Embedded Files
Tisch, S, Advanced Physics with Calculus
Kelly, M, Electrical Engineering & Computer Science
Madrigal, A, Electrical Engineering & Computer Science
In this experiment, we used an Arduino circuit, servos motors, and flex sensors attached to a gardening glove to control a 3D printed hand. We used PLA plastic and two 3D printers (Batman and Joker) to print the designs for the hand and wrist pieces of the open-source project InMoov. The hand is controlled by servo motors and fishing wire that is strung through the fingers; when a flex sensor is triggered on the gardening glove, the servos motors spin and pull the wires, contracting the finger. Due to the preciseness of the flex sensors sewn onto the gardening glove, the 3D printed hand closes to the same degree as the controller's hand. We tested the grip strength of the 3D hand in comparison to a human’s to examine the potential usefulness of this technology in practical uses such as construction, medicine, and manufacturing.
2. Building a Spectroscope in Order to Identify Emission Lines Present in Light Sources
Kulavic, P, Astrophysics & Astronomy
Philippo, E, Astrophysics & Astronomy
Skloot, N, Astrophysics & Astronomy
Spectroscopy is the study and measurement of light spectra. Spectrometers can be used to measure the light emitted by an object and identify different wavelengths; however, some spectrometers cost hundreds of dollars to purchase. Using a diffraction grating, one can separate the individual wavelengths that make up a certain light source and thereby infer the components of the source based on the pattern that the grating creates at a mere fraction of the price. The purpose of this experiment was to determine whether it is possible to build a spectroscope using common household items and establish that spectroscopy is accessible to the quotidian citizen scientist. First, we put together a box out of cardboard, then cut a slit for the source and a hole for the diffraction grating using calculated dimensions. In order to ensure that the diffracted image would appear within the bounds of the box and to ascertain where certain wavelengths would project, we created a Python program using the formula λm= dsinΘ, allowing us to easily calibrate the device. Using those dimensions, we assembled the spectroscope. Ultimately, the project was a success. We found that it is possible to make a very low-cost spectroscope while maintaining an acceptable degree of accuracy. The final model does a good job at illustrating how emission lines spread across a spectrum, and with the aide of a cell-phone camera, can do so in broad daylight. A device so easily obtained and operated could prove helpful in classrooms worldwide.
3. Controlling Electronics with Muscle Contractions
Holmes, T, Electrical Engineering & Computer Science
Sternberg, E, Electrical Engineering & Computer Science
As part of this project we looked into controlling motors and LCD screens using the muscle spiker shield made by Backyard Brains. To do, so we used the muscle spiker shield with an arduino uno connected to motors and the LCD screen. We used arduino code given to us by the Backyard Brains to control these systems. Servo motors are motors that have a 180 degree rotation and can be controlled to go to a certain position on the rotation. Using LEDs on the backyard brains circuit and arduino code we can control the degree of rotation based on the contraction of one’s muscles. We used the muscle spiker shield to convert the EMG signal to a digital one. A digital signal is broken into a pattern of bits, compared to an analog which is continuously varying. We also used connected the shield to a liquid crystal display which uses pixels which each a separate color. They are switched on and off by the liquid crystals rapidly to move polarized light to create a moving picture. We found that we could create a circuit using a servo motor connected to the spiker shield that would activate a dc motor. Future research could be used to create a car or drone controlled by muscle movements.
4. Creating Visuals of Particle Displacement by Electromagnetic Fields Using Charcoal Dust
Dunbar, C, Physics with Algebra & Trigonometry
Schafer, M, Physics with Algebra & Trigonometry
Everything that surrounds us is made up of particles which all hold either a positive or negative electric charge. Our experiment aimed to show the effect an electric field has on moving these charged particles, and visually show this particle distribution, which is usually invisible to the eye. We did this by using an electrical field generator that transferred a strong current to a metal conductor which we suspended vertically so that its tip touched a flat plexiglass sheet, while the other end was connected to the Van Der Gaaf machine with copper wire. We surrounded the tip of the metal conductor with varying amounts of charcoal and turned on the machine. This caused the powdered charcoal particles to feel either attracted or repulsed to the conductor, depending on whether the individual particles were positively or negatively charged. The magnetically charged charcoal reacted by following the pattern of the magnetic field, creating particle displacement. From this we examined the differences in patterns, shapes and sizes of the particle distribution figure created by the static electricity. Our goal in conducting this experiment was to understand how the introduction of varying amounts of static electricity would change the shape and pattern of the magnetic field created and thus the particle distribution. Our results were….(haven't finished experiment yet). The results of this experiment are valuable because although the behavior of particles influenced by the electric field are not visible to the eye, it is the foundation for the rules which dictate the way in which the physical world works.
5. Effect of Heightened Oxygen Concentration on Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilm and Proliferation
Sriram, A, Marin Academy Research Collaborative
Kranefuss, E, Electrical Engineering & Computer Science
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a virulent bacteria that uses oxygen as its main method of respiration, although can grow using anaerobic nitrate respiration. P. aeruginosa is found commonly as a chronic infection with patients with cystic fibrosis. Hyperbaric oxygen treatment has been shown to be an effective treatment against certain infections alongside antibiotics, but no antibiotics were used for this project. Instead, the P. aeruginosa was kept inside the chamber for two hours at around 100% oxygen concentration. The chamber was set up using the methods of Whaley and Gorman, where the chamber is connected to a brass connective system attached to a vacuum and an oxygen tank. In this project, an Arduino RedBoard2 computer was used with a pressure and temperature sensor breakout board3. The signal from the computer was sent to a laptop using a bluetooth receiver4. These electronic components were used inside of the hyperbaric chamber in the incubator to keep a constant reading on temperature and pressure. Using these components two tests of P. aeruginosa were run parallel inside an incubator, one inside the hyperbaric chamber, and the other as a control, in order to see if the increase of oxygen had an effect on the P. aeruginosa. It was hypothesized that if the oxygen concentration was increased, then there would be an increase in proliferation because the P. aeruginosa has more accessible nutrients for energy to replicate.
6. Efficiency of Horizontal vs Vertical Axis Windmills
Nash, C, Physics with Algebra & Trigonometry
Herzog, M, Physics with Algebra & Trigonometry
As windmills become a more common way to generate alternative power globally, it is important to understand the most efficient construction in order to maximize the output of energy. The two most common types of windmills used today have either a vertical or horizontal axis, which means that its rotational axis is either parallel or perpendicular to the ground. Today, the vast majority of commercialized windmills used in large wind farms have a horizontal axis, meaning the rotational axis is parallel to the ground. In this experiment, the efficiency of these different types of windmills and their ability to generate energy was tested by constructing one with a rotational axis parallel to the ground, and the other perpendicular to the ground. In addition, the effect of the density of the blades on the rotations per minute was tested by doing trials using 1 gram blades, and other trials using 4 gram blades. Lastly, each combination of axis and blade density was tested on three different wind speeds: low, medium, and high. There were 12 trials with each combination of axis type, wind speed, and blade density. After the experiment was completed, it was determined that the most efficient combination was the windmill with a horizontal axis, highest density blade, and the highest wind speed. This windmill rotated 180 times per minute. The least efficient combinations were both the horizontal and vertical axis, with the highest density blades at the lowest speed; each of these windmills did not move.
7. Exploring Neuroprosthetics: From Brain to Bot
Fleming, J, Electrical Engineering & Computer Science
Hopkins, J, Neuroscience
In this experiment we examined how the difference in voltage between two electrodes placed on populations of muscle can be used in order to control a robot. We set out to answer whether or not this was a viable way of controlling a robot and what populations of muscles will result in the most precise and efficient control. The robot we created is a neuroprosthetic, or a device that supplants or supplements the input or output of the nervous system, because it takes the brain’s signals and converts them into the output of a moveable robot. We tested different muscle and nerve groups for how precisely they could control the robot’s movement. Precision of movement in this case means that the robot can easily be moved with varying degrees of velocity depending on the varying levels of voltage changes from different levels of user flexing. The five muscle populations we tested are the ones innervated by the median nerve, the tibial nerve, ulnar nerve, radial nerve, and the sciatic nerve. We tested each population by having a participant control the robot through a maze and timed how long it took the user to navigate the obstacles. Out of all of the populations, the median nerve was the most precise, then the ulnar nerve, then the tibial nerve, then the radial nerve, then finally the sciatic nerve was the least precise.
8. Bowling: Using Momentum and Force to Perfect the Sport and Your Swing
Lehmann, C, Physics with Algebra & Trigonometry
Rosenberg, L, Physics with Algebra & Trigonometry
This project hopes to address how force and momentum impact the sport of bowling. Momentum is the quantity of motion of a moving body measured as a product of its mass and velocity and force is the push or pull on an object resulting from the object’s interaction with another object. Thus, this project is trying to address this question: How do momentum and force that a bowling ball experiences change with both different size balls and different sized people? Using video analysis on logger pro after a trip to the San Rafael bowling alley, the scientist were able to find both the acceleration of the ball and the velocity. Since the mass of the bowlers was found prior to the experiment, and logger pro gave the velocity and acceleration, the momentum and force of the different people and different balls was found. From the data collected, it is clear that the a smaller person using a smaller ball results in the highest momentum. Similarly, the larger person using the larger ball also results in the highest momentum. The success of this project is shown by the information the results, because the data is plausible. This information is critical in the sport of bowling and will help perfect people’s game and swing.
9. Assessing Air Quality: Why Being Inside your Car is Safer than Being Outside
Schafer, M, Environmental Science
Birmingham, J, Environmental Science
The average American spends approximately 293 hours (over 12 days) in their vehicle annually.1 Seeing that our cars play such a critical role in our lives, we chose to investigate the air quality that daily commuters are being exposed to inside their vehicles as they sit in traffic. Using a Gastec test kit, we tested for the pollutants CO, CO2, NOx and O3 before and after letting each car idle for 20 minutes. We then compared our new results to previously collected data in our ‘Car Exhaust Lab’, which tested for the same pollutants but in each car’s exhaust rather than inside the vehicle. Contrary to our initial expectations, many of the compounds which we found in a high concentration in various car’s exhaust were not detected at all inside the vehicles we tested. Besides a very low presence of CO2, our experiment yielded no results, even after letting each car idle for 20 minutes. This absence of results prompted us to consider ways to advance our experiment. Following our testing, we wondered if the alteration of more variables, such as the incorporation of air conditioning, would have diversified our results. Although the experiment failed to reach our expected outcomes, this lack of results is actually a reassuring positive. Our lack of data is valuable because it allows us to conclude that the air within our vehicles is nontoxic, which is significant information when considering the time one spends in their automobile on a yearly basis.
10. A Study on the Correlation of Molecular Structure and Organic Acid Equilibrium
Lemberg, C, Advanced Chemistry
Ferguson, L, Advanced Chemistry
Acid equilibrium (Ka) is a measure of the dissociation of an acid, as well as the strength; the higher the value, the stronger the acid. In this study, we investigated the relationship of molecular structure of organic acids and their behavior, specifically the trends between hydrogen bond donor and acceptor counts, conjugation, molar mass and acid equilibrium and strength. By titrating four organic acids, citric acid, malonic acid, oxalic acid, and lactic acid, we determined each acid’s overall equilibrium constant. Through our experimentation, we found the first overall equilibrium constant (Ka1) of oxalic, lactic, malonic, and citric acids to be, in decreasing acid strength, 3.40 x 10^-3, 1.04 x 10^-4, 7.26 x 10^-4, and 4.37 x 10^-4. Molecular structure was investigated with regards to hydrogen bond donor/acceptor counts, conjugation, and molar mass. From preliminary observations, more fully conjugated acids are generally stronger. Molar mass, hydrogen bond acceptor count, and hydrogen bond donor count, however, did not have an affect on the first Ka of the acids. The acids we tested all resulted in similar first Ka values, which may be due to their similar structures. In the future, it would be beneficial to test more organic acids with varying structures, such as benzoic acid. This would allow us to examine more accurately how and in what capacity molecular structure contributes to acid equilibrium.
11. Balloon Cars: How Do Different Wheel Sizes Affect the Velocity of the Vehicle?
Kursh, D, Physics with Algebra & Trigonometry
Willner, H, Physics with Algebra & Trigonometry
Societies means of transportation has always been a reflection of our current innovation. In the twenty first century, vehicle modification exemplifies the best and most advanced forms of our technology. The goal of this project was to create a vehicle powered only by the environment around it. To do this, a balloon car was created with locally sourced materials. The primary objective of this project was to create a basic balloon powered vehicle using our understanding of physics. The second objective was to study the correlation between a larger circumference of a wheel and the velocity the vehicle will be propelled at. To do this, a previous understanding of the concepts such as torque, Newton’s Third Law and velocity was needed. To test the correlation, two balloon vehicles were constructed using empty plastic bottles, straws, paper clips, skewers, duct tape, bottle caps, round box tops and balloons. The two cars were constructed with identical base structure, the only difference being the size of the wheels placed in the cars. Logger Pro was used to compare the velocity and to graph the results on the experiment. Three trials will be done for each wheel size. After the experiment is done, there will be no call for future research.
Ransick, J, Human Anatomy & Physiology
Sternberg, M, Human Anatomy & Physiology
Schulte, M, Human Anatomy & Physiology
Especially in hot weather, one of the most dangerous risks for athletes is heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Given that there are many different and effective ways to cool the temperature of the body, which method is the most effective is unclear. The purpose of this study is to determine which method is the most effective way to artificially cool the temperature of the body during exercise. This test was completed by having each subject raise their body temperature by running for approximately one minute on a treadmill. Their initial and elevated body temperature after exercise was recorded. After the elevated body temperature was recorded the subject was timed, for each cooling method, how long it took the subject’s body to return to its initial temperature. The three methods included a control, a cooling towel, the drinking of water, and a fan. After completing statistical analysis of the data and of the differences in the times, it was found that there existed a significant difference in the difference of time taken to cool the body between the cooling towel and the other two methods of cooling. The statistical analysis revealed that he most effective method of cooling was the cooling towel with the second most effective being the drinking of water. The cooling towel was the most effective because the fabric allows water taken into the cloth to be cooled dramatically, allowing heat to easily radiate from the major arteries in the neck and distribute cooled blood throughout the body.
13. Simulating E.coli Antibiotic Resistance with Python Models
Philippo, E, Marin Academy Research Collaborative
For the past year, I have been researching Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an opportunistic, disease causing bacteria that can develop into serious infections in the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients. My end goal is to simulate it with a computer model, but such a scenario would be complicated too complicated to jump into. Instead, I decided to go with a simpler initial question: how quickly does E.coli adapt to antibiotics when given a resistance plasmid, and can that information be used to frame a computer model? I obtained a BABEC pGLO kit, which contains Escherichia coli bacteria and a plasmid that, when introduced to the E.coli, causes it to become resistant and glow under U.V. light. I heat shocked the bacteria so it would accept the plasmid, and then recorded the results after two days of incubation. With one exception, bacteria only grew in plates with antibiotics when it also possessed the plasmid, and it only glowed when it had both the plasmid and an activator. From that data, I made computer model with Python that would predict the outcome of a plate after two days of incubation given input on basic conditions. If such a program could be adapted to more complex situations, then it could be instrumental in helping medical professionals fight bacterial infections.
14. The Presence of Wolbachia in Marin Headlands vs Mountain Lake Park
Labay, E, Advanced Biology
Alter, A, Advanced Biology
The Wolbachia bacteria is a fascinating bacterium that infects many bugs all around us.We collected insects in two different habitats: Marin Headlands, Mill Valley and Mountain Lake Park, San Francisco. We tested the presence of Wolbachia using the PCR analysis. We hypothesized that the insects from a more urban area, like San Francisco, will have a lower rate of Wolbachia because the environment is less conducive to insect survival and would not allow Wolbachia to have as many hosts compared to the Marin Headlands. So far, we have run one gel of the insects that came from Mountain Lake Park and have found that 8 out of 11 have had Wolbachia. We have had trouble with the different types of gels, and plan to use e-gels for the rest of our test subjects because we have only received clear data from those gels. Preliminary data demonstrates that the insects that live in San Francisco have a high rate of Wolbachia (72.7%). We are interested to review the Marin insect data.
15. Gas vs. Diesel Engine: Torque and Acceleration Assessments
Gutterman, C, Physics with Algebra & Trigonometry
Jung, S, Physics with Algebra & Trigonometry
The purpose of the project was to examine the difference in acceleration, horsepower and torque between gasoline and diesel engines. This question was interesting due to the frequency of diesel engines being in the news pertaining to the diesel gate VW scandal. Data was extracted from the same car and different engines--diesel and gasoline. The metrics tested were: 0-60 mph and the 1/4 mile time difference between a gasoline and diesel cars. It is postulated that, if gas and diesel cars were to race from 0-60 and a 1/4 mile, then the gas car would win because of its greater horsepower. Both online and infield testing was used to explore the correlation of engines. To record the data necessary the app “Speedometer Free Speed Box” was used, as it records 0-60. The infield testing showed a 0-60 time of 5.5 seconds which can be explained by a slight downgrade in the road. For the BMW 535i reached 60 miles per hour .4 seconds quicker than its diesel counterpart and .5 seconds quicker in the quarter mile. The Audi A7 reached 60 miles per hour 1.3 seconds faster than the diesel version and 1 second quicker in the quarter mile. The A7 has 103 less foot pounds of torque, but 93 more horsepower. The 535i has 113 less foot pounds of torque but more 45 horsepower. These findings confirmed the hypothesis that horsepower is more important in reaching 0-60 and a quarter mile faster, than torque.
Chiang, R, Advanced Chemistry
Scheer, J, Advanced Chemistry
King, C, Electrical Engineering & Computer Science
The Daniell cell battery is considered one of the first practical batteries; invented in 1836, the electrochemical cell relies on combinations of “half reactions”: oxidation or reduction reactions. The experiment involves changing the ionic compound species used in the electrolytes of a gravity cell, a variant of the Daniell cell battery, and the concentration of those species to see what effect it might produce on the voltage of the cell. The experiment involves measuring the voltage of cells using three levels of ionic compound species – CuSO4, CuCl2, and CuBr2 – at three levels of concentrations: 0.03 M, 0.05 M, and 0.1 M. For each cell, the copper and zinc electrodes are made to uniform specifications and 250 mL of DI water is used. It is expected that between copper sulfate, copper bromide, and copper chloride, the various anion charges of all three will impact voltage. Specifically, it is hypothesized that compared to the 1- ions (bromide, chloride), the 2- ion (sulfate) will result in an increased electron flow and therefore higher voltage. Furthermore, since the reactions within the gravity cell are reversible, and as such it must reach an equilibrium, a greater concentration of electrolyte should result in the products of the reaction being favored, due to Le Chatelier’s principle, a higher voltage, producing a higher voltage.
17. Comparing Conduction Velocity of Nerve Fibers of Different Sizes in Earthworms
Lema, A, Neuroscience
Woodward, C, Neuroscience
For this project, we wanted to continue learning about action potentials and electrical signals. Myelin acts as insulation for the axon, and allows for saltatory transduction thereby, increasing the velocity of signal transduction. The diameter of an axon increases the speed of signal transduction, because the bigger the diameter, the less surface resistance inside the axon. Therefore, thicker myelinated axons have a faster action potential while thin un-myelinated axons have slower action potentials. In our experiment, we used an earthworm to measure the conduction velocity of nerves. The use of earthworms in this experiment is essential as earthworms have three giant fibers, one medial and two lateral fibers, making it easy to single out action potentials of each of these axons.Our hypothesis was that the Medial Giant Nerve would be faster because it has a thicker diameter. To measure the conduction velocity we used a 2-Channel Spikerbox connected to our computer with an audio recording software. We then placed two electrodes into the earthworm .0127 millimeters apart and one ground electrode 0.0381 meters farther. We calculated the condition velocity by dividing the distance .0127 millimeters by the time between the two electrodes when an action potential fired. Across the five worms, the average conduction velocity of the LGN is 8.68 ± 1.82, and the average conduction velocity of the MGN is 812.73 ± 144.18, which implies that the MGN is a lot faster at sending electrical signals. This supports our hypothesis and previous research.
18. How Handedness Affects Reaction Time
Hobbs, O, Electrical Engineering & Computer Science
Russell, J, Neuroscience
Reaction time measures how quickly the human nervous system can sense and respond to visual or auditory stimuli. A variety of factors contribute to the speed of this process, including age, sex, fatigue, handedness, distraction, level of practice, and type of stimuli. For our Science Symposium project, we chose to investigate the difference in reaction times between the subject’s dominant hand and non-dominant hand. Our hypothesis was that a person’s dominant hand would react quicker to visual stimuli than their non-dominant hand because theoretically, the neural connections in their dominant arm would be stronger and would increase reaction speed. Previous studies have investigated this question and have supported this hypothesis. In our experiment, we chose the stimuli to be the flash of an LED, and the reaction to be the press of a button. We built a circuit using the Arduino microcontroller to detect the difference in time of the LED turning on, and the button being pressed. In particular, we chose to observe the difference between the person’s dominant and nondominant hands when taking the test. We hope this experiment will give insights into just how dominant a person is with a given hand. In the future, we would experiment with different factors, such as age, or delve more in depth as to how hand dominance emerges.
Lopes, N, Electrical Engineering & Computer Science
Buffett-Davis, Z, Electrical Engineering & Computer Science
Casey, O, Electrical Engineering & Computer Science
For our Science Symposium we assembled an OpenRov Kit provided by Stori Oates. OpenRov is a low-cost telerobotic submarine built with the goal of making underwater exploration and education affordable. OpenRov is a remotely operated mini-submarine that weighs about 2.5 kilograms and has dimensions of 15cm x 20cm x 30cm. The mini-submarine is powered by C batteries that last around 1.5 hours to 2 hours and is controlled from a laptop computer connected to the submarine via a tether. The mini-submarine is equipped with on-board LEDs and a camera that can be seen live from the computer. In order to build this kit we have used skills we acquired in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science; those being: soldering, connecting circuit wiring, and most importantly, troubleshooting. This project has taken us a couple weeks to complete. Hopefully with this newly assembled OpenRov Kit, Marin Academy will be able to use it to further explore and investigate underwater life in classes like Oceanography and AP Environmental Science.
20. The Effect of Dithiothreitol (DTT) on the Transformations of Escherichia coli
Hobart, H, Advanced Biology
Zhao, A, Advanced Biology
Sorokine, F, Advanced Biology
The purpose of this research was to observe the effect of Dithiothreitol (DTT) on E.coli’s ability to take in DNA of the pGlo plasmid. Previous studies have shown that DTT is frequently used to reduce the disulfide bonds of proteins and prevent intramolecular and intermolecular disulfide bonds from forming between cysteine residues of proteins. Using E.coli was of interest because it yielded the greatest number of bacterial colonies that we could test given the different environments of the agar plates containing Lysogeny Broth, Ampicillin, and Arabinose, and given the fact that the materials on hand (pGlo kit) were far more effective with E. coli. In order to better understand this process we examined transformation, a method bacteria utilize to take in DNA from their environments. E. coli utilizes a Type IV secretion system to both take in DNA and expel waste products, which this experiment intends to exploit. For E.coli, there exists a specific disulfide bond found in the pili, an essential component to the Type IV secretion system, that DTT disrupts. Using the pGlo plasmid we can better identify when this disruption occurs as the pGlo gives clear indicators (fluorescence, ampicillin resistance) that are observable. Our scientific process strives to answer the essential inquiry: to what extent does the application of Dithiothreitol inhibit E.Coli’s ability to take in DNA from its environment? In order to answer this question, we tested several plates that were spread with either DNA+ or DNA- E.Coli. The DNA+ liquid contained the pGlo plasmid, which would help indicate the occurrence of a disruption, whereas the DNA- liquid contained no plasmid DNA. In addition to the pGlo transformation procedure, a solution of crystalline Dithiothreitol was added to and spread on the DNA plates containing different combinations of Lysogeny Broth, Ampicillin, and Arabinose. Given its usage in biotechnology as a reducing or deprotecting agent for thiolated DNA, it appears to be possible that DTT will be disruptive to the disulfide bonds of the pili and directly inhibit bacterial uptake. We expect our results to support our hypothesis, which would show that the Dithiothreitol severely hindered E. coli’s ability to take up pGlo plasmid DNA and therefore the bacteria could not survive on plates containing ampicillin and would not be fluorescent. These findings would lead us to conclude that Dithiothreitol can be successfully used on E. coli - and potentially other bacteria - to disrupt disulfide bonds used in bacterial transformation and hinder a bacterium’s ability to develop antibiotic resistance through transformation.
21. The Physics Behind Gymnastics
Brooks, T, Physics with Algebra & Trigonometry
Millstein, M, Physics with Algebra & Trigonometry
Niver, K, Physics with Algebra & Trigonometry
Our plan for this experiment was to compare one video of Madison Kocian with one video of Aly Raisman on the uneven bars. We put each video into Logger Pro and tracked their torsos which allowed us to get a data set for the x and y velocities. The path of their torsos represented the acceleration and therefore their success (or lack thereof) on the uneven bars. This acceleration in relation to rotational and mechanical energy suggested who would have reached the next bar with a successful transition. This experiment examined two Olympic gymnasts, Madison Kocian, a petite gymnast and Aly Raisman, a muscular gymnast. The data looked to answer the question of why Raisman transitioned unsuccessfully from the lower uneven bar to the higher while Kocian was successful. Additionally, this experiment aimed to test if the mass of a gymnast affected the transition between the uneven bars. To answer this question the gymnasts’ mass, rotational and mechanical energy, and projectile motion were analyzed. For this experiment one video of Madison Kocian and one video of Aly Raisman were inserted into Logger Pro. By tracking the movement of the torso of both gymnasts as they transitioned from the shorter bar to the tall bar, the instantaneous velocity of both gymnasts was determined. The distance between the lower bar and the higher bar was also measured to determine the distance that each gymnast traveled. Qualitatively, it was observed that Madison had a constant body position where throughout her routine her legs remained together. Aly varied her position by sometimes keeping her legs together and other times keeping her feet apart or bending her knees to a 90 degree angle while transitioning from bar to bar. Quantitatively, the equation used to interpret the mechanical energy was MEi =MEf or KEi + PEi = KEf + PEf. The equation for rotational energy was ½ iw^2 = mgh.
22. Memory: How Different Methods of Study Affect Recognition
Phillips, R, Neuroscience
Leggiere, L, Neuroscience
It is a common statement most students hear: “You should always handwrite notes if you want to remember the material the best.” The goal of this experiment was to delve deeper into how different ways of memorization affect storage of our short term memory into our long term. Our procedure went as follows: There were three groups, each tasked with learning 15 words in Swedish. One group was only allowed to listen to the words, the second group was asked to write the words during the acquisition phase, and the third group could type them. After about 30 seconds had passed since they receive the words, they take a matching test to see how many they could remember initially. Then 30 minutes later they took the same test again. In the auditory group, we found a wide range of answers on the first test, but found that on average the scores went down noticeably. With the typing and handwriting groups, however, the opposite was true. We found that the thirty minute recall test produced better results. This would imply that something about pairing the words to some tactile action would create a greater ability to recall certain things. It should also be noted that our sample size was smaller than what was optimal, so this experiment would benefit from having a larger subject size, and should be conducted again in the future.
23. Relationship between levels salinity and growth of enterococcus at Corte Madera Creek and McNears Beach using Mesocosms and water sampling
Angel, I, Oceanography
Neal, D, Oceanography
Our research was to understand the relationship between salinity and enterococcus growth at Corte Madera Creek and McNears beach. Understanding the survival of enterococcus is key as enterococcus has been found to make up 90% of the bacteria cultured from humans in clinical isolates and also has a growing resistance to antibiotics. To carry out this experiment, we created mesocosms from water taken from Corte Madera and McNears beach. Two tanks (one from Corte Madera, the other from McNears) had a salinity of 7-9 ppt, the next two had a salinity of 27-28 ppt, and the last two had a salinity of 38-40 ppt. We also compared data collected at the two sites for the past year. We found little to no significant trends from the lab experiment and in the real world data, the results were directly contradictory. At Corte Madera, as salinity decreased, enterococcus increased but at McNears, as salinity increased, enterococcus increased. While the results from the lab could have been inconclusive because we did not have the opportunity to sample at the 24 hour mark, the results from Corte Madera could be explained because of runoff. Agricultural or residential runoff full of pollutants could have been washing down stream which caused the drop in salinity and increase in enterococcus. Meanwhile, the McNears site did not have as much runoff, leading to a trend that supports our hypothesis that enterococcus increases with salinity.
24. The Affect of the Weather On the Behavior of Muons
Galla, C, Astrophysics & Astronomy
Sell, J, Astrophysics & Astronomy
Dormishian, K, Astrophysics & Astronomy
Discovered in 1937, the muon was the first subatomic particle detected that is not a part of the atom. The muon is much like the electron in its structure; however, the muon is 207 times the mass of an electron. The muon is a strange particle; therefore, we thought it deserved further exploration. In our experiment, we observed the effect of the weather-cloud cover, humidity, and sun radiation- on the concentration of muons in the air. Not only is the muon a subatomic particle, it is also a fundamental particle meaning it is not made up of any other particle. The effect of clouds on muonic radiation has been tested and researched further. In this experiment, it was hypothesized that the sun’s radiation speeds up muon decay and that, due to a previous study, there is a positive correlation between cloud cover and the number of muons; therefore, with an increase of clouds come an increase in muons. Data was collected through the use of 4 Vernier Radiation Monitors and a construction of a Coincidence Circuit on a breadboard. Monitors were constructed to a horizontal position as muons predominantly move vertically down from the Earth’s atmosphere. By allowing these monitors to collect a muon count for two or three day intervals, conclusions have been drawn about when muon levels were high and when they were low in relation to the weather each day. Relating what is known about the structure and ability of muons, the effect of excess background radiation is a limitation. An inconsistency in the data collected was a sporadic influx of muons at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, May 5th. You will read the analysis and relation of our data to the Oh-My-God-Particle in our conclusion. A conclusion was drawn in support of the hypothesis showing that not only does cloud cover increase muon count, but humidity holds as a key influence on muon concentration as well. Conclusions made are certainly not final as muon research and experimentation remains with many uncertainties.
25. Sea Level Rise in the Canal District: Effects of Climate Change on Underserved Coastal Communities
Hawthorne, S, Environmental Science
Stervinou, L, Environmental Science
De Petris, N, Environmental Science
Sea level rise is one of the most telling signs of global climate change and one that has already begun to affect people. The issue of sea level rise is especially relevant to the lives and livelihoods of individuals in the San Francisco Bay Area. The focus of this project was to research the effects of rising waters on the Canal District of San Rafael, California and to build a physical model of these changes as they will affect Bahia Vista Elementary School. The Canal is an underrepresented, low-income coastal community disproportionately likely to be affected by sea level rise. Though the physical modeling is not yet complete, computer modeling from Our Coast, Our Future shows that further sea level rise of only a foot and a half (which will likely happen by 2100, if not sooner) will put most of this neighborhood underwater, with other, slightly more protected areas solidly in the floodplain. There are many adaptation strategies to prevent damage from sea level rise that could work in the Canal, such as retrofitting, tidal gates and horizontal levees, though a dearth of capital may prevent such changes from being achieved in the Canal.
Lavine, A, Advanced Chemistry
Luria, R, Advanced Chemistry
Zhao, A, Advanced Chemistry
This study investigated whether or not photospectroscopy could be used to measure the contents of an anthocyanin within an organic compound. Specifically, we wanted to find the concentrations of myricetin samples and compare those to myricetin concentration in cranberry juice samples. In order to find the amount of cranberries, we created a standard curve at an ultraviolet wavelength of 373nm using different dilutions of myricetin buffered in citric acid to mimic the pH of cranberry juice. Then, we analyzed the absorbance of cranberry juice at that wavelength to find its concentration of myricetin. We found that a 1:100 sample of cranberry juice and water contained about 1.67*10-6M myricetin, or 0.00531mg myricetin, so an undiluted sample would contain 1.67*10-4M myricetin. Using that, we should be able to compare the amount of myricetin in the average cranberry to our result to find how many cranberries are in a cranberry juice sample. However, because organic compounds are complex and each cranberry can vary in its anthocyanin content, it is unlikely that our results are perfectly accurate. Additionally, because there are many anthocyanins within cranberry juice, which we can deduce based on the red color compared to myricetin’s yellow, it was unclear whether or not there was another chemical absorbing at the same wavelength as myricetin, changing the recorded amount of myricetin in the juice. It would be interesting to try to extract particular anthocyanins from cranberry juice to get exact measurements on the concentrations of individual anthocyanins.
27. Whether the Wisconsin Card Sorting game effectively raises someone's stress levels?
Alphonso-Gibbs, N, Marin Academy Research Collaborative
The purpose of this experiment was to measure cortisol changes in adolescents (ages 13-18) while they played the Wisconsin Card Sorting game. This experiment proceeded to collect data on whether the Wisconsin Card Sorting game effectively raises someone's stress levels. In order to evaluate each subject's stress, saliva swabs were collected. Before the game was explained and directly after the game was played for three minutes, the subject’s saliva was collected. Each subject played the game between 7:15 and 9:15 am. After the initial saliva samples were collected, the rules of the card sorting game were explained and subjects played the game for three minutes. Immediately after the three minutes saliva was collected and the samples were stored in the freezer. To detect cortisol levels an ELISA test was run on the samples. The results will directly affect the methodology of my second experiment. Data will help determine how stress responders are activated and how music might affect stress responders in adolescence.
Urban, C, Physics with Algebra & Trigonometry
Alphonso-Gibbs, N, Physics with Algebra & Trigonometry
De Leon De Rosa, I, Physics with Algebra & Trigonometry
Sound is a mixture of frequency, which determines the type of sound, and amplitude, which determines the volume of the sound. Any individual musical note can be created by different combinations of sound frequencies. This project investigates why a musical note sounds different on individual instruments by attempting to determine which different frequencies make up the note on each instrument. A microphone, ProQuest device, laptop with Logger Pro software, piano , saxophone, and trumpet were used in this experiment. A microphone was plugged into the ProQuest device, which in turn was plugged into the laptop. Three different instruments played the chromatic scale notes into the microphone, and the laptop was used to create a graph of the frequencies and amplitude of the notes. These graphs were then analyzed to determine the differences in frequencies that there are between any given note played on different instruments. (Results not yet available). Applications of this experiment include seeing how certain frequencies affect the brain. This data could be used to determine whether one instrument evokes a certain emotion based off of the frequencies in any given note.
29. The Effects of Facial Manipulation and Laughing on Heart Rate
Lemberg, C, Neuroscience
Labay, E, Neuroscience
Sternberg, E, Neuroscience
Epinephrine, or adrenaline, is released when a person is stressed and results in an elevated heart rate. Studies have found that laughing and both conscious and subconscious smiling, reduced epinephrine secretion. In this experiment, we attempted to determine whether manipulating facial features into a smile or sincere laughing more effectively returned an elevated heart rate back to its resting beats per minute (BPM). We hypothesized that laughing would be the most effective, followed by facial manipulation and our control. We elevated participants’ heart rates by asking them to perform a difficult math task. We then either showed them a funny video, asked them to bite a chopstick, or asked them to simply remain seated - all for 2 minutes. When biting the chopstick, the facial features of the participant were manipulated into a smile without the participant being aware. Preliminary results show that the average decrease in BPM for facial manipulation, laughing, and control to be .1598 BPM/sec, .0996 BPM/sec, .1019 BPM/sec, respectively. This data indicates that laughing is actually less effective than our control and facial manipulation is the most effective. This may result from the fact that laughing can be excitatory, while holding the chopsticks in one's mouth and sitting may be seen as a meditative activities. Further studies comparing the effects of a similar facial manipulation to mindfulness meditation after an event that elevates heart rate could determine whether or not it was the actual manipulated smiles creating a calming effect.
Jackovics, S, Environmental Science
Lavine, A, Environmental Science
Lewis, A, Environmental Science
This study assessed the creek health and explored the wildlife at the Santa Venetia Marsh, in particularly river otters, which have recently returned to the San Francisco Bay Area. The Santa Venetia Marsh has been restored from a landfill into a wetland. We wanted to determine whether the marsh was hospitable to river otters, and if otters were currently present there. We assessed on-site water quality by taking stream measurements, making qualitative observations, and gathering water samples that were analyzed in the lab. In addition, we set up a camera trap to document wildlife in the area. Overall, the stream was muddy, eroded, and the water was brown and cloudy with no velocity. The visual stream assessment was a 27, at the upper end of the “Fair” category. During two daytime surveys of the marsh, we observed wildlife, including birds, small fish, and a cottontail rabbit, but there were no visible signs of river otters. There were native plants, such as California pickleweed and coyote bush, and few invasive species. The overall Water Quality Index value for the wetland was 57.19, which makes the “Fair” category. There was no Escherichia coli, but there was Enterococcus. Overall, based on the visual stream assessment, WQI, and biodiversity observations, we calculated the creek health as moderate. The diversity of wildlife and proximity to the ocean made it likely an eventual river otter habitat. However, the current presence of otters could go either way because of the overall moderate conditions.
31. Relationship Between a Chicken Bone’s Density and Type and its Compressive Strength
Ranjbin, R, Human Anatomy & Physiology
Todd, S, Human Anatomy & Physiology
Noonan, B, Physics with Algebra & Trigonometry
This project looks into the relationship between compressive force necessary to break a bone taking into account its density, volume, and bone type. The point of this project is to determine what factors into a bone’s ability to withstand force and how that information can be used to influence preventative measures for broken bones. To determine this, the volume and weight of six each of chicken ribs, femurs, and humeruses were recorded and used to calculate the density. Then, using a small wood contraption, weight was added on top of each bone until it eventually broke and the amount of force that it took to break each bone was calculated and recorded. The differences in bone type, density and volume were compared how much compressive force each bone could take.It was found that humeruses were by far the strongest bone type, despite having only slightly higher density and not usually supporting the weight of a chicken unlike a femur. Further research could look at correlations between density and possibly tensile strength or shear strength. Tests could be also run to see how different the strength of a boiled chicken bone is from the strength of a raw one. It is also important to take into account that this only tested a chicken bone. It would be much more interesting to possibly test this on human bones, but this does not seem realistic.
32. The Geometry and Physics in Pool
Guenther, C, Physics with Algebra & Trigonometry
Kinney, S, Physics with Algebra & Trigonometry
In this experiment the best ways to hit certain pool shots perfectly every time is being tested. For this experiment a cue ball, two pool balls, a pool stick, a pool table, a gopro, duct tape, and pool chalk were used to test certain pool shots. For each shot the cue ball and the two other pool balls were set in specific spots along the pool table. Then, one person would use the pool stick to hit the cue ball which would then strike another ball into a pocket. The shots were recorded and analyzed in logger pro to determine at what velocity the cue ball was hit at, and its acceleration. Qualitatively, it was observed that adding more chalk to the end of the stick allowed for more precision in aiming as well as spin control. It was also observed that hitting the certain pool ball into the pocket required the cue ball to strike the ball at a specific angle in order to have the pool ball roll directly into the pocket. Furthermore, it was observed that the cue ball needed to make contact with the pool ball at the point that was co-linear with the direct path of the ball to the pocket. Quantitatively, it was observed that the cue ball accelerated sharply before the collision and then quickly decelerated after the collision as a result of precise backspin. These results demonstrate that hitting slightly below center on the cue ball allows for more control in angling a shot into a pocket. This can be applied when playing pool in the future as with even this small piece of knowledge cue ball control can be achieved.
Samra, S, Environmental Science
Friedman, A, Environmental Science
Our main question is: what are the effects of local polluted water on native plants compared to invasive plants? Invasive species often maintain their foothold in an ecosystem due to specific traits that make them better suited to survive in a certain environment than their native counterparts. This experiment aims to discern whether that notion holds true when connected to water quality index (WQI). This experiment consisted of 6 hours of field work and nearly 8 hours doing lab in total. When in the field, water samples were collected from Ross Creek (supposed healthy stream) and Larkspur Creek (supposed unhealthy stream) for later testing, plants were documented and recorded, and stream length, width, and depth were noted. Each stream’s health was also characterized through numerous evaluations. The aforementioned water samples were used to test for E. Coli, fecal bacteria, salinity, pH, BOD, and DO. The remaining water from collection was used to grow fast plants. 3 trays were set up. One contained the Larkspur Creek water, one contained the Ross Creek water, and one contained tap water as the control. The part of the Larkspur Creek that was initially tested proved to be too brackish for plant growth so another part of the creek was tested a week after Ross creek was. There is currently not enough data to analyze, as the Larkspur creek plants have barely germinated yet. However, all samples are showing growth, with some of the Ross Creek plants actually growing faster and larger than the control.
Ransick, J, Human Anatomy & Physiology
Sternberg, M, Human Anatomy & Physiology
Schulte, M, Human Anatomy & Physiology
Especially in hot weather, one of the most dangerous risks for athletes is heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Given that there are many different and effective ways to cool the temperature of the body, which method is the most effective is unclear. The purpose of our study is to determine which method is the most effective way to artificially cool the temperature of the body during exercise. This test was completed by having each subject raise their body temperature by running for approximately one minute on a treadmill. Their initial and elevated body temperature after exercise was recorded. After the elevated body temperature was recorded the subject was timed, for each cooling method, how long it took the subject’s body to return to its initial temperature. The three methods included a control, a cooling towel, the drinking of water, and a fan. After completing statistical analysis of the data and of the differences in the times, we found that there existed a significant difference in the difference of time taken to cool the body between the cooling towel and the other two methods of cooling. We found that the most effective method of cooling was the cooling towel with the second most effective method being the drinking of water. The cooling towel was the most effective because it’s fabric allows the water taken into the cloth to be cooled dramatically, allowing heat to easily radiate from the major arteries in the neck and distribute cooled blood throughout the body.
35. Using Pre Existing Exoplanet Data to assess The Possibility of Life on Other Planets
Mercy, B, Advanced Biology
Strull, E, Astrophysics & Astronomy
Keene, E, Advanced Biology
Scientists have wondered for decades what the chances are of finding life on other planets, and recent discoveries in astrophysics have transformed this inquiry from pseudoscience to a legitimate scientific investigation. New forms of measuring a planet's atmosphere, size, and distance from its sun have been discovered and include Transit, Radial Velocity, atmosphere spectroscopy, imaging, and microlensing. For this project we are using data that has been collected using these methods to determine whether or not a select group of planets are habitable or contain life. This project is mainly research based so a variety of websites will be featured, in particularly exoplanets.com, a database of discovered planets, to create tables and graphs that show critical features of each planet. In order to make definitive judgements on the viability of certain exoplanets specific criteria and data measurements were found to aid the process of narrowing down the data set. In the research process, it was discovered that the current presumption of extraterrestrial life is that it must be on a planet as earth-like as possible. Many parameters go into discovering these earth-like planets, yet, it is possible that life can exist in many other places besides a planet with resemblance to earth which we know because there are bacteria on earth that can withstand extreme weather conditions or other challenging living conditions. Thus, more research is proposed towards theoretical biology, and how life could exist in places and forms that are unimaginable for humans today.
36. Velocity, Acceleration and Force: Creating the Perfect Strike
Fee-Platt, J, Physics with Algebra & Trigonometry
Maas, H, Physics with Algebra & Trigonometry
Walsh, D, Physics with Algebra & Trigonometry
The experiment was conducted to determine the factors in which one would have the highest likelihood of bowling a strike. Using rotational and linear kinematics, how can one predict the best method of achieving a strike? Researchers state the desired spot to hit should be “the pocket”, which is the space three to six degrees to the right of center. The researchers tested this theory in addition to discovering what other factors were instrumental to the success of the bowls. After recording 107 total clips over three games, the scientists managed to obtain nine strikes. Using LoggerPro, the measurements of velocity and acceleration were taken using video analysis. Then, calculations of rotational velocity, linear velocity, force of friction, acceleration, and momentum of the bowling ball prior to a strike could be determined based on the results. From the data, one can observe that bowls with higher velocities and accelerations trigger more strikes than those with lower values. The range in which strikes were made was between 5.78 m/s and 8.58 m/s; most of the strikes’ velocities, however, registered between 7 and 8 m/s. The average of velocities for a bowling ball to strike should be 7.54 m/s. In addition, the majority of the balls during strikes approached the pins from the right side of the lane so it became clear how to approach it strategically. In conclusion, this experiment shows proof-of-concept for enhancing performance in bowling and other sports.
37. The Physics of Ice Skating
Kupka, G, Physics with Algebra & Trigonometry
Ezeoha, K, Physics with Algebra & Trigonometry
Etem, M, Physics with Algebra & Trigonometry
Figure skating and hockey are two examples of sports on ice and both require a lot of skill to maneuver around the ice in an efficient manner. This experiment takes a closer look at some of the techniques used by skaters and looks through the lense of physics to discover which moves produce the most acceleration and why. In order to evaluate this, eleven different ice skating moves with varying techniques will be analyzed with aspects of Newton’s 2nd and 3rd laws. The first step in this process, was to look into which moves skaters use from a broad spectrum. Then, the skaters and person filming will go to the Yerba Buena Ice Skating Rink in San Francisco to gather data. Videos will be taken of two skaters completing these moves that will be loaded onto logger pro. The movement of the skaters will be than tracked to obtain the values of position, velocity, and acceleration in order to create scatter plots and bar graphs that will be used to compare each trial. Specifically, the focus will be the differences in acceleration of the skater, why the acceleration varies, and determining which is the most effective in gaining speed.
The independent variable is the kind of move the skater executes on the ice. The dependent variables are the velocities, accelerations, and forces of friction on the skater. The control variables are the skater’s height and weight, the temperature of the ice, and the distance the skater travels.
38. The Physics of Jumps in Dance
Thorp, L, Physics with Algebra & Trigonometry
Gabbi Sembini-Tato, G, Physics with Algebra & Trigonometry
Lizbeth Betances, L, Physics with Algebra & Trigonometry
This experiment tested what factors in a jump made the subject go the highest. By looking at jumps commonly used in many forms of dance, but primarily ballet, it tested what factors influenced the jump and which hindered the height and which aided the subject in going higher. This experiment was done to help dancers learn what form to use in jumps to achieve maximum height. This experiment used, a camera, subject with dance training, and Logger Pro. The experiment itself was fairly simple. The dancer did a series of jumps: three running jumps, three jumps w/o pliés, three jumps w/ pliés. The experiment recorded the dancer doing all of these jumps and then mapped them on logger pro to examine the exact heights of all of the jumps. The jumps that had both a run and a plie got the dancer the highest, and jumps with just a plie came in at a close second, while jumps without run or plie barely got the dancer off of the ground. The experiment was successful as it arrived at a conclusion based on the data gathered through careful experimentation. More variables could have been included, but they were examined and deemed not directly crucial to what was in the experiment. This experiment could be applied in the work of any dancer, for maximum height, a running start, and a good plie are the most effective means.This experiment tested what factors in a jump made the subject go the highest. By looking at jumps commonly used in many forms of dance, but primarily ballet, it tested what factors influenced the jump and which hindered the height and which aided the subject in going higher. This experiment was done to help dancers learn what form to use in jumps to achieve maximum height. This experiment used, a camera, subject with dance training, and Logger Pro. The experiment itself was fairly simple. The dancer did a series of jumps: three running jumps, three jumps w/o pliés, three jumps w/ pliés. The experiment recorded the dancer doing all of these jumps and then mapped them on logger pro to examine the exact heights of all of the jumps. The jumps that had both a run and a plie got the dancer the highest, and jumps with just a plie came in at a close second, while jumps without run or plie barely got the dancer off of the ground. The experiment was successful as it arrived at a conclusion based on the data gathered through careful experimentation. More variables could have been included, but they were examined and deemed not directly crucial to what was in the experiment. This experiment could be applied in the work of any dancer, for maximum height, a running start, and a good plie are the most effective means.
Whitten, A, Human Anatomy & Physiology
Muñoz Ledo, A, Human Anatomy & Physiology
There are two steps to processing pain. First, there is the sensation of pain, in which the signal is sent to the brain. Second, the brain perceives pain using previous memories and emotions to determine how painful the stimulus is. The purpose of this study was to see if painful experiences result in a higher pain tolerance, as the brain would use previous painful experiences to perceive the current pain. Participants were asked if they had ever experienced and extremely painful injury. They were then asked to place their dominant hand in 1º Celsius ice water and to remove it from the water when the pain became unbearable. The number of seconds that they kept their hand in the water was timed and recorded. After comparing subjects who had a painful experience and those who had not, it was discovered that the average time for those who had gone through a painful experience was 290 seconds, while for those who had not was 66.2 seconds. Despite this difference, statistical analysis reveals that there is only a 5% probability of these results occurring again. Therefore, there is only a moderate statistical significance to claim that experiencing extreme pain results in a higher pain tolerance. This may be because other factors, such as athleticism, competitivity, and gender, may affect one’s pain tolerance.
Muñoz Ledo, A, Physics with Algebra & Trigonometry
Schuler, A, Physics with Algebra & Trigonometry
The purpose of this experiment was to determine if a rectangular, triangular, or oval-shaped blade would generate the largest power output. The power output is the amount of kinetic energy from the wind that is transformed into electrical energy by the turning blades. A model of a wind turbine was built using PVC pipes, a DC motor, and cardboard blades. Each blade shape was tested by placing the model in front of a fan and measuring the voltage generated using a Cen-Tech Multimeter. The experiment demonstrated that the oval-shaped blade generated the greatest power output of 35.6 volts. The rectangular blade was able to generate 32.5 volts while the triangular blade generated 25.2 volts, the smallest amount of power. The curved edge of the oval-shaped blade generated a correct amount of lift and drag forces as the wind made contact with the blade. Thus, a greater force of torque was generated, causing the blades to turn more efficiently and generate more power. In conclusion, blades with a curved edge allow for a greater amount of kinetic energy from the wind to be transformed into electrical energy.
41. The Properties of Homemade Graphene-based Supercapacitors
Ringness, D, Marin Academy Research Collaborative, Electrical Engineering & Computer Science
The purpose of this project was to create a working graphene-based supercapacitor and to compare its electrical properties to other energy storage devices. The method used to produce the supercapacitors was proposed by described by Maher F. El-Kady et al. in “Scalable Fabrication of High-power Graphene Micro-supercapacitors for Flexible and on Chip Energy Storage” which involves using a LightScribe DVD drive to laser etch an electrode pattern on the surface of a DVD coated with Graphene Oxide. Once the supercapacitors were created, their electrochemical properties were measured and compared to similar data sets from other forms of energy storage. These devices should have a higher power density and lower energy density compared to batteries and have a higher energy density compared to capacitors.
42. An Assessment of Gyroscopic Technology in Quadcopters
Kessel, K, Physics with Algebra & Trigonometry
Wessinger, A, Physics with Algebra & Trigonometry
The purpose of this project is to test the effectiveness and necessity of the gyroscopic technology of quadcopters. Gyroscopic technology is used for stabilization, control in direction, and precession during flight. This project uses Logger Pro to study the effects of the change in acceleration, velocity, and time when different masses and string lengths are attached to a toy quadcopters. In order to study the effectiveness of the aircraft, the added mass and string length on the toy will change the amount of force needed to lift the quadcopter; furthermore, the string length studies the effectiveness of the gyroscopic technology and the amount of control each toy has. The results of the experiment will show the control that the gyroscopic technology has in the quadcopter and the effects in flight when changing mass and string length by observing the path and time that the toy travel in each trial. The smaller the mass and string length that was attached to the drone proved to have more controlled flight paths and faster speeds during flight because of the gyroscopic technology that could balance torque and possession more easily with less mass attached.
Jackovics, D, Human Anatomy & Physiology
Melrose, C, Human Anatomy & Physiology
Sound waves enter the ear, they are converted into neural information which is processed through many parts of the brain, including the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is a portion of the brain that directly controls hormone release into the body. Cortisol is a steroid hormone released in response to stressful situations, causing many of the physical reactions associated with being anxious. This study was performed to explore how different sound frequencies directly impact salivary cortisol levels in teens. Subjects listened to a series of computer-generated tones for two minutes, with each tone varying in frequency. After listening, students were asked to rate their stress levels on a form, place a saliva collection pad in their mouth for one minute, and store the pad in a closed vial to be frozen. In order to determine cortisol content of the saliva, the samples were thawed, mixed in various reagents, and allowed to incubate, causing a stain. The pipette tray was cleaned and refilled with indicating solutions that changed to different shades of yellow. The finalized indicator solutions were analyzed for their yellow concentration by using a Color-Plate Reader. Using a series of mathematical conversions, the color data determined the program was converted into cortisol level measurements of the specific saliva samples. The salivary cortisol levels and tones played during collection were then analyzed.
44. The Comparison of Fecal Indicator Bacteria Concentration Across Marin County Sites Based on Point and Nonpoint Sources
Abbe, E, Oceanography
Klingelhofer, J, Oceanography
In this research project, we collected and analyzed a wide array of data concerning fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) in waters across marin to determine concentration and sources. This is a collaborative project with Blue Water Task Force, whose data we used as well, which was collected by schools across the county. We sampled two different locations, McNears Beach and Corte Madera Creek, once pera week. After sampling, we tested the samples for E.coli, Enterococci and Total Coliforms, then entered the data into a large database and analyzed for results. From the data gathered, Corte Madera Creek had a greater the most concentration of FIBsfecal indicator bacteria. Because of the point and non-point sources around this area, the bacteria runoff was much higher than McNears beach because of its isolation. In conclusion, we found that Corte Madera Creek, had largest concentration of fecal indicator bacteria, most likely due to a variety of point and non point sources.
45. Is there a significant difference between children of different ages, ranging from five to seven years old, in conception of time?
Reuben, C, Marin Academy Research Collaborative
It is important to understand the difference in time cognitive functions among children in the age range of five to seven years old, considering that the conception and practical utilization of time develops with age. Three different activities were employed in order to assess young children’s ability to estimate and comprehend time in minutes. Children sorted blocks by color, and then shape, and then color again. The children were first asked to different time intervals. For the second activity, they were asked how much time they would like to complete the activity, and for the third, they were asked how long the sorting took them once they were finished. The first activity was repeated as a control. A better understanding of how children understand time in minutes will not only be beneficial children, but parents, teachers, and caretakers, etc. It will enable them to modify their language in a way in which young children can better understand; thus, allowing for the child and adult to understand one another better and allowing for more efficient cognitive growth.
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