Earth Science Fair Projects

Astronomy:

• Use a spectroscope to identify and compare the elements of different stars (e.g., look at a blue star like Sirius compared to a red one like Betelgeuse).
• What is the best design you can come up with for a homemade astrolabe?
• Use historical data and current conditions to find out how the number of sunspots affects Earth's weather. Can this information be used to accurately predict weather patterns on the earth?
• Use a radio to measure changes in the ionosphere. Will ionosphere activity be more in the day than in the night? Will solar flares affect ionosphere activity?
• What kind of weather conditions are the best for stargazing? Are all clear nights equally good, regardless of temperature? Can you measure the effect of light pollution on stargazing in your city? (Use a star map and compare which stars you can see in your backyard to which ones you can see in the dark countryside.)

Geology:

• Use a mineral test kit to identify rocks and minerals in your experiments.
• Experiment with a black light to test for fluorescent minerals. Do the same minerals fluoresce under longwave versus shortwave UV light?
• Do different types of rocks in the soil affect plant growth?
• How does soil management affect soil quality?
• Do different types of rock affect road stability?
• Earth's movement beneath the surface changes the appearance of the earth's surface. Do different soil types move in different patterns when the same type of movement is applied?
• What factors speed up erosion, and what methods can be used to prevent erosion?
• How do crystals form, and what factors affect the rate at which they form?

Volcanoes & Earthquakes:

• Can you design model structures that are "earthquake" resistant?
• Does the type of soil under and around a building affect how much damage an earthquake could cause? Do different soil types relate to the phenomenon of liquefaction during an earthquake?
• Does previous strain on a building affect its ability to withstand an earthquake?
• Are human burps similar to volcanic eruptions?
• Does temperature affect the viscosity of lava? Does this affect how explosive a volcano's eruption is?
• Can you build a volcano to test the theory of how temperature affects lava or the explosiveness of eruption?
• Experiment to demonstrate why some fumaroles produce more steam than others.

Weather:

• Use weather instruments to answer questions like "How can I predict which time of day will have the highest temperature?" or "When is a storm most likely to hit my area?"
• How well can you forecast weather by observing clouds and wind direction?
• Are there places very close to your location that get more or less rainfall than you? If so, try to discover what factors are involved.
• Does heat or dry wind evaporate water faster? Do you have ideas how you might slow down evaporation?
• Dealing with the consequences of more wild weather, explore the effects of tsunamis or hurricanes on the shoreline. Does human manipulation of the environment affect how well the shoreline can minimize destruction on land caused by hurricanes and tsunamis?
• How do hot and cold air circulate to form different weather patterns? How does this relate to barometric pressure, and how is pressure used to forecast storms?
• Does an ocean breeze blow in the same direction during the day as during the night? What is the relation of the air temperature to the water temperature during the day versus during the night?

Visit our science fair project ideas page for ideas in other categories.

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