How to Do a Science Fair Project for School

How to Do a Science Fair Project for School Okay, you have a subject and you have at least one testable question. If you havent done so already, make sure you understand the steps of the scientific method. Try to write down your question in the form of a hypothesis. Lets say your initial question is about determining the concentration required for salt to be tasted in water. Really, in the scientific method, this research would fall under the category of making observations. Once you had some data, you could go on to formulate a hypothesis, such as: There will be no difference between the concentration at which all members of my family will detect salt in water. For elementary school science fair projects and possibly high school projects, the initial research may be an excellent project in itself. However, the project will be much more meaningful if you can form a hypothesis, test it, and then determine whether or not the hypothesis was supported. Write Down Everything Whether you decide on a project with a formal hypothesis or not, when you perform your project (take data), there are steps you can take to make the most of your project. First, write everything down. Gather your materials and list them, as specifically as you can. In the scientific world, it is important to be able to duplicate an experiment, especially if surprising results are obtained. In addition to writing down data, you should note any factors that could affect your project. In the salt example, it is possible that the temperature could affect my results (alter the solubility of salt, change the bodys rate of excretion, and other factors I might not consciously consider). Other factors you might note could include relative humidity, the  age of participants in my study, a list of medications (if anyone is taking them), etc. Basically, write down anything of note or potential interest. This information could lead your study in new directions once you start taking data. The in formation you take down at this point could make a fascinating summary or discussion of future research directions for your paper or presentation. Don't Discard Data Perform your project and record your data. When you form a hypothesis or seek the answer to a question, you probably have a preconceived idea of the answer. Dont let this preconception influence the data you record! If you see a data point that looks off, dont throw it out, no matter how strong the temptation. If you are aware of some unusual event that occurred when the data was being taken, feel free to make a note of it, but dont discard the data. Repeat the Experiment To determine the level at which you taste salt in water, you can keep adding salt to water until you have a detectable level, record the value, and move on. However, that single data point will have very little scientific significance. It is necessary to repeat the experiment, perhaps several times, to achieve significant value. Keep notes on the conditions surrounding a duplication of an experiment. If you duplicate the salt experiment, perhaps you would get different results if you kept tasting salt solutions over and over than if you performed the test once a day over a span of several days. If your data takes the form of a survey, multiple data points might consist of many responses to the survey. If the same survey is resubmitted to the same group of people in a short time span, would their answers change? Would it matter if the same survey was given to a different, yet seemingly, a  similar group of people? Think about questions like this and take care in repeating a project.

Second Battle of Manassas - Civil War Second Battle of Manassas

Second Battle of Manassas - Civil War Second Battle of Manassas Second Battle of Manassas - Conflict Dates: The Second Battle of Manassas was fought August 28-30, 1862, during the American Civil War. Armies Commanders Union Major General John Pope70,000 men Confederate General Robert E. Lee55,000 men Second Battle of Manassas - Background: With the collapse of Major General George B. McClellans Peninsula Campaign in the summer of 1862, President Abraham Lincoln brought Major General John Pope east to take command of the newly created Army of Virginia. Consisting of three corps led by Major Generals Franz Sigel, Nathaniel Banks, and Irvin McDowell, Popes force was soon augmented by additional units taken from McClellans Army of the Potomac. Tasked with protecting Washington and the Shenandoah Valley, Pope began moving southwest towards Gordonsville, VA. Seeing that Union forces were divided and believing that the timid McClellan posed little threat, Confederate General Robert E. Lee sensed an opportunity to destroy Pope before returning south to finish off the Army of the Potomac. Detaching the left wing of his army, Lee ordered Major General Thomas Stonewall Jackson to move north to Gordonsville to intercept Pope. On August 9, Jackson defeated Banks corps at Cedar Mountain and four days later Lee began moving the other wing of his army, led by Major General James Longstreet, north to join Jackson. Second Battle of Manassas - Jackson on the March: Between August 22 and 25, the two armies squared off across the rain-swollen Rappahannock River, with neither able to force a crossing. During this time, Pope began receiving reinforcements as McClellans men were withdrawn from the Peninsula. Seeking to defeat Pope before the Union commanders force grew much larger, Lee ordered Jackson to take his men and Major General J.E.B. Stuarts cavalry division on a bold flanking march around the Union right. Moving north, then east through Thoroughfare Gap, Jackson severed the Orange Alexandria Railroad at Bristoe Station before capturing the Union supply base at Manassas Junction on August 27. With Jackson in his rear, Pope was forced to fall back from the Rappahannock and reconcentrate near Centreville. Moving northwest from Manassas, Jackson moved through the old First Bull Run battlefield and assumed a defensive position behind an unfinished railroad grade below Stony Ridge on the night of August 27/28. From this position, Jackson had a clear view of the Warrenton Turnpike which ran east to Centreville. Second Battle of Manassas - Fighting Begins: The fighting began at 6:30 PM on August 28 when units belonging to Brigadier General Rufus Kings division were seen moving east on the turnpike. Jackson, who learned earlier in the day that Lee and Longstreet were marching to join him, moved to the attack. Engaging on the Brawner Farm, the fight was largely against the Union brigades of Brigadier Generals John Gibbon and Abner Doubleday. Firing for around two and half hours, both sides took heavy losses until darkness ended the fighting. Pope misinterpreted the battle as Jackson retreating from Centreville and ordered his men to trap the Confederates. Second Battle of Manassas - Assaulting Jackson: Early the next morning, Jackson dispatched some of Stuarts men to direct Longstreets approaching troops into pre-selected positions on his right. Pope, in an effort to destroy Jackson, moved his men to the fight and planned attacks on both Confederate flanks. Believing that Jacksons right flank was near Gainesville, he directed Major General Fitz John Porter to take his V Corps west to attack that position. At the other end of the line, Sigel was assault the Confederate left along the railroad grade. While Porters men marched, Sigels opened the fighting around 7:00 AM. Attacking Major General A.P. Hills men, the Brigadier General Carl Schurzs troops made little progress. While the Union did achieve some local successes, they were often undone by vigorous Confederate counterattacks. Around 1:00 PM, Pope arrived on the field with reinforcements just as Longstreets lead units were moving into position. To the southwest, Porters corps was moving up the Manassas-Gainesville Road and engaged a group of Confederate cavalry. Second Battle of Manassas - Union Confusion: Shortly thereafter, its advance was halted when Porter received a confusing Joint Order from Pope which muddied the situation and did not provide any clear direction. This confusion was worsened by news from McDowells cavalry commander, Brigadier General John Buford, that large numbers of Confederates (Longstreets men) had been spotted in Gainesville that morning. For an unknown reason, McDowell failed to forward this to Pope until that evening. Pope, waiting for Porters attack, continued to launch piecemeal assaults against Jackson and remained unaware that Longstreets men had arrived on the field. At 4:30, Pope sent an explicit order for Porter to attack, but it was not received until 6:30 and the corps commander was not in a position to comply. In anticipation of this attack, Pope threw Major General Philip Kearnys division against Hills lines. In severe fighting, Kearnys men were only repelled after determined Confederate counterattacks. Observing Union movements, Lee decided to attack the Union flank, but was dissuaded by Longstreet who advocated a reconnaissance in force to set up an assault in the morning. Brigadier General John B. Hoods division moved forward along the turnpike and collided with Brigadier General John Hatchs men. Both sides retreated after a sharp fight. Second Battle of Manassas - Longstreet Strikes As darkness fell, Pope finally received McDowells report regarding Longstreet. Falsely believing that Longstreet had arrived to support Jacksons retreat, Pope recalled Porter and began planning a massive assault by V Corps for the next day. Though advised to move cautiously at a council of war the next morning, Pope pushed Porters men, supported by two additional divisions, west down the turnpike. Around noon, they wheeled right and attacked the right end of Jacksons line. Taken under heavy artillery fire the assault breached the Confederate lines but was thrown back by counterattacks. With the failure of Porters attack, Lee and Longstreet moved forward with 25,000 men against the Union left flank. Driving scattered Union troops before them, they only encountered determined resistance at a few points. Realizing the danger, Pope began moving troops to block the attack. With the situation desperate, he succeeded in forming a defensive line along the Manassas-Sudley Road at the foot of Henry House Hill. The battle lost, Pope began a fighting withdraw back towards Centreville around 8:00 PM. Second Battle of Manassas - Aftermath: The Second Battle of Manassas cost Pope 1,716 killed, 8,215 wounded and 3,893 missing, while Lee suffered 1,305 killed and 7,048 wounded. Relieved on September 12, Popes army was incorporated into the Army of the Potomac. Seeking a scapegoat for the defeat, he had Porter court-martialed for his actions on August 29. Found guilty, Porter spent fifteen years working to clear his name. Having won a stunning victory, Lee embarked on his invasion of Maryland a few days later. Selected Sources National Park Service: Manassas National BattlefieldLibrary of Congress: Second Battle of ManassasHistoryNet: Second Battle of Manassas