations: Discover how air pressure affects various objects like balloons, marshmallows, or vacuum-packed bags through controlled experiments.

17. Battery-Powered Items: Learn about voltaic cells by building simple batteries using lemons or potatoes to power LED lights or small electronic devices like calculators.

18. Illusions of Motion: Study how our brains perceive motion with visual illusion experiments using stroboscopes or simple animations created on a computer or smartphone app.

With these 18 mind-blowing science project ideas for 9th graders, you’re sure to find one that piques your interest and teaches you something new along the way! Happy experimenting!

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Are you looking for science activities to do with your 2nd graders? No sweat. We have you covered. Check out our list of 23 science projects and experiments that you can try with your 9th graders this month.

• Is a Dense Fruit a Healthy Fruit? | Education.com – Grades 9-12, In this experiment, students will find out if there is a correlation between density and nutritional value, by measuring the density of vegetables and fruits.
• Effect of Glucose and Sucrose as Dietary Additives | Education.com – Grades 9-12, Students examine if and how glucose affects the lifespan of humans.
• Effect of Acid Rain on Seedling Germination | Education.com – Grades 9-12, Does acid rain have a positive or negative impact on seedling germination? In this project, students use vinegar-based solutions to mimic acid rain conditions to find.
• Effectiveness of Garlic in Fighting Bacteria | All-Science-Fair-Projects.com – Grades 9-12, Use milk in petri dishes to find out if garlic is a natural antibiotic.
• How Do Roots Grow When the Direction of Gravity Changes? | ScienceBuddies.org -Grades 6-10, Plants respond to gravity by stems that grow upward and roots that grow downward. Experiment with germinating seeds and rotate them to make up down and down up. How do you think the growing seedlings will respond?
• Build a Raft Powered by Surface Tension | Sciencebuddies.org – Grades 6-10, Learn about the properties of surface water tension, and use it to propel a raft.
• Paw Preference in Pets | Sciencebuddies.org – Grades 7-10, Are animals left-handed or right-handed like humans?
• Bat Detector: Listen to the Secret Sounds of Bats | Sciencebuddies.org – Grades 7-10, Study the behavior of bats to find out how do they use echolocation to catch their prey
• Saving Migratory Animals | ScienceBuddies.org – Grades 7-10, They’re here today but could be gone tomorrow. Examine the migratory path of a bird species and the similarities and differences between their winter and summer habitats. Recommend which locations should be preserved to protect these species.
• Electric wind: hi-speed threads of charged air | Scienceclub.org – Grades 9-12, Use dry ice and an electrostatic generator to observe air streams and hi-speed air-threads.
• Evaluating Benfords Law | Education.com – Grades 9-12, In this project, students investigate the applicability of  Benford’s Law to many sets of everyday data, such as lists of country populations, utility bills or the distance of various stars from earth.
• Patterns in J.S. Bach | Education.com – Grades 9-12, Determine the mathematical patterns in JS Bach’s two-movement preludes and fugues.
• Raw vs. Cooked Foods | Education.com – Grades 9-12, Do raw foods contain more calories than cooked foods? Use a bomb calorimeter to measure and calculate the amount of energy (calories) within various foods, ignite food samples, calculate the change in temperature.
• Chemistry of Ice-Cream Making | Sciencebuddies.org – Grades 9-12, Test how the addition of salt and other substances to water affects the freezing point of the water-based solution. Is rock salt and ice the best combination for freezing ice cream?
• Water to Fuel to Water | ScienceBuddies.org Grades 9-12, Examine the possibilities for water as part of the fuel cycle for the future. How efficient is a cobalt-based catalyst at helping to form molecular oxygen?
• Levitating with Eddy Currents! | Sciencebuddies.org – Grades 9-12, Build your own maglev (magnetic levitation) system and demonstrate how eddy currents work.
• Does Your Cell Phone Leak? | Sciencebuddies.org – Grades 9-12, Measure cell phone radiation from several distances when making a call and when texting.
• Lighthouse Redesign | Education.com – Grades 9-12, Old lighthouses have historical significance.  Give them a new life with a modern interior redesign.
• Lights and Sounds of Logic | Illinois Institute of Technology – Grades 9-12, Digital electronics such as smartphones and computers work by embedded logic. Use circuits that light up and make a sound to show how this basic logic works.
• Oregametry | Education.com – Grades 9-12, Use the mathematics of paper folding to learn the practical applications of particular origami folding techniques. Create your own origami or make modifications to existing designs.  Origami Sightings has some mind-blowing applications of origami concepts.
• Extracting Heat Energy from a Compost Pile | Sciencebuddies.org – Grades 9-12, Use your bananas peels, newspapers, leaves, and coffee grounds to create compost. Find out if enough energy is generated from the compost to heat water.
• Do Hurricanes Cool the Ocean? | Sciencebuddies.org – Grades 9-12, Collect data on hurricane strength and sea surface temperature to determine if cooling occurs and if it can be measured with the passing of a hurricane.
• How Earth’s Wobble Affects the Rotation of Earth | Education.com – Grades 9-12, The purpose of this project is to determine if there are fluctuations in the rising and the setting of the sun and the position of the earth as it rotates. You’ll record observations over three months.

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12 Science Projects for 9th Graders (Ages 14 – 15)

Science Project 1: Homemade Barometer

Materials Needed:

• Rubber band

Procedure: Step 1: Cut the neck off the balloon and stretch the balloon over the mouth of the jar, securing it with a rubber band. Step 2: Tape one end of the straw to the middle of the balloon surface to act as an indicator. Step 3: Place the index card behind the jar and mark where the straw points. This barometer will respond to atmospheric pressure changes, moving the straw.

Science Project 2: Lemon Battery

• Copper coins or copper strips
• Zinc nails or galvanized nails
• Alligator clip wires
• LED light or small bulb
• Voltmeter (optional)

Procedure: Step 1: Insert a copper coin and a zinc nail into each lemon, making sure they don’t touch. Step 2: Connect lemons with alligator clips, attaching the copper of one lemon to the zinc of another. Step 3: Connect the free copper coin and zinc nail to the LED light. The chemical reaction should produce enough electricity to light it up.

Science Project 3: Water Purification System

• A clear plastic bottle (cut in half)
• Sand (coarse and fine)
• Coffee filter or cloth
• Activated charcoal (from pet store)
• Clean cup or container
• Muddy water (for testing)

Procedure: Step 1: Invert the top half of the bottle into the bottom half. Step 2: Layer coffee filter, activated charcoal, fine sand, coarse sand, and gravel into the inverted bottle top. Step 3: Pour muddy water through your filtration system into the clean container. Observe how sediments and impurities are removed.

Science Project 4: Crystal Growth Experiment

• Borax powder (found in laundry aisle)
• Pipe cleaners
• Pencil or stick
• Mason jar or any glass container
• Boiling water
• Spoon for stirring

Procedure: Step 1: Shape pipe cleaners into any form you like and attach them to a pencil. Rest pencil on top of jar so that pipe cleaner is submerged in borax solution. Step 2: Add boiling water to jar and then add borax until it stops dissolving (saturated solution). Step 3: Suspend pipe cleaner form in solution overnight. Check back later to find crystals formed around pipe cleaner shape.

Science Project 5: Magnetic Slime

• Liquid glue (like white school glue)
• Iron oxide powder
• Borax powder
• A magnet (neodymium preferably)
• Spoon or craft stick for stirring

Procedure: Step 1: In one bowl, mix 1/2 cup glue with 1/2 cup water. Step 2: Add 2 tablespoons of iron oxide powder to the glue mixture and stir until evenly mixed. Step 3: In a separate bowl, dissolve 1 teaspoon of borax into 1 cup of warm water. Step 4: Slowly add the borax solution to the glue mixture, stirring constantly until the slime forms. Step 5: Knead the slime with your hands until it reaches the desired consistency. Step 6: Use the magnet to observe how the slime responds to magnetic fields.

Science Project 6: Plant Transpiration Experiment

• A small plant with large leaves
• Clear plastic bag
• Rubber band or string

Procedure: Step 1: Water the plant and let it sit for an hour. Step 2: Cover one of the plant’s leaves with the clear plastic bag and secure it with the rubber band or string. Step 3: Place the plant in a sunny area for a couple of days. Step 4: Observe the inside of the bag for moisture, which is evidence of the process of transpiration.

Science Project 7: Make Your Own Volcano

• Baking soda
• Food coloring (red or orange for lava effect)
• Play dough or clay to build the volcano
• A small container (like a film canister) for the reaction
• Tray to contain the mess

Procedure: Step 1: Use play dough or clay to build a volcano around the small container. Leave an opening at the top for the eruption. Step 2: Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of baking soda, a few drops of food coloring, and about a teaspoon of dish soap in the small container. Step 3: Pour vinegar into the container and watch as your volcano erupts!

Science Project 8: Solar Oven

• A pizza box
• Aluminum foil
• Plastic wrap
• Black construction paper
• Tape or glue stick
• Stick or straw to prop open the lid

Procedure: Step 1: Cut a flap in the lid of the pizza box, leaving one side attached. Step 2: Line the bottom of the box and the underside of the flap with aluminum foil, securing it with tape or glue. Step 3: Place black construction paper inside the box to absorb heat. Step 4: Cover the opening made by the lid flap with plastic wrap, creating a window. Step 5: Insulate the box with rolled up newspaper along the edges. Step 6: Place food on a plate inside the box, prop the lid open with a stick or straw, and aim the reflective flap towards the sun to cook or heat.

Science Project 9: Homemade Spectroscope

• A cardboard tube (from a paper towel roll)
• Scissors or craft knife
• Duct tape or black paper tape
• A small slit cut on one end of the tube

Procedure: Step 1: Cut a clean edge of the CD to create a reflective surface without the label. Step 2: Tape or glue the CD piece inside the bottom of the cardboard tube at a 45-degree angle with the reflective side up. Step 3: On the opposite side of the tube, create a narrow slit for the light entrance. Step 4: Point the slit at different light sources and gaze through the open end of the tube to see different spectra.

Science Project 10: Electric Play Dough

• Vegetable oil
• Lemon juice or cream of tartar
• Food coloring (optional)
• Conductive and insulating play dough recipes
• Battery pack with wires
• Light emitting diodes (LEDs)

Procedure: Step 1: Make two types of play dough – one that is conductive (with salt and lemon juice) and one that is insulating (with sugar). Step 2: Mold the conductive dough into shapes and connect LED leads into it. Step 3: Use the battery pack to introduce electricity, and arrange the insulating dough to act as a barrier between conductive pieces. Step 4: Observe the flow of electricity and how the LEDs light up when they make contact with the conductive dough.

Science Project 11: Air Pressure Can Crusher

• Empty soda can
• Stove or hot plate
• Bowl of ice water

Procedure: Step 1: Add a small amount of water to the soda can. Step 2: Heat the can on the stove or hot plate until steam is coming out of the opening. Step 3: Use tongs to quickly flip the can upside down and submerge it into the bowl of ice water. Step 4: Observe the can as it rapidly crushes due to the change in air pressure inside the can.

Science Project 12: DIY Microscope

• Smartphone with a camera
• Laser pointer lens
• Small piece of clay or poster putty
• Paper clip or small bobby pin

Procedure: Step 1: Disassemble the laser pointer to retrieve the small lens. Step 2: Use the clay or putty to attach the lens over the camera lens of the smartphone. Step 3: Bend a paper clip into a stand to hold slides (or use a bobby pin). Step 4: Place a slide with the object you want to magnify onto the stand. Adjust the distance between the slide and camera until the object comes into focus. Step 5: Take pictures or videos using the phone and observe the magnified details of the object on the slide.

There you have it, twelve engaging science projects covering various principles and disciplines, suitable for a 9th-grade level. Each addresses different scientific concepts and allows for hands-on exploration and learning.

View Our Grade 9 Lesson Plans:

• Maths Lesson Plan for Grade 9
• Science Lesson Plan for Grade 9
• Reading Comprehension Lesson Plan for Grade 9
• Vocabulary Lesson Plan for Grade 9

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9th Grade Science Fair Projects

Creative Project Ideas for High School Freshmen Who Love Science

• Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville
• B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College

Ninth grade is the first year of high school, so freshmen might find themselves competing against older students in a science fair. Even so, they stand every bit as good a chance of excelling and winning. The key to success is choosing an interesting project that doesn't necessarily take a lot of time to complete.

Gearing a Project to the 9th Grade Level

Ninth graders have a lot going on, so it's best to choose a project idea that can be developed and completed over the space of a few weeks or less. Since high school students are expected to be familiar with word processing programs and printers, the quality of the presentation is very important. 

Are you making a poster? Be sure to make it as professional as possible. Also, remember that accurately citing sources is critical to any successful project. Always cite any references used in developing your experiment.

9th Grade Science Fair Project Ideas

• Teeth whiteners : Find the shade of white that matches your teeth. Brush your teeth using a teeth-whitening toothpaste or gum. What color are your teeth now? To obtain additional data, have other family members test different products and monitor their results.
• Seed germination: Can you affect or improve the germination rate of seeds by pre-rinsing them in a chemical before planting them? Examples of chemicals to try include hydrogen peroxide solution , diluted hydrochloric acid solution, diluted isopropyl alcohol solution , and fruit juice. Some of these agents are thought to be able to loosen the seed coat surrounding the plant embryo.
• Hair conditioner: Using a microscope, determine whether hair conditioner affects the condition of hair (either comparing brands or comparing with conditioner to without-conditioner). The goal is to get empirical data, such as a diameter measurement of each hair strand and the distance a strand can stretch before it breaks.
• Bread shelf-life: What's the best way to store bread to keep it fresh for the longest time?
• Optimizing appliance efficiency: What things can you do to improve the efficiency or effectiveness of your clothes dryer or water heater—or any device? For example, are there any actions you can take or changes you can make that will decrease the length of time it takes for your dryer to dry a load of towels?
• Music and memory: Does listening to music while you study affect your ability to memorize facts?
• Smoke and plant transpiration: Does the presence of smoke in the air affect plant transpiration?
• The impact of eye color on peripheral vision : Does eye color affect peripheral vision? Supposedly, people with darker eyes tend to have wider pupils for a given amount of light than people with light-colored irises. If you have a more open pupil, does it give you measurably better peripheral vision? Another idea to test would be to see if you have the same peripheral vision in bright light as compared with dim light.
• Acid snow? Most of us have heard about acid rain, but do you know the pH range of snow? If you live in an area with snow, test its pH. How does the pH of snow compare with the pH of rain from the same region?
• Soil erosion: What methods of preventing soil erosion work best? For example, what is effective at preventing erosion in your yard?
• Localized noise reduction: What can you do to reduce noise pollution in a room? What factors contribute to noise pollution inside a residence?
• Seed viability: Is there a test you can perform to predict whether or not a seed will germinate? What factors can you measure that might be used to construct a test?
• The effects of magnets on insects and brine shrimp: Does an external magnetic field have any noticeable effect on animals such as brine shrimp, cockroaches, or fruit flies? You could use a strip magnet and containers of sample organisms and make observations to address this question.
• How is phosphorescence affected by light? Is the brightness of glow-in-the-dark (phosphorescent) materials affected by the light source (spectrum) used to make them glow or only by the intensity (brightness) of the light? Does the light source affect the length of time a phosphorescent material will glow?
• How do preservatives impact Vitamin C? Can you affect vitamin C (or another measurable vitamin) levels in juice (or another food) by adding a preservative to the juice?
• Insulation variables : What is the best thickness of insulation for preventing heat loss?
• How does energy input impact light bulb lifespan? Is light bulb lifespan affected by whether the bulb is run at full power? In other words, do dim bulbs last longer/shorter than bulbs run at their power rating?
• Speaker acoustics: What type of box material gives you the best sound for your speaker?
• How does temperature affect battery life? When comparing different brands of batteries: Is the brand that lasts the longest at a high temperature the same as that brand lasts the longest at a cold temperature?
• 5th Grade Science Fair Projects
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• Why Do a Science Fair Project?
• 4th Grade Science Fair Projects
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• High School Science Fair Projects

30 Best Science Experiments & Projects for High School

Welcome to our round-up of top science fair projects and science experiments tailored specifically for curious high school students.

Science fair is not just about the glitz and glamour of a first-place trophy; it’s about the passion, the inquiry, and the insatiable curiosity that drive every scientist, young and old. Hopefully, our curated list of the best hands-on science fair projects for high school students will ignite that curiosity in you.

Each project on this list offers a unique opportunity to dive deep into scientific inquiry and present findings with both clarity and flair.

Let’s dive in and make learning an unforgettable adventure!

1. Burn Calories

Don’t miss this opportunity to unravel the mysteries of energy transformation and uncover the scientific secrets hidden in the simplest of substances!

Learn more: Science Buddies

2. Extracting DNA from Strawberry

By following a series of simple yet insightful steps, students will witness the magical moment of DNA extraction, fostering a deeper appreciation for the fundamental building blocks of life.

Learn more: Extracting DNA from Strawberry

3. Build a Simple DIY Newton’s Cradle

As students assemble the materials and witness the rhythmic dance of swinging spheres, they will witness the scientific principles they’ve learned in the classroom come to life before their eyes.

4. Make a Monster Dry Ice Bubbles

Unleash your inner mad scientist and learn how to make Monster Dry Ice Bubbles with this high school science experiment!

Get ready to be captivated as you create giant, spooky bubbles that dance and swirl with the mysterious power of dry ice.

Learn more: Wonder How To

5. Soil Erosion Experiment

As stewards of our environment, it’s crucial to comprehend the impact of natural processes like soil erosion.

Through this experiment, students will gain a deeper appreciation for the significance of soil conservation and sustainable land management practices.

Learn more: Life is a Garden

6. Candle Carousel

This experiment combines the wonders of physics with the art of crafting, making it an enriching experience that ignites curiosity and fosters a deeper appreciation for the elegant dance of energy in our world.

7. Find Out if Water Conducts Electricity

In this captivating activity, students will explore the conductive properties of water and unlock the secrets of how electrical currents flow through different substances.

Learn more: Rookie Parenting

8. Roller Coaster Stem Experiment

By experimenting with various designs and track configurations, students will refine their problem-solving skills and gain valuable insights into the practical applications of physics and engineering.

Learn more: STEM Project

9. Lemon Battery

Engaging in this experiment not only teaches the basics of electrical circuits but also sparks curiosity about the natural world and the science behind it.

Learn more: Coffee Cups and Crayons

10. Watering Plants Using Different Liquids

Discover the wonders of plant hydration with the intriguing high school science experiment – “Watering Plants Using Different Liquids.” In this captivating project, students explore how various liquids impact plant growth and health.

Learn more: Lemon Lime Adventures

11. Measure Electrolytes Found in Sports Drinks

By conducting a series of tests and analyses, students will quantify the electrolyte content present in various sports drinks.

12. Relight the Flame Without Directly Touching It

This captivating project challenges students to learn about the intriguing properties of heat transfer and combustion.

By exploring different methods to reignite a candle flame without physical contact, students will uncover the secrets of heat conduction, convection, and radiation.

Learn more: Stevespangler

13. Conduct Fingerprint Analysis

This captivating project immerses students in the intriguing world of crime scene investigations, where they will uncover the uniqueness of fingerprints and their role in forensic science.

14. Separate Water Into Hydrogen And Oxygen Using Electrolysis

This electrifying project allows students to explore electrolysis and the decomposition of water into its elemental components.

Learn more: Navigating by Joy

15. Simple Color Detection Circuit 

This experiment not only introduces fundamental concepts in electronics and circuitry but also opens up endless possibilities for real-life applications, from automated sorting systems to color-sensitive devices.

16. Carbon Sugar Snake

This enchanting project allows students to witness a dazzling display of science as they combine common household ingredients to create a dark, coiling “snake” made of carbon.

Learn more: Kiwi Co

17. Build a Hydraulic Elevator

This captivating project invites students to learn about engineering and fluid mechanics. By constructing a working model of a hydraulic elevator, students will explore the principles of Pascal’s law and the fascinating concept of fluid pressure.

Learn more: Teach Beside Me

18. Brew up Some Root Beer

This enticing project invites students to explore the fascinating world of chemistry and fermentation while creating their own delicious and bubbly concoction.

Learn more: Home School Creations

19. Extracting Bismuth From Pepto-Bismol Tablets

This hands-on experiment not only sheds light on the principles of chemistry and lab techniques but also highlights the real-world applications of bismuth in medicine and various industries.

Learn more: Popscie

20. Solar-Powered Water Desalination

By designing and building a solar-powered water desalination system, students will learn how to harness the sun’s energy to purify saltwater and make it safe for consumption.

21. Applying Hooke’s Law: Make Your Own Spring Scale

By designing and constructing their very own spring scale, students will uncover the principles of Hooke’s Law and the relationship between force and displacement in a spring system.

22. Homemade Hand Warmer

By creating their own hand warmers using safe and easily accessible materials, students will witness the magic of heat generation through chemical processes.

Learn more: Steve Spangler

23. Explore the Concept of Symbiosis Involving Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria.

By investigating how certain plants form a mutually beneficial bond with these bacteria, students will gain insights into the essential role of nitrogen fixation in the ecosystem.

Learn more: Education.com

24. Center of Gravity Experiment

This fascinating project invites students to explore the concept of the center of gravity and its role in determining stability.

25. Power up Homemade Batteries

This captivating project invites students to learn about electrochemistry and energy generation.

Learn more: 123 Homeschool

26. Film Canister Explosions

Prepare for a blast of excitement and chemistry with the high school science experiment – “Film Canister Explosions!” This project teaches students about chemical reactions and pressure build-up.

27. Investigating Osmosis with Potato Slices

This hands-on experiment not only provides a practical understanding of osmosis but also highlights its relevance in everyday life, from understanding plant hydration to food preservation techniques.

28. Make Homemade Fly Trap

This captivating “Make Homemade Fly Trap!” project invites students to explore the principles of pest control and observe the behavior of flies.

29. Hydroponics: Gardening Without Soil

This exciting project invites students to explore innovative agricultural practices that harness water and nutrient solutions to grow plants.

By setting up their hydroponic system and nurturing plants through this method, students will witness the fascinating dynamics of root development and nutrient absorption.

30. Clothespin Airplane

As they test and modify their creations, students will learn about the principles of lift, thrust, and drag, gaining a deeper understanding of how these forces come together to keep airplanes soaring through the skies.

Learn more: Steamsational

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9th Grade Science Project Ideas: Posters, Experiments, DIYs, And Discussions

March 8, 2024 //  by  Sharayah Lynn Grattan

The 9th-grade science fair is quickly approaching, yet your ideas either lack excitement or were used in last year’s fair…well, look no further! We have collected 56 unique and creative science fair projects that are sure to impress both your students and fairgoers. From optical illusions to black lights and chemical reactions, whatever sparks your students’ imagination, we’ve got you covered! Grab your science goggles and let’s start experimenting! 

1. Accurate Weather Forecasting

This experiment works best with access to a weather station. Most cities do have one, so see if weather records are available to use with your class. If not, keep a log from various weather channels: 1-day t, 3-day, 5-day, and 7-day forecasts. Your students will compare these predictions to real-time weather to gauge the forecasting accuracy.

 Learn More: Weather Forecast

2. Floating Rice

Friction happens all around us, and without it, our world would slip into chaos! To complete this simple experiment, your kiddos will only require some rice, a bottle, and a long utensil such as a chopstick or pencil. Have them fill the bottle with rice, push the pencil or stick inside, and lift the bottle to see what happens!

Learn More: Floating Rice

3. Gender Influence on Math Anxiety

This experiment challenges your kiddos to take on some pretty advanced concepts like adding control groups, managing variables, and data interpretation. They can use heart monitors connected to other kids in a math class and a different subject, and then compare the results. Can they identify anxiety patterns between genders and subjects?

Learn More: Gender And Math Anxiety

4. Hydroponic Garden

Are vertical gardens the way of the future? This engineering project requires your kiddies to have some prior knowledge of plant caretaking, and the willingness to construct a complex system with pipes and connectors. Let them build their hydroponic garden and find out if plants can grow without soil!

Learn More: Hydroponic Garden

5. Crystal Powered Radio

With just a diode, a piece of wood, and an earphone, your students can make their own homemade radio! Following the specific instructions, they’ll be able to connect materials in order to pick up signals from the surrounding area!  Let them explore different options and make the best radio they can!

Learn More: Homemade Radio

6. Plastic Bottle Bridge

This experiment tests your kiddos’ engineering skills by building a bridge out of plastic bottles and metal screws! Their creation will need to be strong enough for your class to walk and sit on! Your engineers will love cutting and connecting plastic bottles and inflating them with dry ice to create a strong structure. 

Learn More: Bottle Bridge

7. Apple Wrecking Ball

This awesome STEM challenge uses momentum, force, and inertia to maneuver an apple to hit target objects. Have your learners create a structure using string and construction paper rolled into cylinders. Next, they can get creative by choosing markers, highlighters, empty bottles, or other items to face down the apple wrecking ball!

Learn More: Apple Bowling

8. Symbiotic Plants and Bacteria

Do bacteria and plants work together? How do nitrogen-fixing bacteria support the growth process? Have your class answer these questions with this simple chemistry experiment using pots, soil, seeds, a sterile inoculating loop, and a Rhizobium leguminosarum culture (bacteria). They’ll observe what happens when only half their pots receive the bacteria!

Learn More: Bacteria And Plants

9. The Chemistry of Colorful Fire

Explore the chemical process behind the change in color in flames with this cool experiment!  Your students will test common chemicals by running a metal rod under cold water and dipping it in the chemical being tested, before exposing it to a flame. They will then record the results to show which chemicals change the flame’s color! Who knew chemistry could be so colorful!?

Learn More: Rainbow Fire

10. Second Language Learning Factors

This project focuses on the social sciences by exploring whether gender, native language, or age affects how we learn a second language. Have your kids dive in by creating a hypothesis and then let them test this prediction out with willing study participants! They’ll love the chance to get their friends and family involved with this fun project idea!

Learn More: Slideshare

11. Optical Illusions in Color and Black & White

What role does color play in how our eyes perceive the world around us? For this project, your kiddies will time how long it takes for participants to solve both color and black-and-white illusions to find out which type is more challenging to see! The results might surprise them!

Learn More: Optical Illusions And Color

12. Rubber Band Car

Your learners will love this project where they can make a car from just a few simple household items! In this fun engineering design project, they’ll use paper cups, rubber bands, a paper clip, a small washer, and one chopstick. Once the parts are assembled,  show them how to twist the chopstick around the rubber bands to change potential energy to kinetic energy causing the little car to take off!

Learn More: Kinetic Car

13. Earthquake Science

This cool science experiment explores how static friction works to create an earthquake-like disruption using natural materials. Grab standard bricks and see how much force it takes to rub them together. Your students will gain extra practice with math when varying the controls by adding weight to fluctuate the friction! 

Learn More: Earthquake Math

14. Forensic Fingerprints

This project is based on the techniques used by forensic scientists to identify fingerprints found at crime scenes!  Let your kiddies become mystery solvers too using just some muriatic acid and oily fingers. The muriatic acid reacts with the amino acids in the skin to make fingerprints glow green – so cool!

Learn More: Fingerprint Science

15. Effects of Antibiotics on Bacteria

How do the most common antibiotics react with gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria? Have your learners collect bacteria from their skin or mouth and swab them onto a petri dish. Show them how to establish a control dish and then add different antibiotics to the other dishes. They’ll be amazed as they observe how the antibiotics react with the bacteria! 

Learn More: Antibiotic And Bacteria

16. Glowing Water

This experiment will receive glowing reviews! Your students will need a highlighter, a black light, tonic water, and a dark room to create their glowing water. Instruct them to soak the felt tip of the highlighter in tonic water; after a while, they can place the water next to a black light in the dark room, and see it glow!

Learn More: Glowing Tonic

17. Candy Lab

This two-day experiment offers your pupils the opportunity to apply their knowledge of moles and molecules to make peppermint-flavored candy! All they’ll need is an aluminum tin, a Bunsen burner, and the focus to follow careful directions so that candy will be made! Learning to make candy? They won’t believe their luck!

Learn More: Candy Labs

18. Rain or Snow: Which is more Acidic?

This experiment compares acid rain with acid snow to discover which has a lower pH and is therefore more acidic. Your little scientists will collect samples from water sources like rain, snow, and sleet, and then test them using pH paper. Have them record each result so that they can compare them at the end! 

Learn More: Acidic Water Types

19. Soda Rocket

Chemical reactions are a great topic for a science project. In this demonstration, your kiddies will create their own rockets using just soda and Mentos candy! They’ll show what happens when these two substances interact and form a reaction – much to the delight of their audience! 

Learn More: Hessun Academy  

20. Chladni Plate

Your kiddos won’t believe you when you say they can see sound! For this experiment, they can use recycled materials to build a cylinder and then stretch a balloon over the top. Next, have them add salt to the surface and then blow or speak into the side tube to create sound. Seeing the moving effects of sound will truly ‘wow’ your audience!

Learn More: Science Mom

21. Burning Ice

Can ice really burn? This experiment is a great way for your learners to find out! Adding alcohol over ice creates the illusion of it being on firefire,  but the true source of the flame is really the alcohol. They’ll love coming to this conclusion, documenting the process, and demonstrating this at, their science fair 

Learn More: Steamsational

22. Oxidation Experiment

This experiment shows your class which items are prone to oxidation. Have them collect items made from different types of metal and submerge them in water and/or salt water to observe how fast they rust. Applying the scientific method and keeping a close record of the process will support budding scientists!

Learn More: Teach Beside Me

23. Create a Biodome

Any of your students who are interested in environmental science and the engineering design process will love this biodome project! They can use materials including sand, seeds, and insects, and measure the effects of different amounts of water on their environment. What a fantastic way to observe the interconnectedness of ecosystems!

Learn More: Teach Engineering

24. Light Maze

Scientists eager to learn how light works will enjoy creating these light-bending mazes. Have your kiddies build a maze and then add mirrors to reinforce and explore the concept that light travels in a straight line. This experiment also encourages them to think like engineers as they construct and build their mazes.

Learn More: Science-Sparks

25. Build Your Own Fan 

Give your kiddos a better understanding of how currents and circuits work by having them build this small electric fan. This kit comes with all of the items needed to build this fan and includes step-by-step directions for them to follow; perfect if you need an idea that’s ready to go with minimal prep! 

Learn More: Amazon

26. DIY Hot Air Balloon

The sky’s the limit with this project focusing on forces and motion. Challenge your students to find the best design and materials for a  hot air balloon. Testing it will be the real task! Will it fly or fall flat? Remind them to document their trials so they have the data to present at the fair! 

Learn More: Teaching Is Messy

27. Which Fertilizer is Best?

Let your students discover the secret ingredient to great plant growth. This experiment will expand on their existing knowledge of what plants need to grow by having them determine the best fertilizer for producing and enhancing growth. Your future agronomists will test the effects of different fertilizers and record their observations to present at the fair!

Learn More: Education

28. Head to the Races

If any of your students have access to a 3D printer, this is definitely the project for them! They’ll be taking on the challenge of creating their own race cars to compete against their peers! They’ll need to consider how the cargo affects racing performance and think of ways to overcome this as they race to the finish line!

Learn More: Instructables

29. Life Cycles of Stars

Space exploration is always a topic of interest in any 9th-grade classroom. In this NASA lesson, your kids will study the life cycle of stars and diagram the different phases and processes that contribute to a star’s formation. It’s a super opportunity for your budding astronomers to explain the mysteries of the universe! To infinity and beyond! 

Learn More: National Aeronautics And Space Administration

30. Water Wheels 

Water wheels are an engineering marvel unfamiliar to most people, and this experiment lets you put these ingenious creations front and center for your kiddies! Challenge them to use their math skills to construct a water wheel and observe how it conducts energy and power. This experiment combines history, engineering, math, and science!

Learn More: Resource Center

31. Morse Code Machine

Although Morse code is no longer frequently used, at one time it was an important system of communication! Introduce Morse code by having your students build their own Morse code machines using a buzzer, some batteries, and push buttons. A demonstration of the sounds and the Morse code process will be a hit at the science fair! 

Learn More: Surviving A Teacher’s Salary

32. Catapulting Pumpkins

What could be more fun than pumpkin chunkin’? Your kiddos will love building their own catapults and recording the distance that their flying pumpkins travel. This science fair project is not only a blast, but it is also a STEM learning experience all about tension, torsion, and gravity!  

Learn More: TPT

33. Tiny Dancers

This fun project actually generates electricity! Your learners will use nothing more than some copper wire, a battery, some magnets, and a few tools and decorations to create tiny dancers on top of a battery. These dancers will get a groove on once the electric current runs through them! 

Learn More: Babble Dabble Do 

34. Birds and the Colors They Eat 

Are birds attracted to certain colors? Have your kiddos find out by filling bird feeders with identical food, but disguise them in different colors to determine if our flying friends are drawn to specific colors. Challenge your class to come up with a way to document the data carefully to present their findings to an audience that is sure to be captivated by this interesting project!  

Learn More: Science Bob

35. Solar Oven

Bring the kitchen to the (outside) classroom! Your kiddies will love building their own solar oven and conducting experiments to determine how different materials affect the cooking time of food. This is a great opportunity to create graphs and charts to show how materials influence the effectiveness of their ovens and make themselves some tasty treats in the process! 

36. Measure The Speed Of Light With Chocolate

I think we can all agree that the best science projects involve chocolate! For this physics experiment have your kiddos heat chocolate in a microwave and then use this measuring process to work out the wavelengths of light. After the experiment is complete, don’t forget to eat your chocolate! You wouldn’t want it to go to waste!

Learn More: Fizzics Education

37. Overnight Crystals

Growing crystals is a science fair must! This experiment couldn’t be simpler as all your kids will need are some common household items, including Epsom salt and food dye, to create overnight salt crystals. Have them explore the world of saturated mixtures and evaporation as they create crystals of various sizes and shapes.

Learn More: Babble Dabble Do

38. Separate Your Water

This chemistry experiment helps your kiddos to understand that water is a combination of two different gases! Challenge them to separate the two gases by first of all researching the best way to do this! It may take several attempts before they find the approach that actually works! 

Learn More: Navigating By Joy

39. Make Your Own Spectrometer

This amazing science project allows your learners to build and use their own spectrometers. Using all recycled materials and following a simple set of instructions, they’ll be able to observe different light patterns within their spectrometer. What a perfect activity to investigate light! 

40. Banana DNA

Do your kiddos know that they share 50% of their DNA with a banana? Once mashed, they’ll be able to put their banana under a microscope to closely examine the strands of this DNA! They are sure to feel like real scientists as they log their observations.

Learn More: Rainy Day Mum

41. Model and Function of the Brain

Do you think it’s impossible to get hands-on when learning about the brain? Think again!  Let your students use a head of cauliflower to create a model of the brain, and then diagram each of its parts using color-coded labels. Have them use this to teach fair participants about the function of each part of our brains! 

Learn More: Pinterest

42. Environmental Oil Spill

Creating a replica of an oil spill is a great science project to teach the scientific method and spread awareness about environmental issues! Get your learners to set up this amazing visual to demonstrate the effects of an oil spill on the environment and the process involved in cleaning it up. 

43. Regrow Food from Scraps

This creative project is a great way to learn more about recycling and gardening. Have your learners use kitchen food scraps to grow a variety of fruit and vegetable plants. Encourage them to share the fruits of their labor at the science fair!! 

Learn More: Hessun Academy

44. Growing Bacteria

You want to grow bacteria!?! Yes, actually! Start your kiddos off by having them begin to swab and label samples from places in their home or classroom. Next, have them use the Bacteria Growing Kit to analyze bacterial growth on each sample and record their results so that they can determine where bacteria are thriving! 

Learn More: Our Journey Westward

45. Indoor Plant Growth

Growing plants has been done many times before, but this project has an exciting twist! Your students must use a cardboard box, light bulb, and aluminum foil to make an insulated indoor grow box! This is an opportunity to create charts that document how the box increases the plants’ growth rate. 

Learn More: Uplifting Mayhem 

46. Five Second Rule

Have you ever used the Five Second Rule? Have your little scientists test just how safe this well-known rule is by setting up six experimental groups – a control group and five groups representing different time spans for dropped food. They’ll compare the microbes grown on the samples to find out if this is really a rule to live by! 

Learn More: ScienceNewsExplore

47. Egg Drop Contest

The time-tested egg drop challenge is a great way to inspire the future engineer in your students. They’ll design multiple contraptions that hold an egg and protect it during a fall! Which of their contraptions will result in the least egg damage? 

Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers  

48. Geometry Roller Coaster

This roller coaster experiment is the perfect science project to incorporate plenty of geometry while also having a lot of fun! Using paper, tape, and some accurate measurements, they’ll construct their very own roller coasters and then conduct test runs with marbles!

Learn More: Teaching High School Math

 49. Lung Model and Tobacco Prevention 

By building a model lung, your kiddies will be able to share the effects of tobacco, educating others about this important topic. Using a recycled bottle, balloons, straws, and tape, they’ll make a mock lung to show how it is affected by the use of tobacco. 

Learn More: Surviving A Teacher’s Salary

50. Potato Power

Does the type of potato matter when hooked up to a battery to conduct power? This science project will help solve that puzzle and put a new spin on this classic science project! Your kiddos will focus on circuits and electricity, and test different potatoes to determine which type conducts electricity best.

Learn More: Mom Dot

51. Egg Floating in Salt Water

Here’s another great way to demonstrate your learners’ understanding of scientific testing methods! Challenge them to discover how much salt it takes to make an egg float! They can try out different amounts of salt, documenting the entire scientific process and reporting on whether or not the hypothesis checked out! 

52. Soil Degradation Experiment 

This super interesting project will be an eye-opener for your class! Guide them to set up different mock environments and show the effects on water when the soil is disrupted and soil degradation occurs. They can use recycled jugs and water bottles to set up this experiment. 

Learn More: Geography Pods

53. Why Do Apples Turn Brown?

Teach your kiddies more about oxidation and preservation with this fun project! After they’ve researched why apples turn brown, have them test different substances to add, and see if any will preserve the apples longer. They could add vitamin C, honey, water, vinegar, or any other substances they’d like to test! 

Learn More: Left Brain Craft Brain

54. Fastest Way to Cook a Potato

Give your students a master class in the process of the scientific method! This project will see them testing out seven different methods of cooking potatoes in either an oven or microwave. After they determine which method is quickest, they can display their process and findings at the science fair! 

Learn More: Left Brain Craft Brain 

55. Water Pollution Experiment 

Your students will benefit from student choice when setting up and carrying out this experiment. Have them start by collecting water and treating it according to the plan they’ve come up with, and then use microscopes to observe changes in the water as bacteria begin to grow. 

Learn More: Layers of Learning

 56. Composting

Discover the wonders of decomposition with this composting cups project. Over time, your kiddies will observe the process of natural recycling right before their eyes! By adding a small amount of water each day, the bacteria in the composting cups will work its magic!

Learn More: The Happy Housewife

• DIY lists /

Science Fair Projects for 9th Graders

These science fair projects for 9th grade are perfect for older kids to explore advanced science concepts and tinker with some more exciting materials.

(Ages 9-16 )

Water squirters work by pressurizing reservoirs of water with air. As you pump the squirter, it gradually adds air to the reservoir, increasing the pressure. When you pull the trigger, the pressure is allowed to release and a stream of water shoots out!

In this DIY project, we'll learn how to use the exact sample principles found in water squirters to launch a water rocket sky-high! Follow along with these simple steps and you'll be blasting off in no time.

Want to make a bottle rocket without the hassle of gathering materials? Blast off with a Bottle Rocket crate from the KiwiCo Store ! It includes a step-by-step video tutorial link, illustrated blueprint instructions, all the materials, and a special-edition Tinker Zine magazine for more project fun!

(Ages 7-16 )

Make a tea bag fly with heat! The flying tea bag experiment is a similar concept to a hot air balloon, but you can do it right at home. This project is simple to create, but impressive to kids and adults alike!

Want to learn more about chemistry without the hassle of gathering materials? Explore the science of crystallization with a Crystal Chemistry Garden from the KiwiCo Store !

Create a whirling fire torch of your own. The flames spin upwards into a vortex from the rising heat and wind. Follow along to safely create a whirling fire torch yourself!

Unlike the magnets that are used on refrigerators, electromagnets are magnets that can be turned on and off depending on the flow of electricity. The electricity that flows through the wire allows the molecules in the nail to attract certain things. Give this experiment a try, and see how many paper clips you can pick up with your electromagnet!

(Ages 5-16 )

Ready to get racing? Explore potential and kinetic energy with this rubber band-powered racer that kids (and grownups) can't get enough of!

Grow your young engineer's love for physics with a Marble Roller Coaster from the KiwiCo Store ! Become a thrill engineer and build twisty, turny tabletop roller coasters.

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Get inspired.

Science Fair Guide

My WordPress Blog

9th Grade Science Fair Projects

Each experimental science project guides in this list contain all the steps you need to start and complete your science project. Information include Introduction, Question/Purpose, Variables, Sample Hypothesis, Sample Experiment designs, guides in creating data table, Graph, drawing Conclusion, writing an Abstract, writing Report. Engineering and display projects may have a different structure.

General Science Projects EX016 A Projector (Make a slide projector)

Physics Science Projects IP029 Buzzers and bells and alarms. IP110 How is paint affected by temperature changes? IP111 How does temperature affect the elasticity of rubber? IP112 How does temperature affect the strength or adherence of glue? SP011 The mathematics of snowflakes SP022 The effect of solar activity on radio propagation SP033 Observations of magnetic permeability of different materials SP061 Index of refraction of liquids versus temperature SP062 Index of refraction of liquids versus amount of additive SP071 Crystal growth rates versus solution strengths, temperature, etc SP091 Experimenting with various separation techniques (e.g. electrophoresis) SP100 Make a universal Reflector SP421 Impact force of falling object  

Chemistry Science Projects SC021 Determination of the Thickness of Zinc on a piece of Galvanized Metal SC022 Distillation of Water from an Aqueous Solution Using a Disposable Apparatus SC023 Candy Chromatography SC024 A comparison of the Solubility of Carbon Dioxide in Water at Various Temperatures SC026 A Penny’s Worth of Hydrogen SC028 Determination of the Relative Viscosities of Liquids SC029 Discover a good antifreeze (Freezing Point Depression) SC030 Reactions Between Ions In Solution Using Consumer Materials SC031 Physical Properties and Intermolecular Bonding in Solids SC035 The Effect of Temperature on the Rate of Dissolving SC037 Balloon Race (The Effect of Temperature on the Rate of Reaction) SC039 The Effect of Concentration on the Rate of a Reaction SC040 Kinetic Experiments; Effect of concentration on the rate of reactions SC042 Catalysis Using Enzymes In Pineapple SC045 Activities of Metals SC047 Electrolysis of Water without a Hoffman Apparatus SC048 Making and Testing a Simple Galvanic Cell SC049 Tracking Electrons SC050 The Chemistry of Copper Plating SC051 Production of Synthetic Fiber SC054 Ion Exchange SC055 Make Iron Sulfate, Hydroxide, Oxide SC094 A study of saponification reactions SC095 A study of esterification SC101 Electrolysis of Potassium Iodide SC102 Magnesium Research SC110 Which fruits contain the most vitamin C? SC120 Compare fruits for their sugar contents  

Biology Science Projects SB011 The effect of sound on plants SB021 Plants in different environments (light intensity, color) SB031 The effect of nicotine, air, yeast on mold growth SB041 Factors affecting the strength of hair SB042 Factors affecting the growth of bacteria SB043 Factors affecting the growth of molds or yeast SB051 Experiment with Hydroponics SB071 The effectiveness of Antiseptics and soaps on household bacteria SB091 Comparing types of artificial light on plant growth SB101 Conditions necessary for the life of a brine shrimp SB121 Producing mutations in bacteria SB122 Producing mutations in yeast SB131 Best conditions for mushroom production SB141 The effects of ultrasonic on bacteria count SB142 The effects of antibiotics on bacteria count SB161 Reaction of planaria to pH, light and temperature conditions SB162 Reaction of paramecia to pH, light and temperature conditions SB171 Plant tropisms and growth hormones SB181 Transpiration rates for different plants and conditions SB191 Sugar level in plant sap at different times and dates SB211 A study of territoriality in mice SB221 A study of the cleaning habits of mice SB251 Learning and perception in animals and humans SB261 Studies of memory span and memory retention SB271 Age versus learning ability SB281 A study of the relation between physical exercise and learning ability SB291 Is audio or visual information better remembered SB292 Brain Hemispheres. SB301 The effect of bleaching and dyeing on hair SB311 A study of the percentage of DNA (by weight) in different species SB321 Factors affecting the enzyme’s reaction rates SB341 Factors affecting seed germination (e.g. soil temperature, pH) SB361 Factors affecting flowering SB391 Factors affecting Nodule Formation in Legumes SB401 Can household compounds (e.g. tea) be used to promote good health in plants SB411 Effects of cigarette smoke on the growth of plants SB421 The effects of water impurities on plant growth SB431 The effects of phosphates on aquatic plants SB451 The effect of excess salinity on plants SB501 The effects of electromagnetic fields on plants SB531 Does magnetizing seeds before planting affect growth SB541 The effects of XRay and other radiation on plants SB551 The effect of music of varying types and duration on plants SB561 Organic fertilizer versus chemical Fertilizer SB582 Toxicity of nicotine SB601 A study of stimuli that attract mosquitoes SB611 The factors affecting the rate at which a cricket chirps SB631 A study of diffusion through cell membranes SB641 Growing plants and animals by cloning SB651 Regeneration in sponges, Paramecia, Planaria, etc. SB701 Salivary Amylase and Starch Digestion SB702 Study and Experiment with Milk SB704 Comparison of the Effects of Inorganic Catalysts and Enzymes on Peroxide Decomposition SB707 Heat Content of Snack Foods SB708 Solubility and the Percent of Oil in Peanuts SB801 Homeopathy principles, facts and fictions  

Environment Science Projects SV103 Study of adaptations of city flora to smog SV105 The effects of crowding (with the same or other species) on a certain plant SV106 Annual variations in the ecology of a body of water SV107 Study of a shoreline SV110 Study of the relation between vegetation and insects SV116 Study of air purification methods SV117 Efficient methods of breaking down crude oil in seawater SV118 Experimenting with microbial degradation of petroleum SV119 Experimenting with biodegradability SV121 Find an ink that would decompose for recycling paper SV122 Using solar energy to purify polluted or salt water SV123 Yeast: A Filtration Agent for Heavy Metals?  

Other Science Projects SE001 Design considerations for Solar Heated homes SE002 Design considerations for Solar-Cell powered homes SE003 study of propeller designs for wind generators SE004 Production of electrical energy from mechanical sources SE005 Study of efficient home insulation SE007 The effect of landscaping and architecture on energy consumption SE008 Efficiency studies on transformers SE009 The effect of temperature on resistance SE010 Study of formation of images on a T.V tube SE012 L.E.D illumination versus incandescent illumination in practice SE013 Voice communication with infrared light and fibre optics SE014 Find the maximum speed in fibre optic links SE015 Study of various phosphors in fluorescent lighting SE016 Structure versus strength in dams

HTML clipboard Note: Most projects are for more than one grade and selection depends on your previous knowledge about the subject. Do not select projects that you are not familiar with.

Learn STEM by Doing (and having fun)!

Winning Science Fair Projects [Get Inspired By Past Winners!]

Have you won a science fair project?  Interested in sharing your idea?

What we’ve seen in 100s of winning science fair projects.

First, some projects are more advanced.  Some projects were winners in national science fairs.  However, that doesn’t mean a scaled-down version can’t be tried.  Or, maybe an alternative approach.

Second, many of these science fair projects were completed through a mentorship program.  What’s that??  Many universities offer mentor programs geared towards younger students.  These programs pair students with a research lab and faculty member.  Students do experiments with faculty members.  Check out our STEMium camp listings to see more examples.  Typically, programs recruit high school students.  However, if your student is in earlier grades, keep this in mind and explore opportunities in your area.

Third, a ton of solutions center on climate/environment science.  Very cool!!

Finally, ALL of the projects solve a problem or answer a question.  Read through the list and think about your “every day” problems.  Could you solve one with your own science fair project?

We don’t provide full experimental details –  that’s up to you!  Leave a comment below if you’re stuck on how to get started.  Still not sure where to start??  Feel free to check out our germiest spot in school experiment,   alka-seltzer bottle rockets , or our slime science fair project , which can be done in 1-3 days.  Let’s science!

List of winning science fair projects

• Can air quality be measured with an Arduino device?
• Can plants survive without sunlight?
• Effects of ammonium nitrate concentrations on cold pack temperatures
• Effect of wi-fi signals on the growth of peapods
• How does vitamin C concentration change in cut fruits over time?
• Can ocean acidification be lowered with aquatic plants?
• Examining effects of food on glycemic index after eating
• How does air pollution and weather effect solar cell output?
• What is the effect of more turns in the coil on the amount of electricity created?
• How long can a mechanical pencil lead be before it breaks?
• Can forest fires be predicted using artificial intelligence?
• How strong are bioplastic bags?
• How do different fabrics reduce concentration of polluted air?
• Can water be extracted from humid air?
• Which mouthwash is most effective at killing bacteria?
• Which grows faster: sideways plants vs. upright plants?
• How can microplastics be removed from ocean water?
• What blood pressure monitor gives the most consistent readings?
• What works better for memory retention:  handwriting notes or typing?
• Does text font/color affect user readability?
• How does weather change mood?
• The effects of listening to music while studying
• How do soil types change plant growth rates?
• Can eggshells make plants grow faster?
• Which liquids evaporate faster?
• How does paper airplane design affect speed and distance?
• Which sunglasses offer the best UV protection?
• How does sleep duration affect the body?
• Apple Watch vs. Fitbit vs. Garmin – which wearable offers the best heart rate accuracy?
• How does dog saliva affect bacterial growth?
• How effective are UV lights at killing bacteria?
• Which stain remover removes stains the best?
• Do all crayons have the same melting temperature?
• Measuring sugar content with a laser pointer
• Do more expensive batteries last longer (and are they worth it)?
• Which sunscreen/SPF level provides the best protection?
• Effects of pH on plant growth rates
• Does exercise change body temperature?
• How does iPad use before bed affect sleep?
• Do video games raise your heart rate?
• How does temperature affect magnetic strength?
• Which nail polish lasts the longest?
• How does acid rain effect plants?
• What types of orange juice have the highest vitamin C concentration?
• Can sugar make you focus more?
• Which diaper is best for your baby?
• Do different types of toilet paper have different absorption properties?
• Effect of baking powder on muffins
• Finding which biofuel has the most energy – vegetable oil vs. algae
• How does the catcher influence the pitcher’s accuracy in baseball?
• Effects of hydrogen peroxide on plant germination and growth
• How C. elegans are effected by anti-oxidants and UV light
• Evaluating the 5-second rule
• Does chewing gum improve your concentration?
• How can you win at rock, paper, scissors?
• Effect of baseball bat material on the distance of a hit ball
• Effect of clothing on perceived intelligence
• Can a low-carb diet change cardiovascular markers?
• Which fruit generates the most electricity?
• Are fingerprints hereditary?
• How much fat is in your food?
• Detecting and removing of pesticides from produce
• Which accent is most appealing?
• Which travel mug keeps liquids hot the longest?
• Which brand of bath bomb dissolves the fastest?
• Dog or human: who has the cleaner mouth?
• How salty does water need to be to make an egg float?
• Effect of fabric softener on the flammability of fabric
• Which propeller is best at harnessing the wind?
• How does music type effect customer purchases in a store?
• Can bacterial strains be used to degrade plastics?
• Effects of heat on enzyme activity
• An affordable Braille embosser
• Using a Raspberry Pi-based solar tracker to improve solar panel output
• Pill case reminder system
• Computerized signal for students with ADHD
• Engineering algal bioscrubbers to prevent global warming
• Removing impurities from ground water
• Bacterial strains to create fuel cells
• Facial recognition alert system for Alzheimer’s patients
• Do air temperatures affect candle burning rates?
• Effects of lead in water on yeast
• Testing antimicrobial effects of spices
• Are all forms of phone distraction equal while driving?
• How do shellfish adapt to new environments?
• Are kids that eat school lunches more likely to be obese than students that eat food from home?
• How much bacteria is on your orthodontic retainer?
• Who’s more addicted to a smartphone: parents or kids?
• Do introverts have better memories than extroverts?
• How does color affect eyesight?
• How does noise pollution effect plant growth?
• How effective are homeopathic mosquito repellents?
• Does breakfast improve student performance in the first hour of school?
• What type of dog is most likely to be adopted?
• Effects of sugar/sugar substitutes on yeast energy output
• Hydro-focused battery charging station
• Do deflated footballs go further than fully inflated balls?
• AI-powered tornado detection system
• Effects of sugar on children with ADHD
• EEG-powered remote control car
• How does color affect memory recall?
• Improving conduction in a solar-powered oven
• Smartphone-powered disease diagnostic device (many of these!)
• Adapting window blinds for solar panels

Still not sure what to do??  Look at The Simpson’s science fair projects!

After literally decades on the air, The Simpson’s even covered the science fair!  Plenty of projects to inspire you such as…

Duffless (Season 4, Episode 16)

In our first example, Lisa grows a gigantic tomato with anabolic steroids.  Unfortunately, Bart intervenes, tomato gets destroyed and Lisa must come up with another project.  Her solution:  is my brother dumber than a hamster?

The Genesis Tub (Season 8, Episode 1)

Another Bart/Lisa science fair rivalry, but this time with a Halloween twist.  Her initial project idea is pretty good!  Can soda dissolve a tooth?  However, things go off the rails from there.

E-I-E-I-Annoying Grunt (Season 11, Episode 5)

Final example:  Less of a “traditional” project, but as the Simpsons are hiding out on a farm, Homer decides to try planting crops.  When Marge suggests fertilizer, Homer borrows plutonium from the power plant.  The result – a new hybrid tomato is born!

CONCLUSION:  It’s not whether you win or lose…  it’s how you do your science!

I’ll never forget my younger daughter’s second science fair experience.  She and her partner did a great job brainstorming ideas.  Then, the enthusiasm waned a bit.  Then, it came back!  After ~3 weekends the final project came together.  Overall, the parents really stood back and let them run with things.

While I helped construct a demo volcano, the board was entirely done by them (3rd grader style complete with Christmas lights!).  You might imagine that it might not have been as sharp in quality as others that had more parental assistance.  🙂

You know what?  It didn’t matter…

At the presentation, they knew their stuff!

They clearly communicated their hypothesis, their experimental design, results and conclusions.

Then…

THEY BLEW UP A VOLCANO!!  WOOHOO!!

When they came back to find a 1st place ribbon, the smiles were ear to ear!  Tons of shrieks and giggles!  Winning science fair projects don’t always start that way.  In the end, what’s most important — have a positive experience.

If you’ve won a science fair competition, share your project in the comments and what your winning strategy involved!  Or, if you’re struggling to narrow it down, share some ideas.

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Okay, this is the hardest part of the whole project…picking your topic. But here are some ideas to get you started. Even if you don’t like any, they may inspire you to come up with one of your own. Remember, check all project ideas with your teacher and parents, and don’t do any project that would hurt or scare people or animals. Good luck!

• Does music affect on animal behavior?
• Does the color of food or drinks affect whether or not we like them?
• Where are the most germs in your school? ( CLICK for more info. )
• Does music have an affect on plant growth?
• Which kind of food do dogs (or any animal) prefer best?
• Which paper towel brand is the strongest?
• What is the best way to keep an ice cube from melting?
• What level of salt works best to hatch brine shrimp?
• Can the food we eat affect our heart rate?
• How effective are child-proof containers and locks.
• Can background noise levels affect how well we concentrate?
• Does acid rain affect the growth of aquatic plants?
• What is the best way to keep cut flowers fresh the longest?
• Does the color of light used on plants affect how well they grow?
• What plant fertilizer works best?
• Does the color of a room affect human behavior?
• Do athletic students have better lung capacity?
• What brand of battery lasts the longest?
• Does the type of potting soil used in planting affect how fast the plant grows?
• What type of food allow mold to grow the fastest?
• Does having worms in soil help plants grow faster?
• Can plants grow in pots if they are sideways or upside down?
• Does the color of hair affect how much static electricity it can carry? (test with balloons)
• How much weight can the surface tension of water hold?
• Can some people really read someone else’s thoughts?
• Which soda decays fallen out teeth the most?
• What light brightness makes plants grow the best?
• Does the color of birdseed affect how much birds will eat it?
• Do natural or chemical fertilizers work best?
• Can mice learn? (you can pick any animal)
• Can people tell artificial smells from real ones?
• What brands of bubble gum produce the biggest bubbles?
• Does age affect human reaction times?
• What is the effect of salt on the boiling temperature of water?
• Does shoe design really affect an athlete’s jumping height?
• What type of grass seed grows the fastest?
• Can animals see in the dark better than humans?

Didn’t see one you like? Don’t worry…look over them again and see if they give you an idea for your own project that will work for you. Remember, find something that interests you, and have fun with it.

To download and print this list of ideas CLICK HERE .

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Science Fair Projects For 9th Grade

Science Fair Ideas With Horses

Having survived the rigors of middle school, and with sufficient exposure to physical science (including physics and chemistry), life science (including human and plant biology) and earth science, you as a 9th-grader are prepared to take on some genuinely sophisticated science-fair projects.

Such projects normally involve more than just an afternoon or evening or two of preparation; some of them require one to three weeks to complete, owing to the nature of their focus. As such, they provide opportunities for you to both learn a science topic in exquisite detail and communicate it to your teachers, parents and classmates.

Biology Project: Blood Sugar Levels

For a general biology project, create a presentation exploring the similarities and differences between Type I and Type II diabetes in terms of clinical symptoms, epidemiology, the known and proposed causes of each, and advances in treatment and management. How can lifestyle changes make a difference?

Chemistry Project: Ice Cream and the Freezing Point of Water

This two- to five-day project, from the Science Buddies website, explores the concepts of molecular mass and moles, and reveals that adding certain solutes to water can change its freezing and boiling points. As a bonus, at the end of the experiment, you will have created a perfectly edible treat.

For this, you will need test tubes, a thermometer, and an ample supply of sucrose and sodium chloride. You will also require recipe for homemade ice cream and the equipment to make some. After trying different, measured concentrations of sugar and salt in different test tubes containing newly melted ice, try to produce a mix that is still partly liquid at -10 degrees Celsius. A small baggie containing the ingredients for the ice cream can be placed in a larger baggie containing the optimal ice-solute mix, and after five minutes or of shaking, a small amount of edible ice cream should appear.

If you do not have access to this equipment or would prefer a more research-based project, explore the intriguing area of culinary science. For example, how are pathogens in the food and water supply managed in your city and worldwide? What are the greatest threats to food and water safety in the U.S. and abroad? What do people take for granted in "First World" countries that others around the world cannot?

Physics Project: Paper Airplanes

Use 8.5-inch-by-11-inch sheets of paper to come up with the ideal paper flying machine, using whatever online resources or books you can find.

For example, as recommended by faculty at the Illinois Institute of Technology, once you have built your simulated aircraft, stand about 15 to 20 feet from a hula hoop and attempt to throw your creations through the hoop. Then, try to throw your planes as far as you can in the air. Are the planes that seem to be the most accurate necessarily those that also fly the farthest? Why might this be or not be, depending on the findings? Also throw planes made by your classmates and have them try yours. Make posters detailing the basics of aerodynamics in flight, such as lift and drag, and explain how these come into play in real airplanes as well as the simulated aircraft you have created.

Alternatively, produce a project detailing the key advances in aeronautical engineering starting with the first hot-air balloons and airplanes and culminating with the Space Shuttle and International Space Station endeavors of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. What were the limitations to launching satellites into orbit before the Soviets managed this in the 1950s? What are the next great anticipated leaps forward in human space travel?

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• Science Buddies: Blood Sugar Balancing Act: How Exercise Tips the Scales
• Science Buddies: Chemistry of Ice-Cream Making: Lowering the Freezing Point of Water

About the Author

Kevin Beck holds a bachelor's degree in physics with minors in math and chemistry from the University of Vermont. Formerly with ScienceBlogs.com and the editor of "Run Strong," he has written for Runner's World, Men's Fitness, Competitor, and a variety of other publications. More about Kevin and links to his professional work can be found at www.kemibe.com.

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9th Grade Science Fair Projects

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Top 10 Best 9th Grade Science Fair Projects [Updated 2020]

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11 Easy Award Winning Science Fair Projects for 9th Grade

Published on march 9, 2018 at 6:08 am by sieni kimalainen in lists.

You really want to go to the science fair, but don’t have any ideas for some easy award winning science fair projects for 9th grade ? No worries, we are here to help.

So, you have decided to become a scientist. Science fairs and these projects are a great thing to get an introduction to the scientific research, method and rational way of thinking. Another great thing that you will improve compared to only attending science classes by doing science projects is developing your own ideas and transmitting them into research. You will get a nice basis of how to conduct scientific research in general.

What are those basic things you will need in order to do a scientific work? One of the important factors concerning any science is being innovative and “thinking outside the box.” That’s how you will get some innovative ideas that will push you further and maybe make some extraordinary scientific achievements.

Copyright: luckybusiness / 123RF Stock Photo

Another important thing about being a scientist means being consistent and knowing well the scientific method . A scientific method encompasses all the steps of scientific research. Let’s be clear here; there is no strict definition of what scientific method is, it will depend on many things including the field of science, goals, etc. The first step is the formulation of the hypothesis, and doing the background research in order to know what was previously done on that matter. Then, depending on the issue or problem you are working on next step that should consist of data collecting and making the experiment or model, or whatever suits your research the most. This phase would probably be the most interesting. Next steps consist of testing the hypothesis on account of the experiment/model. This is a very important part of the scientific process, and it includes data reorganization and analysis, which means giving it some meaning. This phase shows whether the hypothesis was supported or rejected by the research. The final steps represent the discussion and conclusions. But let’s not get too serious and far with this for the high school science fair project, and let’s see some ideas.

We have done our research by looking for some good easy science fair projects and 1st place high school science fair projects on places like Julian’s Science Fair , Science Project Resources , Education , and Science Buddies . We have based our research first on the easiness of the project, then adding the importance of awards (if we had the information on that) and in the end on the matter of the research question in the present day scientific community (which would affect the attractiveness of the project idea on a science fair).

Apart from ideas for the 9 th graders, there were also some good ideas on winning science fair projects for 8th grade and award winning science fair projects for 7th grade on the websites we have mentioned. For some higher levels science project ideas, you can check out the 12 Award Winning Science Projects for 10 th Graders . Or perhaps, if you are interested in a specific topic, like chemistry or biology you might be interested in 10 Easy Biology Science Fair Projects for High School Students .

So, let’s summarize it: you want some easy science fair projects that will win 1 st place? We have picked some for you, that have won it. But try to be innovative and think of something on your own. But for the first try, go through and pick some of the easy award winning science fair projects for 9th grade we have picked for you.

11. Efficiency and the effect of geothermal energy use on the environment

Field: earth science, renewable energy

The question of natural renewable energy is an important one in the present day state of the world since we will apparently run out of non-renewable energies. Nevertheless, some renewable energy sources are better than others, obviously both in terms of the energy and impact on the environment. And with this project, you will do a research on the efficiency of geothermal sources and their impact on the environment.

Pixabay/Public Domain

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Babble Dabble Do

30+ Science Fair Projects That Will Wow The Crowd

February 20, 2022 by Ana Dziengel Leave a Comment

Are your children signing up for the science fair this year? Have you begun the arduous task of looking for  science fair projects  that might pique your child’s interest? Or do you have a child who already has ten ideas they have been dying to try?

The science fair is a great school tradition and a memorable experience for many children (I still remember the life size plaster penguin I made in 5th grade), and if your school doesn’t conduct one, consider starting it!

This year if you are on the lookout for science fair projects I challenge you to think beyond the vinegar volcano (we have “Volcano Alley” at our school because there are so many volcano projects every year). I know, vinegar volcanoes are like a rite of childhood passage, but there are so many other amazing science ideas out there! I have compiled a list of 30+ science fair projects for kids based on their grade level below. Before we get started I wanted to share some tips for getting the most out of the science fair.

This post contains affiliate links.

Science Fair Tips

• Don’t do the project for your child! This is my number one tip. Many parents have a tendency to jump in and make children’s work “more presentable” or to assist their child so much in the project that it’s hard to know who actually did it. Listen I get it, science is fun and you want your child to have a wonderful presentation…but that’s not really what the science fair is about. It’s about your child learning how to do scientific research and present their findings in their own way. Think of yourself as a helpful guide NOT an assistant, and definitely not the boss.
• Choose something age  appropriate  When your child is choosing the science fair idea they want to try, make sure it’s age appropriate. Sure we’d all love to make a working robot but there’s nothing more frustrating than trying a project that may be too advanced for the skills of your child. And that’s when a lot of parents resort to doing the project instead. Not a good solution. So make sure your child is capable of completing the steps them self.
• Make a list of three ideas Have your child select three science fair project ideas and then go over the choices with them. Make sure they understand the steps involved in each project and wether or not they feel comfortable in executing those steps on their own with your guidance.
• Follow your child’s interests Encourage your children to explore some ideas based on interests they already have. Here’s a list of science books with projects based on things your child already loves!
• STEAM it up! STEAM projects rock the science fair!!! A great way to get kids to become more familiar with STEAM concepts it to pick science projects that crossover into art, math, engineering and more!  Two STEAM books to consider are  STEAM Kids Play and Learn (my book!) and   STEAM Kids ebook.  Both books will get you started with some great ideas!
• Read our Science Fair Mini Guide I created this mini guide to walk kids  through all the steps for completing their science fair project. You can check out the full guide here: 

Speak like a scientist! Science Vocabulary to use in your presentation

We’re almost ready to get to the projects! Before we begin, let’s review some science terms. In fact, using these terms in your science fair presentation will be sure to impress your friends and adults!

• When you watch, see, or notice something you are making an observation
• When you ask who, what, when, where, why, or how, you are forming a question  
• When you read a book or an article about your observation, you are doing research
• When you make a guess based on your observation, question, and research, you are forming a hypothesis
• When you test your hypothesis, you are conducting an experiment
• When you change one factor in your experiment at a time while keeping everything else the same, you are changing a variable
• When you take notes in your journal and write down what you see happening in your experiment, you are logging data  
• When you examine, or look at, your data, you are analyzing it
• When you are able answer your question, you are coming to a conclusion

30+ Science Fair Projects for Kids 

Now let’s get on with the science fair projects! I have organized the projects by age/grade level. Click the titles to be taken to the project instructions, unless the instructions follow below.

If you’d rather have the science fair projects list organized by subject you can download our hyperlinked PDF by subscribing to our email list here .

Kindergarten-1st Grade Science Fair Projects

1.  lemon volcano.

Skip the vinegar volcano and try lemon juice! Kids will learn about the chemical reaction between citric acid and baking soda.

2. DIY Bouncy Balls

Learn about polymers while making a DIY toy!  This variation on slime uses a few simple ingredients. <span data-mce-type=”bookmark” style=”display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;” class=”mce_SELRES_start”></span>

3. Shiny Pennies

A classic experiment that kids love is Shiny Pennies . Collect dirty tarnished pennies and have kids soak them for a minimum of 5 minutes in different acidic liquids. We used vinegar, salsa, lime juice, and lemon juice.  After soaking, remove them from the solution and rinse in soapy water then compare which ones are shiniest. Take notes on which acid worked best to shine the pennies. Variation: Don’t rinse all the pennies after removing them from the different liquids. Can you see a difference in the rinsed vs. non-rinsed pennies? Leave them overnight and see if any of the copper oxidizes (turns green) on the non-rinsed pennies.

pictured above: Regrowing vegetable scraps, DIY Stethoscope, Simple Circuit

4.  Regrow Vegetable Scraps

Did you know you can start an entire garden from vegetable scraps? It works indoors too!

5.  DIY Stethoscope

Make your own stethoscope from a few hardware store parts.

6.  Simple Circuit

For all tech centered kids: Learn how to make a very simple circuit from easy to find items.

pictured above: Chromatography Butterflies, Rainbow Rubber Eggs, Exploring Density with Salt

7. Chromatography 3 Ways

Chromatography is the process of separating mixtures, in this case we will be separating ink into different colors.

• How to do the Classic Chromatography Project The simplest kids chromatography project using paper towels
• Chromatography Art Turn chromatography strips into a woven paper art project!
• Chromatography Butterflies Learn how to separate colors and create a sweet science based craft!

8. Exploring Density with Salt

Why don’t oil and water mix? Find out with this density experiment inspired by Lava Lamps!

9. Rainbow Rubber Eggs

Rubber eggs are another classic science project that kids love. And it’s so easy! I mean does dropping an egg in vinegar and coming back in a few days sound do-able?

2nd-4th grade Science Fair Projects

10. magic rollback can.

You just can’t get rid of this physics project! This project explores the difference between potential and kinetic energy. <span data-mce-type=”bookmark” style=”display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;” class=”mce_SELRES_start”></span>

pictured above: Bleeding Blossoms, Teleidoscopes, Density Tower

11. Absorption 2 Ways

• Bleeding Blossoms Explore capillary action and absorption in this science meets art project.
• Magical Water Blossoms Make beautiful blossoming paper flowers with the help of absorption. This project has a simple wow moment that everyone enjoys watching.

12.  Teleidoscopes

A teleidoscope is a kaliedoscpe without an end. This means you can use it to view anything and everything. Look through one of these and you will be amazed!

13. Density Towers 2 Ways:

Yes, you can layer liquids on top of each other without them mixing! This is a classic project and kids can customize the liquids they choose to layer.

• Simple Layered Liquids Learn how to make a simple density tower out of kitchen ingredients and then turn it into a lava lamp!
• Glowing Density Tower This density tower has a bonus science surprise: it glows under UV light!

14.  Magnet Magic

Make a simple hanging magnet structure and explore the magic of magnetism.

pictured above: Chromatography Art, Dry Erase Figure, Overnight Crystals

15. Make a Lemon Battery and a Lime Light

Did you know that a chemical reaction can generate electricity?

16.  Electric Playdough

AKA Squishy Circuits, this project will demonstrate that salt and water conduct electricity!

17. Simple Sound Science

Explore the science of sound with these 4 experiments, then use your knowledge to make your own DIY instrument!

pictured above: Magnetic Sensory Bottle, Magical Plastic Bag, Cartesian Divers

18.  Magnetic Field Sensory Bottle

This will surely be a hit at the Science Fair! Watch metal particles dance and move under the influence of powerful magnets!

19.  Magical Plastic Bag Experiment

It’s not magic, it’s polymers! This easy science fair project uses a minimum of materials but demonstrates how everyday polymers work.

20.  Cartesian Divers

A classic science experiment exploring buoyancy. Make “diver” swim up and down in a bottle using science.

21. Water Drop Microscope

Did you know you can make simple microscope from a plastic bottle and water? This project teaches kids to turn trash into a science tool!

22. Spinning Tops

Learn about centrifugal force and friction with one of these three spinning tops ideas!

• Spin Art Tops
• Spin-finite Tops
• Perler Bead Tops

23. Kinetic Sculpture

Make you own moving sculpture while learning about cams and gears!

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Science Fair Projects for 5th Grade and up

pictured above: Crystal landscapes, Tiny Dancers, Coffee Can Camera Obscura

24. Crystals 3 Ways:

• Overnight Crystals Grow Epsom salt crystals overnight in your refrigerator.
• Crystal Wind Catchers Borax crystals are SUPER easy to grow! Turn them into a lovely dangling wind catcher.
• Crystal Landscapes A more advanced crystal growing experiment using bluing and salt but WOW, these are gorgeous!

25.  Tiny Dancers

These are actually a very simple motor! Kids will learn about electromagnetism by building this motor that can “dance.”

26.  Coffee Can Camera Obscura

Make a simple camera obscura out of an old coffee can.

pictured above: Heat Sensitive Slime, Levitating Pen

27. Heat Sensitive Slime

Click your slime chemistry up a notch by adding in thermochromic paint!

28.  Levitating Pen

Make a pen appear to levitate using a magnet!

29.  Newton’s Cradle

Featured on Dude Perfect! I made one of these for the science fair back in the 1980’s…This science “toy” is mesmerizing for kids and adults alike!

pictured above: Electromagnetic Train, Fake Lung, Articulated Hand

30.  Electromagnetic Train

Incredible display of electricity and magnetism!

31.  Fake Lung

For kids interested in life science and biology, make a model of how our lungs work for the science fair.

32.  Articulated Hand

Another one for biology oriented kids, explore how our joints move by creating an articulated hand.

33. Salty Circuits

In this simple circuit project, kids will create an electrical circuit using salt to conduct electricity and power a light emitting diode (LED).

Are you ready for the science fair?

Whether your child has never participated in the science fair or is an old pro, I hope the science fair projects here will inspire them to have fun, explore science, and get creative the same time.

And if you still need MORE ideas I also have a giant list of chemistry projects for kids that would make amazing science fair starter projects!

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Top 10 Science Project Ideas For Class 9

Table of Contents

Top 10 science project ideas for Class 9: Are you looking for exciting science project ideas for your Class 9 students? Class 9 science projects are an integral part of the CBSE syllabus , designed to enhance students’ understanding of fundamental scientific concepts outlined in the NCERT solutions . These projects serve as practical applications of theoretical knowledge acquired in the classroom, encouraging students to explore various scientific principles through hands-on experimentation. From investigating chemical reactions to studying the laws of motion, class 9 science projects foster critical thinking and analytical skills while instilling a deeper appreciation for the scientific method. These projects cover various topics in science, including physics, chemistry, biology, and environmental science. Also access our NCERT Solutions Class 9 that are created by our subject experts. Here are the top 10 science project ideas that are both educational and fun.

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Class 9 HOTS Course

The Class 9 HOTS Course enhances critical thinking and problem-solving skills through engaging activities and advanced learning techniques, ensuring academic excellence.

1. Homemade Battery

Materials Required:

• Copper coins (2)
• Zinc nails (2)
• Cardboard pieces (2)
• Clean the copper coins and zinc nails to remove any dirt or debris.
• Cut the cardboard pieces to fit between the coins and nails.
• Place one copper coin on a flat surface.
• Place one cardboard piece on top of the coin.
• Place one zinc nail on top of the cardboard.
• Repeat the layering with the second set of components (copper coin, cardboard, zinc nail).
• Pour vinegar over each set of components to soak the cardboard.
• Stack the two sets of components together, ensuring that the copper coins and zinc nails are not touching each other.
• Connect the multimeter to the copper coin at one end and the zinc nail at the other end.
• Set the multimeter to measure voltage and observe the reading.

2. Solar Water Purifier

• Plastic bottles (2)
• Activated charcoal
• Contaminated water
• Cut the bottom off one plastic bottle to create a funnel.
• Keep the other bottle intact as the collection container.
• Place a layer of activated charcoal at the bottom of the funnel bottle.
• Add a layer of sand on top of the charcoal.
• Finish with a layer of gravel on top of the sand.
• Place the funnel bottle upside down inside the collection container.
• Ensure that the neck of the funnel bottle is above the rim of the collection container.
• Pour contaminated water into the funnel bottle.
• Allow the water to filter through the layers of activated charcoal, sand, and gravel.
• Collect the purified water from the collection container.
• Place the purifier in direct sunlight.
• The UV rays from the sun will help disinfect the water.
• Observe the clarity and cleanliness of the purified water compared to the contaminated water.

3. Seed Germination Experiment

• Various types of seeds (e.g., bean, pea, corn)
• Paper towels
• Plastic bags
• Select different types of seeds for the experiment.
• Place a few seeds of each type on a damp paper towel.
• Dampen the paper towels with water, ensuring they are not too wet.
• Fold the paper towel over the seeds to cover them completely.
• Place the wrapped seeds in a plastic bag.
• Seal the plastic bag to create a humid environment for the seeds.
• Place the bags in a warm, well-lit area, such as a windowsill.
• Check the seeds daily for germination.
• Record the number of days it takes for each type of seed to germinate.
• Note any differences in germination time between the types of seeds.
• Record the growth of the seedlings over time.
• Analyze the results of the experiment and draw conclusions about the factors that affect seed germination.

4. Electric Motor

• Copper wire
• Battery (AA or AAA)
• Magnets (neodymium magnets work well)
• Small piece of wood
• Insulating tape
• Wind the copper wire tightly around the piece of wood to create a coil. Leave a few inches of wire at each end.
• Attach one end of the coil to the positive terminal of the battery using insulating tape.
• Attach the other end of the coil to the negative terminal of the battery using insulating tape.
• Place the magnets on a flat surface with the poles facing up.
• Place the piece of wood with the coil on top of the magnets.
• Spin the coil gently to start the motor.
• Observe the rotation of the coil.
• You can change the direction of the current in the coil by reversing the battery to change the direction of rotation.

5. Acid-Base Indicator

• Red cabbage
• Various household acids (e.g., vinegar) and bases (e.g., baking soda solution)
• Boil red cabbage leaves in water to extract the pigment.
• Let the solution cool and strain out the cabbage leaves to obtain the indicator solution.
• Pour a small amount of the indicator solution into separate containers.
• Add a small amount of each household acid and base to different containers.
• Note any color changes in the indicator solution when it comes into contact with acids and bases.
• Acids typically turn the solution pink or red, while bases turn it green or blue.
• Compare the color changes in the indicator solution when exposed to different acids and bases.
• Note the differences in color changes between acids and bases.
• Based on the color changes observed, classify the substances tested as acids or bases.
• Red cabbage indicator can be used as a natural pH indicator for household acids and bases.

6. Rainwater Harvesting Model

• Plastic containers (2)
• Water collection barrel
• Place one plastic container under a downspout to collect rainwater.
• Connect a pipe to the downspout to direct water into the container.
• Place a layer of gravel at the bottom of the second container.
• Add a layer of sand on top of the gravel.
• Place the second container above the first one, with the pipe running from the first container to the second.
• Connect the two containers with a pipe, ensuring a slight slope for water to flow.
• Place a filter at the entrance of the pipe to prevent debris from entering the second container.
• When it rains, water will flow from the downspout into the first container.
• Excess water will flow through the pipe into the second container, where it will be filtered and stored.
• Use the harvested rainwater for gardening, washing vehicles, or other non-potable purposes.
• Regularly clean the filters and containers to prevent clogs and contamination.
• Optionally, install a water pump to use the harvested rainwater for irrigation or other purposes that require water pressure.

7. Simple Circuit

• Gather the battery, light bulb, wires, and switch.
• Connect one end of a wire to the positive terminal of the battery.
• Connect the other end of the wire to one terminal of the switch.
• Connect another wire from the other terminal of the switch to one terminal of the light bulb.
• Connect a final wire from the other terminal of the light bulb back to the negative terminal of the battery.
• Close the switch to complete the circuit.
• The light bulb should light up when the circuit is closed.
• Open and close the switch to observe the behavior of the light bulb.
• The light bulb should turn on when the switch is closed and turn off when the switch is opened.
• Experiment with different components to see how they affect the circuit.
• Handle the components carefully to avoid electrical shocks.
• Do not leave the circuit connected for an extended period to prevent overheating or damage to the components.

8. Photosynthesis Model

• Green leaves
• Clear plastic bag
• Choose a healthy green leaf from a plant.
• Place the leaf in a small amount of water to keep it fresh.
• Place the leaf in a clear plastic bag.
• Seal the bag, leaving some air inside.
• Place the bag in direct sunlight.
• Watch the bag over several hours.
• Look for small bubbles forming inside the bag.
• The bubbles indicate that the leaf is releasing oxygen, a byproduct of photosynthesis.
• Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert sunlight into energy, using carbon dioxide and water.
• This model demonstrates how plants produce oxygen, which is essential for life on Earth.
• It shows the importance of sunlight and plants in the ecosystem.

9. Magnetic Levitation

• Neodymium magnets (2)
• Styrofoam disc or platform
• Electromagnetic coil (optional)
• Power source for the coil (if using)
• Place a styrofoam disc or platform on a flat surface.
• Position one neodymium magnet on the platform.
• Hold the other magnet above the platform, with the poles facing each other.
• Slowly lower the top magnet towards the bottom magnet.
• Find the point where the top magnet hovers in mid-air due to magnetic repulsion.
• Optional: If using an electromagnetic coil, place it under the platform.
• Connect the coil to a power source.
• Turn on the power source for the coil (if using).
• The electromagnetic field generated by the coil will interact with the magnets, causing levitation.
• Move the top magnet around to see how the levitation point changes.
• Observe how the distance between the magnets affects the levitation.
• Magnetic levitation occurs when magnetic repulsion balances the force of gravity, allowing an object to float in mid-air.

Sample Video for Class 9 Science

10. microbial fuel cell.

• Two graphite electrodes
• Plastic container
• Salt bridge (optional)
• Microorganisms (e.g., soil, wastewater)
• Attach a wire to each graphite electrode.
• Fill the plastic container with the microorganism-rich medium (e.g., soil, wastewater).
• Insert the graphite electrodes into the medium, ensuring they do not touch each other.
• Connect one electrode to the positive terminal and the other to the negative terminal of the multimeter.
• Turn on the multimeter to measure the voltage produced by the microbial fuel cell (MFC).
• The voltage indicates the electrical energy generated by the microorganisms.
• If using a salt bridge, place it between the electrodes to enhance ion flow.
• Observe the multimeter readings over time.
• Record any changes in voltage as the microorganisms generate electricity.
• A microbial fuel cell uses microorganisms to convert organic matter into electricity through a process known as microbial metabolism.
• This project demonstrates how microorganisms can be used as a renewable energy source.

These science project ideas are not only educational but also engaging for Class 9 students. They can be done using simple materials and encourage students to explore various scientific concepts through hands-on experimentation.

These science project ideas offer students opportunities to engage with scientific concepts in fun and interactive ways. Whether exploring renewable energy, conducting biology experiments, or delving into space exploration, students can develop critical thinking skills and a deeper understanding of the world around them through hands-on projects. Encouraging curiosity and exploration is key to nurturing the next generation of scientists and innovators.

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Understanding Science

How science REALLY works...

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Correcting misconceptions.

Many students have misconceptions about what science is and how it works. This section explains and corrects some of the most common misconceptions that students are likely have trouble with. If you are interested in common misconceptions about  teaching  the nature and process of science, visit our page on that topic .

Jump to: Misinterpretations of the scientific process | Misunderstandings of the limits of science | Misleading stereotypes of scientists | Vocabulary mix-ups | Roadblocks to learning science

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Misinterpretations of the scientific process

Misconception: science is a collection of facts..

CORRECTION:

Because science classes sometimes revolve around dense textbooks, it’s easy to think that’s all there is to science: facts in a textbook. But that’s only part of the picture. Science  is  a body of knowledge that one can learn about in textbooks, but it is also a process. Science is an exciting and dynamic process for discovering how the world works and building that knowledge into powerful and coherent frameworks. To learn more about the process of science, visit our section on  How science works .

MISCONCEPTION: Science is complete.

Since much of what is taught in introductory science courses is knowledge that was constructed in the 19th and 20th centuries, it’s easy to think that science is finished — that we’ve already discovered most of what there is to know about the natural world . This is far from accurate. Science is an ongoing process, and there is much more yet to learn about the world. In fact, in science, making a key discovery often leads to many new questions ripe for investigation. Furthermore, scientists are constantly elaborating, refining, and revising established scientific ideas based on new evidence and perspectives. To learn more about this, visit our page describing how scientific ideas lead to ongoing research .

MISCONCEPTION: There is a single Scientific Method that all scientists follow.

“The Scientific Method” is often taught in science courses as a simple way to understand the basics of scientific testing. In fact, the Scientific Method represents how scientists usually write up the results of their studies (and how a few investigations are actually done), but it is a grossly oversimplified representation of how scientists generally build knowledge. The process of science is exciting, complex, and unpredictable. It involves many different people, engaged in many different activities, in many different orders. To review a more accurate representation of the process of science, explore our  flowchart .

MISCONCEPTION: The process of science is purely analytic and does not involve creativity.

Perhaps because the Scientific Method presents a linear and rigid representation of the process of science, many people think that doing science involves closely following a series of steps, with no room for creativity and inspiration. In fact, many scientists recognize that creative thinking is one of the most important skills they have — whether that creativity is used to come up with an alternative hypothesis, to devise a new way of testing an idea, or to look at old data in a new light. Creativity is critical to science!

MISCONCEPTION: When scientists analyze a problem, they must use either inductive or deductive reasoning.

Scientists use all sorts of different reasoning modes at different times — and sometimes at the same time — when analyzing a problem. They also use their creativity to come up with new ideas, explanations, and tests. This isn’t an either/or choice between induction and deduction. Scientific analysis often involves jumping back and forth among different modes of reasoning and creative brainstorming! What’s important about scientific reasoning is not what all the different modes of reasoning are called, but the fact that the process relies on careful, logical consideration of how evidence supports or does not support an idea, of how different scientific ideas are related to one another, and of what sorts of things we can expect to observe if a particular idea is true. If you are interested in learning about the difference between induction and deduction, visit our  FAQ on the topic .

MISCONCEPTION: Experiments are a necessary part of the scientific process. Without an experiment, a study is not rigorous or scientific.

Perhaps because the Scientific Method and popular portrayals of science emphasize  experiments , many people think that science can’t be done  without  an experiment. In fact, there are  many  ways to test almost any scientific idea; experimentation is only one approach. Some ideas are best tested by setting up a  controlled experiment  in a lab, some by making detailed observations of the natural world, and some with a combination of strategies. To study detailed examples of how scientific ideas can be tested fairly, with and without experiments, check out our side trip  Fair tests: A do-it-yourself guide .

MISCONCEPTION: "Hard" sciences are more rigorous and scientific than "soft" sciences.

Some scientists and philosophers have tried to draw a line between “hard” sciences (e.g., chemistry and physics) and “soft” ones (e.g., psychology and sociology). The thinking was that hard science used more rigorous, quantitative methods than soft science did and so were more trustworthy. In fact, the rigor of a scientific study has much more to do with the investigator’s approach than with the discipline. Many psychology studies, for example, are carefully controlled, rely on large sample sizes, and are highly quantitative. To learn more about how rigorous and fair tests are designed, regardless of discipline, check out our side trip  Fair tests: A do-it-yourself guide .

MISCONCEPTION: Scientific ideas are absolute and unchanging.

Because science textbooks change very little from year to year, it’s easy to imagine that scientific ideas don’t change at all. It’s true that some scientific ideas are so well established and supported by so many lines of evidence, they are unlikely to be completely overturned. However, even these established ideas are subject to modification based on new evidence and perspectives. Furthermore, at the cutting edge of scientific research — areas of knowledge that are difficult to represent in introductory textbooks — scientific ideas may change rapidly as scientists test out many different possible explanations trying to figure out which are the most accurate. To learn more about this, visit our page describing  how science aims to build knowledge .

MISCONCEPTION: Because scientific ideas are tentative and subject to change, they can't be trusted.

Especially when it comes to scientific findings about health and medicine, it can sometimes seem as though scientists are always changing their minds. One month the newspaper warns you away from chocolate’s saturated fat and sugar; the next month, chocolate companies are bragging about chocolate’s antioxidants and lack of trans-fats. There are several reasons for such apparent reversals. First, press coverage tends to draw particular attention to disagreements or ideas that conflict with past views. Second, ideas at the cutting edge of research (e.g., regarding new medical studies) may change rapidly as scientists test out many different possible explanations trying to figure out which are the most accurate. This is a normal and healthy part of the process of science. While it’s true that all scientific ideas are subject to change if warranted by the evidence, many scientific ideas (e.g., evolutionary theory, foundational ideas in chemistry) are supported by many lines of evidence, are extremely reliable, and are unlikely to change. To learn more about provisionality in science and its portrayal by the media, visit a section from our  Science Toolkit .

MISCONCEPTION: Scientists' observations directly tell them how things work (i.e., knowledge is "read off" nature, not built).

Because science relies on observation and because the process of science is unfamiliar to many, it may seem as though scientists build knowledge directly through observation. Observation  is  critical in science, but scientists often make  inferences  about what those observations mean. Observations are part of a complex process that involves coming up with ideas about how the natural world works and seeing if observations back those explanations up. Learning about the inner workings of the natural world is less like reading a book and more like writing a non-fiction book — trying out different ideas, rephrasing, running drafts by other people, and modifying text in order to present the clearest and most accurate explanations for what we observe in the natural world. To learn more about how scientific knowledge is built, visit our section  How science works .

MISCONCEPTION: Science proves ideas.

Journalists often write about “scientific proof” and some scientists talk about it, but in fact, the concept of proof — real, absolute proof — is not particularly scientific. Science is based on the principle that  any  idea, no matter how widely accepted today, could be overturned tomorrow if the evidence warranted it. Science accepts or rejects ideas based on the evidence; it does not prove or disprove them. To learn more about this, visit our page describing  how science aims to build knowledge .

MISCONCEPTION: Science can only disprove ideas.

This misconception is based on the idea of falsification, philosopher Karl Popper’s influential account of scientific justification, which suggests that all science can do is reject, or falsify, hypotheses — that science cannot find evidence that  supports  one idea over others. Falsification was a popular philosophical doctrine — especially with scientists — but it was soon recognized that falsification wasn’t a very complete or accurate picture of how scientific knowledge is built. In science, ideas can never be completely proved or completely disproved. Instead, science accepts or rejects ideas based on supporting and refuting evidence, and may revise those conclusions if warranted by new evidence or perspectives.

MISCONCEPTION: If evidence supports a hypothesis, it is upgraded to a theory. If the theory then garners even more support, it may be upgraded to a law.

This misconception may be reinforced by introductory science courses that treat hypotheses as “things we’re not sure about yet” and that only explore established and accepted theories. In fact, hypotheses, theories, and laws are rather like apples, oranges, and kumquats: one cannot grow into another, no matter how much fertilizer and water are offered. Hypotheses, theories, and laws are all scientific explanations that differ in breadth — not in level of support. Hypotheses are explanations that are limited in scope, applying to fairly narrow range of phenomena. The term  law  is sometimes used to refer to an idea about how observable phenomena are related — but the term is also used in other ways within science. Theories are deep explanations that apply to a broad range of phenomena and that may integrate many hypotheses and laws. To learn more about this, visit our page on  the different levels of explanation in science .

MISCONCEPTION: Scientific ideas are judged democratically based on popularity.

When newspapers make statements like, “most scientists agree that human activity is the culprit behind global warming,” it’s easy to imagine that scientists hold an annual caucus and vote for their favorite hypotheses. But of course, that’s not quite how it works. Scientific ideas are judged not by their popularity, but on the basis of the evidence supporting or contradicting them. A hypothesis or theory comes to be accepted by many scientists (usually over the course of several years — or decades!) once it has garnered many lines of supporting evidence and has stood up to the scrutiny of the scientific community. A hypothesis accepted by “most scientists,” may not be “liked” or have positive repercussions, but it is one that science has judged likely to be accurate based on the evidence. To learn more about  how science judges ideas , visit our series of pages on the topic in our section on how science works.

MISCONCEPTION: The job of a scientist is to find support for his or her hypotheses.

This misconception likely stems from introductory science labs, with their emphasis on getting the “right” answer and with congratulations handed out for having the “correct” hypothesis all along. In fact, science gains as much from figuring out which hypotheses are likely to be wrong as it does from figuring out which are supported by the evidence. Scientists may have personal favorite hypotheses, but they strive to consider multiple hypotheses and be unbiased when evaluating them against the evidence. A scientist who finds evidence contradicting a favorite hypothesis may be surprised and probably disappointed, but can rest easy knowing that he or she has made a valuable contribution to science.

MISCONCEPTION: Scientists are judged on the basis of how many correct hypotheses they propose (i.e., good scientists are the ones who are "right" most often).

The scientific community  does  value individuals who have good intuition and think up creative explanations that turn out to be correct — but it  also  values scientists who are able to think up creative ways to test a new idea (even if the test ends up contradicting the idea) and who spot the fatal flaw in a particular argument or test. In science, gathering evidence to determine the accuracy of an explanation is just as important as coming up with the explanation that winds up being supported by the evidence.

MISCONCEPTION: Investigations that don't reach a firm conclusion are useless and unpublishable.

Perhaps because the last step of the Scientific Method is usually “draw a conclusion,” it’s easy to imagine that studies that don’t reach a clear conclusion must not be scientific or important. In fact,  most  scientific studies don’t reach “firm” conclusions. Scientific articles usually end with a discussion of the limitations of the tests performed and the alternative hypotheses that might account for the phenomenon. That’s the nature of scientific knowledge — it’s inherently tentative and could be overturned if new evidence, new interpretations, or a better explanation come along. In science, studies that carefully analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the test performed and of the different alternative explanations are particularly valuable since they encourage others to more thoroughly scrutinize the ideas and evidence and to develop new ways to test the ideas. To learn more about publishing and scrutiny in science, visit our discussion of  peer review .

MISCONCEPTION: Scientists are completely objective in their evaluation of scientific ideas and evidence.

Scientists do strive to be unbiased as they consider different scientific ideas, but scientists are people too. They have different personal beliefs and goals — and may favor different hypotheses for different reasons. Individual scientists may not be completely objective, but science can overcome this hurdle through the action of the scientific community, which scrutinizes scientific work and helps balance biases. To learn more, visit  Scientific scrutiny  in our section on the social side of science.

MISCONCEPTION: Scientists' personal traits, experiences, emotions, and values don't factor into the process of science.

Scientists’ personal traits, experiences, emotions, and values influence their selection of research topic, hypotheses, chosen research methods, and interpretations of results and evidence, shaping the course of science in many ways. For example, a social scientist who has experienced poverty might be more likely to study this topic and might formulate different hypotheses about its causes than someone from a different background. Furthermore, experiencing curiosity and wonder is a key motivation for many scientists to pursue their work. Because science is a human endeavor, these fundamentally human traits (our unique identities, emotions, and values) play their role in the process. This means that scientists cannot be completely objective (see above). However, individual biases can be overcome through community scrutiny, helping science self-correct and continue to build more and more accurate explanations for how the world works.

MISCONCEPTION: Science is pure. Scientists work without considering the applications of their ideas.

It’s true that some scientific research is performed without any attention to its applications, but this is certainly not true of all science. Many scientists choose specific areas of research (e.g., malaria genetics) because of the practical ramifications new knowledge in these areas might have. And often, basic research that is performed without any aim toward potential applications later winds up being extremely useful. To learn about some of the many applications of scientific knowledge visit  What has science done for you lately?

Misunderstandings of the limits of science

Misconception: science contradicts the existence of god..

Because of some vocal individuals (both inside and outside of science) stridently declaring their beliefs, it’s easy to get the impression that science and religion are at war. In fact, people of many different faiths and levels of scientific expertise see no contradiction at all between science and religion. Because science deals only with  natural  phenomena and explanations, it cannot support or contradict the existence of  supernatural  entities — like God. To learn more, visit our side trip  Science and religion: Reconcilable differences .

MISCONCEPTION: Science and technology can solve all our problems.

The feats accomplished through the application of scientific knowledge are truly astounding. Science has helped us eradicate deadly diseases, communicate with people all over the world, and build  technologies  that make our lives easier everyday. But for all scientific innovations, the costs must be carefully weighed against the benefits. And, of course, there’s no guarantee that solutions for some problems (e.g., finding an HIV vaccine) exist — though science is likely to help us discover them if they do exist. Furthermore, some important human concerns (e.g. some spiritual and aesthetic questions) cannot be addressed by science at all. Science is a marvelous tool for helping us understand the natural world, but it is not a cure-all for whatever problems we encounter.

Misleading stereotypes of scientists

Misconception: science is a solitary pursuit..

When scientists are portrayed in movies and television shows, they are often ensconced in silent laboratories, alone with their bubbling test-tubes. This can make science seem isolating. In fact, many scientists work in busy labs or field stations, surrounded by other scientists and students. Scientists often collaborate on studies with one another, mentor less experienced scientists, and just chat about their work over coffee. Even the rare scientist who works entirely alone depends on interactions with the rest of the scientific community to scrutinize his or her work and get ideas for new studies. Science is a social endeavor. To learn more, visit our section on the  Social side of science .

MISCONCEPTION: Science is done by "old, white men."

While it is true that Western science used to be the domain of white males, this is no longer the case. The diversity of the scientific community is expanding rapidly. Science is open to anyone who is curious about the natural world and who wants to take a scientific approach to his or her investigations. To see how science benefits from a diverse community, visit  Diversity makes the difference .

MISCONCEPTION: Scientists are atheists.

This is far from true. A 2005 survey of scientists at top research universities found that more than 48% had a religious affiliation and that more than 75% believed that religions convey important truths. 1  Some scientists are not religious, but many others subscribe to a specific faith and/or believe in higher powers. Science itself is a secular pursuit, but welcomes participants from all religious faiths. To learn more, visit our side trip  Science and religion: Reconcilable differences .

Vocabulary mix-ups

Some misconceptions occur simply because scientific language and everyday language use some of the same words differently.

Facts  are statements that we know to be true through direct  observation . In everyday usage, facts are a highly valued form of knowledge because we can be so confident in them. Scientific thinking, however, recognizes that, though facts are important, we can only be completely confident about relatively simple statements. For example, it may be a fact that there are three trees in your backyard. However, our knowledge of how all trees are related to one another is not a fact; it is a complex body of knowledge based on many different  lines of evidence  and reasoning that may change as new  evidence  is discovered and as old evidence is interpreted in new ways. Though our knowledge of tree relationships is not a fact, it is broadly applicable, useful in many situations, and synthesizes many individual facts into a broader framework.  Science  values facts but recognizes that many forms of knowledge are more powerful than simple facts.

In everyday language, a  law  is a rule that must be abided or something that can be relied upon to occur in a particular situation. Scientific laws, on the other hand, are less rigid. They may have exceptions, and, like other scientific knowledge, may be modified or rejected based on new evidence and perspectives. In science, the term  law  usually refers to a generalization about  data  and is a compact way of describing what we’d expect to happen in a particular situation. Some laws are non-mechanistic statements about the relationship among observable phenomena. For example, the ideal gas law describes how the pressure, volume, and temperature of a particular amount of gas are related to one another. It does not describe how gases  must  behave; we know that gases do not precisely conform to the ideal gas law. Other laws deal with phenomena that are not directly observable. For example, the second law of thermodynamics deals with entropy, which is not directly observable in the same way that volume and pressure are. Still other laws offer more mechanistic explanations of phenomena. For example, Mendel’s first law offers a  model  of how genes are distributed to gametes and offspring that helps us make  predictions  about the outcomes of genetic crosses. The term  law  may be used to describe many different forms of scientific knowledge, and whether or not a particular idea is called a law has much to do with its discipline and the time period in which it was first developed.

Observation

In everyday language, the word  observation  generally means something that we’ve seen with our own eyes. In science, the term is used more broadly. Scientific observations can be made directly with our own senses or may be made indirectly through the use of tools like thermometers, pH test kits, Geiger counters, etc. We can’t actually  see  beta particles, but we can observe them using a Geiger counter. To learn more about the role of observation in science, visit  Observation beyond our eyes  in our section on how science works.

In everyday language, the word  hypothesis  usually refers to an educated guess — or an idea that we are quite uncertain about. Scientific hypotheses, however, are much more informed than any guess and are usually based on prior experience, scientific background knowledge, preliminary observations, and logic. In addition, hypotheses are often supported by many different lines of evidence — in which case, scientists are more confident in them than they would be in any mere “guess.” To further complicate matters, science textbooks frequently misuse the term in a slightly different way. They may ask students to make a  hypothesis  about the outcome of an experiment (e.g., table salt will dissolve in water more quickly than rock salt will). This is simply a prediction or a guess (even if a well-informed one) about the outcome of an experiment. Scientific hypotheses, on the other hand, have explanatory power — they are explanations for phenomena. The idea that table salt dissolves faster than rock salt is not very hypothesis-like because it is not very explanatory. A more scientific (i.e., more explanatory) hypothesis might be “The amount of surface area a substance has affects how quickly it can dissolve. More surface area means a faster rate of dissolution.” This hypothesis has some explanatory power — it gives us an idea of  why  a particular phenomenon occurs — and it is testable because it generates expectations about what we should observe in different situations. If the hypothesis is accurate, then we’d expect that, for example, sugar processed to a powder should dissolve more quickly than granular sugar. Students could examine rates of dissolution of many different substances in powdered, granular, and pellet form to further test the idea. The statement “Table salt will dissolve in water more quickly than rock salt” is not a hypothesis, but an expectation generated by a hypothesis. Textbooks and science labs can lead to confusions about the difference between a hypothesis and an expectation regarding the outcome of a scientific test. To learn more about scientific hypotheses, visit  Science at multiple levels  in our section on how science works.

In everyday language, the word  theory  is often used to mean a hunch with little evidential support. Scientific theories, on the other hand, are broad explanations for a wide range of phenomena. They are concise (i.e., generally don’t have a long list of exceptions and special rules), coherent, systematic, and can be used to make predictions about many different sorts of situations. A theory is most  acceptable  to the scientific community when it is strongly supported by many different lines of evidence — but even theories may be modified or overturned if warranted by new evidence and perspectives. To learn more about scientific theories, visit  Science at multiple levels  in our section on how science works.

Falsifiable

The word  falsifiable  isn’t used much in everyday language, but when it is, it is often applied to ideas that have been shown to be untrue. When that’s the case — when an idea has been shown to be false — a scientist would say that it has been falsified. A falsifi able  idea, on the other hand, is one for which there is a conceivable  test  that might produce evidence proving the idea false. Scientists and others influenced by the ideas of the philosopher Karl Popper sometimes assert that only falsifiable ideas are scientific. However, we now recognize that science cannot once-and-for-all prove any idea to be false (or true for that matter). Furthermore, it’s clear that evidence can play a role in supporting particular ideas over others — not just in ruling some ideas out, as implied by the falsifiability criterion. When a scientist says  falsifiable , he or she probably actually means something like  testable , the term we use in this website to avoid confusion. A testable idea is one about which we could gather evidence to help determine whether or not the idea is accurate.

Uncertainty

In everyday language,  uncertainty  suggests the state of being unsure of something. Scientists, however, usually use the word when referring to measurements. The uncertainty of a measurement (not to be confused with the inherent provisionality of all scientific ideas!) is the range of values within which the true value is likely to fall. In science, uncertainty is not a bad thing; it’s simply a fact of life. Every measurement has some uncertainty. If you measure the length of a pen with a standard ruler, you won’t be able to tell whether its length is 5.880 inches, 5.875 inches, or 5.870 inches. A ruler with more precision will help narrow that range, but cannot eliminate uncertainty entirely. For more on a related idea, see our discussion of  error  below.

In everyday language, an error is simply a mistake, but in science, error has a precise statistical meaning. An error is the difference between a measurement and the true value, often resulting from taking a  sample . For example, imagine that you want to know if corn plants produce more massive ears when grown with a new fertilizer, and so you weigh ears of corn from those plants. You take the mass of your sample of 50 ears of corn and calculate an average. That average is a good estimate of what you are really interested in: the average mass of  all  ears of corn that could be grown with this fertilizer. Your estimate is not a mistake — but it does have an error (in the statistical sense of the word) since your estimate is not the true value. Sampling error of the sort described above is inherent whenever a smaller sample is taken to represent a larger entity. Another sort of error results from systematic biases in measurement (e.g., if your scale were calibrated improperly, all of your measurements would be off). Systematic error biases measurements in a particular direction and can be more difficult to quantify than sampling error.

In everyday language,  prediction  generally refers to something that a fortune teller makes about the future. In science, the term  prediction  generally means “what we would expect to happen or what we would expect to observe if this idea were accurate.” Sometimes, these scientific predictions have nothing at all to do with the future. For example, scientists have hypothesized that a huge asteroid struck the Earth 4.5 billion years ago, flinging off debris that formed the moon. If this idea were true, we would  predict  that the moon today would have a similar composition to that of the Earth’s crust 4.5 billion years ago — a prediction which does seem to be accurate. This hypothesis deals with the deep history of our solar system and yet it involves predictions — in the scientific sense of the word. Ironically, scientific predictions often have to do with past events. In this website, we’ve tried to reduce confusion by using the words  expect and  expectation  instead of  predict  and  prediction . To learn more, visit  Predicting the past  in our section on the core of science.

Belief/believe

When we, in everyday language, say that we believe in something, we may mean many things — that we support a cause, that we have faith in an idea, or that we think something is accurate. The word  belief  is often associated with ideas about which we have strong convictions, regardless of the evidence for or against them. This can generate confusion when a scientist claims to “believe in” a scientific hypothesis or theory. In fact, the scientist probably means that he or she “ accepts ” the idea — in other words, that he or she thinks the scientific idea is the most accurate available based on a critical evaluation of the evidence. Scientific ideas should always be accepted or rejected based on the evidence for or against them — not based on faith, dogma, or personal conviction.

Roadblocks to learning science

In school, many students get the wrong impression of science. While not technically misconceptions, these overgeneralizations are almost always inaccurate — and can make it more difficult for the students who hold them to learn science.

MISCONCEPTION: Science is boring.

  Memorizing facts from a textbook can be boring — but science is much more than the knowledge that makes its way into school books. Science is an ongoing and unfinished process of discovery. Some scientists travel all over the world for their research. Others set up experiments that no one has ever tried before. And all scientists are engaged in a thrilling quest — to learn something brand new about the natural world. Some parts of scientific training or investigations may be tedious, but science itself is exciting! To see how a scientific perspective can make the world a more exciting and intriguing place, visit our side trip  Think science .

MISCONCEPTION: Science isn't important in my life.

It’s easy to think that what scientists do in far-off laboratories and field stations has little relevance to your everyday life — after all, not many of us deal with super colliders or arctic plankton on a regular basis — but take another look around you. All the technologies, medical advances, and knowledge that improve our lives everyday are partly the result of scientific research. Furthermore, the choices you make when you vote in elections and support particular causes can influence the course of science. Science is deeply interwoven with our everyday lives. To see how society influences science, visit  Science and society . To learn more about how scientific advances affect your life, visit  What has science done for you lately?

MISCONCEPTION: I am not good at science.

Some students find science class difficult — but this doesn’t translate to not being good at science. First of all, school science can be very different from real science. The background knowledge that one learns in school is important for practicing scientists, but it is only part of the picture. Scientific research also involves creative problem-solving, communicating with others, logical reasoning, and many other skills that might or might not be a part of every science class. Second, science encompasses a remarkably broad set of activities. So maybe you don’t care much for the periodic table — but that doesn’t mean that you wouldn’t be great at observing wild chimpanzee behavior, building computer models of tectonic plate movement, or giving talks about psychology experiments at scientific meetings. Often when a student claims to “not be good at science,” it really just means that he or she hasn’t yet found a part of science that clicks with his or her interests and talents.

1 Ecklund, E.H., and C.P. Scheitle. 2007. Religion among academic scientists: Distinctions, disciplines, and demographics.  Social Problems  54(2):289-307.

• Teaching resources
• Unfortunately, many textbooks promulgate misconceptions about the nature and process of science. Use this list to review your textbook, and then discuss any misrepresentations with students.
• You can highlight misconceptions about science that are promulgated in the media by starting a bulletin board that highlights examples of misconceptions found in the popular press — for example, misuses of the word theory, implications that scientists always use “the scientific method,” or that experimental science is more rigorous than non-experimental science.
• Use word lists to combat misconceptions about science that stem from vocabulary mix-ups. Find out how in this article distributed with permission from Science Scope.

Alignment with science standards

Educational research

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Master of Information and Cybersecurity

Master’s in cybersecurity online from uc berkeley.

The Master of Information and Cybersecurity (MICS) online program prepares students with the cybersecurity skills needed to assume leadership positions and drive innovation in the field.

Through a holistic approach to cybersecurity, students develop a thorough understanding of information security technologies as well as the economic, legal, behavioral, and ethical impacts of cybersecurity. Students graduate as competitive candidates in the job market with connections to UC Berkeley alumni and professionals in the San Francisco Bay Area.

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A Leadership-Focused Curriculum 

The interdisciplinary MICS curriculum provides students with hands-on practical experience with secure systems and applications, and the ability to lead, manage, and contribute to building cybersecurity solutions.

Students master core technical skills and become fluent in the business, political, and legal context of cybersecurity. They can expect to graduate with a comprehensive understanding of the following:

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• Cryptography
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The online MICS program is 9 courses (27 units) and can be completed in 20 months. Students complete foundation courses, electives, and a capstone project. They also attend one in-person immersion in the San Francisco Bay Area. The curriculum includes the following courses:

• Beyond the Code: Cybersecurity in Context
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Cryptography for Cyber and Network Security

Operating system security.

• Managing Cyber Risk
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Privacy Engineering

Learn more about about upcoming webinars, deadlines, and more, why a master’s in cybersecurity from uc berkeley.

Cybersecurity permeates almost all aspects of the human experience. Individuals, organizations, and societies are protected from cyber threats constantly without even realizing they occur. This is thanks to professionals who understand the complex relationship between human behaviors and advanced technology in securing information.

UC Berkeley is where the brightest minds from across the globe come together to explore, ask questions, and improve the world. Our MICS program does more than create experts in information security: it shapes leaders who understand the implications of cybersecurity across all industries and want to drive the future of innovation in cybersecurity.

Developed by faculty from the School of Information and the College of Engineering, the interdisciplinary MICS curriculum focuses on the intersection of technical, social, political, economic, legal, national security, and ethical components of cybersecurity. Students graduate with versatile knowledge needed to lead cybersecurity in private, public, or philanthropic sectors and with connections to the nearby technology hub Silicon Valley.

What Can You Do with a Master’s in Cybersecurity?

Cybersecurity’s growth is turning it into a massive market with an increased demand for skilled cybersecurity labor. Due to constant evolution and escalation of threats, cybersecurity has become one of the most important and exciting career fields of the 21st century.

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects employment of information security analysts to grow 35% from 2021 to 2031, equating to an average of 19,500 new positions each year.¹

The cybersecurity industry is met with the challenge of not only filling the growing demand and talent shortage but with finding highly skilled professionals who can be trusted to effectively protect information systems. This creates an opportunity for graduates of the MICS program to enter the in-demand market as competitive cybersecurity experts.

Career Opportunities in Cybersecurity

No organization that operates online can ignore cybersecurity. With cyber threats growing and constantly changing, businesses, governments, and nonprofit organizations are making significant investments in cyber defense and hiring increasingly large numbers of cybersecurity professionals.

MICS graduates are poised to enter this market in leadership roles with the requisite multifunctional skill sets and a strong network provided by the program.

Cybersecurity Salaries

Salaries for cybersecurity professionals range from $85,000 to $151,547 per year.¹

Featured Courses

Students learn about the mathematical and practical foundations of cryptography and the many different cryptosystems.

Students compare approaches to security taken among several modern operating systems and learn techniques for establishing trust across a set of interoperating systems.

Students survey privacy mechanisms applicable to systems engineering, with a particular focus on the inference threat arising due to advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning.