A total of 85 middle school projects were displayed at the fair from the following schools:
Big Rapids Middle School
Morley Stanwood Middle School
St. Peter's Lutheran

The top 10 middle school projects were recognized during the awards assembly.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BUFFER ZONES AND FERTILIZER RUNOFF INTO SURFACE WATER FROM ALFALFA CROPS

Alfalfa is an important Michigan hay crop; however, to harvest the highest yield possible requires large amounts of fertilizer.  Fertilizer is considered a pollutant once in aquatic systems.  How the distance between fertilized alfalfa crops and surface water is related to runoff is what this research is about.  Four alfalfa plots were planted along a pond.  There were two plots near the water, one with fertilizer and one without.  The other two plots had a three-meter grass buffer zone between the water and alfalfa crops, again, one was fertilized, and the other was not.  Water samples were taken in front of each plot to determine the amount of fertilizer in the water.  The data was recorded and analyzed using a T-Test.  The data confirmed the hypothesis that more fertilizer would runoff from the fertilized alfalfa plot near the pond, than the fertilized alfalfa plot with the buffer zone.  If the researcher were to do the experiment again, they would have tried to control factors that distorted the data, such as rainfall, temperature, and frequency of fertilizer applications.  Overall, the research was a success and proved to be relevant to the farming of central Michigan. 

HOW AUTOSTEROGRAMS ARE SEEN BY THE EYE 

The experiment tested the ability to see autostereograms according to the angle of a person’s eye.    Autostereograms are also called 3-D images.    Some people are able to see these images, while some are not.     The researcher attempted to determine why.     

The angle of a person’s eye was measured using a Muscle Imbalance Measure card and various tools, before and after the subject viewed Autosterograms.    If the eye angled inward it was recorded as eso; if the eye angled outward it was recorded as exo.   

The subjects were given five autostereograms to look at.    They told the researcher what images they were able to see, if any.    The researcher predicted that if the test subjects had more exo/outward-angled eyes, then they been able to see the autostereograms better. 

The results of the experiment supported the researcher’s hypothesis.     The statistical analysis  (correlation correspondence and t-test) performed also supported the researcher’s hypothesis.    Subjects with more ex/outward-angled eyes were able to see Autosterograms better than subjects with so/inward-angled eyes in the experiment conducted.

AUDIO AMPLIFIERS; BRIDGED VS. TRADITIONAL

The purpose of this report was to determine if bridged amplifiers are a cheaper, higher power type of amplifier than traditional push – pull amplifiers.  A bridge amplifier uses two traditional amplifiers to power the output, producing up to four times the output power.  However, bridge amplifiers are typically known as having lower quality, including higher distortion and a more deviant frequency response, so the hypothesis stated that the bridge amplifier would have higher distortion.  This experiment tested a bridge and traditional amplifier of the same design and compared the total harmonic distortion (THD) and frequency response.  The results for the frequency response test were very conclusive.  The traditional amplifier’s frequency response was much better than the bridge amplifier’s.   The t-test results proved that there was a statistical difference with a very high probability.  The THD tests also showed that the bridge amplifier had higher distortion.   All of these tests agreed with the hypothesis.  The hypothesis was shown to be correct that the bridge amplifier has higher distortion and more deviant frequency response.  However, the results also showed that bridge amplifiers could have qualities desirable for audio amplifiers. 

OVERPOPULATION VS. GROWTH IN GOLDFISH

Fish growth is important to learn about for many reasons.  We use fish for food, to make a living, and for enjoyment.  Whatever your reason for knowing whether an overpopulation affects a fish’s growth is important.  My hypothesis is: If a fish’s growth is affected by the size of its environment, and by how many fish there are in that environment, then the fish in the larger tank will be bigger than the fish in the smaller tank.

A POPULATION MODEL FOR SACCAROMYCES CEREVISIAE

This research involves the using a model of exponential growth to estimate the number of microbes in .025 grams of Saccaromyces cerevisiae.  The researcher used a solution of fifty percent pasteurized apple juice and fifty percent distilled water.  The researcher is hypothesizing that the population of the microbes is proportionate to the amount of gas produced.  The researcher has found that the amount of gas produced per minute was 7.37 milliliters per minute.

DO STAIN REMOVERS WORK? 

Laundry is a big part of our lives. We are constantly trying to take unwanted stains out of our clothes. The best way to do that is to find a good stain remover or detergent. The two main classes of these are enzymatic and non-enzymatic detergents and stain removers. The researcher wanted to find out which of these would work the best. The researcher took two separate pieces of a sheet and stained each of them with five different types of stains that would occur in everyday life. The stains were juice, bacon grease, coffee, chlorophyll (to simulate grass), and blood. The researcher washed one piece of the sheet in non-enzymatic detergent and named this her control. The researcher washed the other piece of sheet in the same detergent and put an enzymatic stain remover on it. This was the experimental part of the experiment. The results didn’t support the hypothesis. They showed that the enzymatic stain remover did not help take out the stain better than the non-enzymatic detergent alone. The results were statistically analyzed by using the t-test. The results show that detergents and stain removers containing enzymes do not more effectively get out stains.  

BACTERIAL GROWTH IN ANTIBACTERIAL SPONGES

The purpose of this research project was to find out how the antibacterial agent (zinc pyrithione) in antibacterial O-Cel-O sponges affected the amount of bacterial growth in the sponge.   The researcher tested the O-Cel-O sponges and regular sponges after cleaning a kitchen counter to see if bacteria were present in the sponge.  The researcher also tested the sponges straight out of the package to see if any bacteria were present before use.  This was a qualitative research project where the researcher observed if bacteria were present in antibacterial sponges and how it compared to bacterial growth in a regular sponge.

HOW THE AMOUNT OF GAMMA RAYS ON BRASSICA RAPA SEEDS EFFECT LATER GROWTH

This research project was designed to test the affects of gamma radiation on Brassica rapa’s growth. There were five levels of radiation, zero, 50,000r, 15,000r, 500,000r, and 4,000,000r. The researcher hypothesized that the higher the dose of radiation received, then the more stunted the growth would be. Sixteen seeds were set up for each level of radiation. The plants were allowed to grow for thirty-three days under a plant light. Data was gathered every one to three days. The results of the data show that the plants that received more radiation grew less. As the level of radiation was increased, the more drastically the growth was decreased. The plants that received the highest amount of radiation, 4,000,000r, did not grow at all throughout the entire experiment. The data was analyzed using Students t test to show that this was not a random occurrence, but actually affected by the independent variable. After the data was analyzed, it was shown that it was not likely to be just a random occurrence. The researcher’s hypothesis was supported by the data gathered.

ATTACHMENT TENDENCIES OF DREISSENA POLYMORPHA 

Zebra mussels are a growing problem in the United States.   Efforts are being put forth to stop this aquatic invader, as it is ruining our aquatic ecosystem. This particular research was an effort to detect which substances the mussels prefer for attachment.  Four galvanized aluminum dock poles were placed in Blue Lake.  They were painted in seven different colors and two different textures (rough and smooth.)  The poles were then removed and the data has shown significant differences in their attachment tendencies.  

The results have shown that zebra mussels may be more attracted to rough surfaced galvanized aluminum than to smooth surfaced galvanized aluminum dock poles.  The data has also shown that zebra mussels attach more frequently to lighter or brighter colors such as yellow, white, and aqua rather than dull, dark colors such as black, blue, and red. 

MICROORGANISMS IN THE AIR 

The research was on testing an air filter to see if it would reduce the amount of microorganisms in the air.  The researcher hypothesized that the air filter would reduce the amount of microorganisms in the air.   The researcher started with selecting two rooms and two locations.  Six petri dishes were put in each location.  They went in two-hour intervals starting from two hours before the filter was turned on to eight hours after.   There were two locations on the floor, in two different rooms, one on a meter-high shelf, and one on a two-meter high desk.   

The results show that the fungus went from seventy to below ten in eight hours, and the bacteria went from ten to zero on the two-meter desk.  On the floor of the same room, there seemed to be no deviation from twenty, with the exception of the fungus when the filter was turned on.  It is unknown why, though.  In the second room, on the floor, the results are inconclusive.  On the shelf, there is a noticeable hyperbola going from sixty-five to five.   The bacteria went from fourteen to zero.   As shown from this data, the hypothesis was correct with the shelves, but not the floor. 

THE EFFECT TEMPERATURE HAS ON MANDUCA SEXTA

The experiment that the researcher decided to do was to study the effect temperature has on Manduca Sexta or their more commonly used name the Tobacco Hornworm. These species are worms that feed off of the leaves of tobacco plants. The researcher predicted that the lower the temperatures of the Manduca sexta’s environment which were kept at a constant twenty-five degrees Celsius, the slower the growth rate would be compared to the heated group, which remained at twenty-nine degrees Celsius.  This hypothesis also included that the cocoon stage will be earlier in the heated group due to the faster growth rate. In order to complete this research, the researcher kept two steady aquariums with the Manduca sexta in containers inside and kept watch over them for a period of thirty-four days. With the research that was conducted, the researcher found out that the experiment answers the question and also supports its hypothesis. The answer that was concluded was that temperature does play a role in the growth rate and cocoon stage of Manduca sexta. With this experiment supporting it’s hypothesis, it answers many questions that have been brought up on how to keep these pests away from destroying tobacco plants.

DANGEROUS DINNERWARE?  A STUDY IN THE RADIOACTIVITY OF OLD CERAMIC DINNERWARE 

From approximately 1930 to 1970, ceramic tableware was manufactured with radioactive glazes.  The glazes contained uranium oxide, which was used as a colorant for red-orange glazes (among other colors, with the red-orange being the most radioactive). This researcher hypothesized that if tomato sauce, due to its acidity, dissolves the glaze when placed on the plates, then the sauce will emit radiation.  Two red-orange plates were obtained.  The radioactivity of both plates was measured and the type of radiation the plates emitted was found.  Metal objects were placed on fast instant film, then covered with the plates.  An image of the object was formed, because of the particles being emitted from the plates.  Next, tomato sauce was placed on the plates, then scraped off after an hour as if someone was going to eat the sauce.  The radioactivity of the tomato sauce before and after being placed on the plates was compared.  The plates emitted beta radiation, and possibly gamma radiation.  The radioactivity of the tomato sauce increased after being exposed to the plates.  Therefore, it was concluded that the sauce dissolved the glaze.   This could pose a potential health risk for those eating off these plates, because of the heavy metals in the glaze, but further study is needed to determine if the amount of glaze dissolved can cause health problems if ingested. 

THE AFFECT OF STORAGE IN A BATHROOM ON A TOOTHBRUSH’S BACTERIAL GROWTHToothbrushes are used by millions of people everyday as part of their oral hygiene procedure.  The storage of toothbrushes varies greatly in every bathroom.   The question involved in this research was mostly developed from the curiosity of the researcher: Does the storage areas in the bathroom affect the growth of the bacteria on the toothbrushes of use?  Four areas of the bathroom that are most used were tested, and the spot in the bathroom that is guaranteed to gather the most bacterial growth is behind the toilet in the bathroom, to gather the least is inside of a medicine cabinet.  

THE SOUND OF MUSIC: SYNTHESIZED SOUND VS. INSTRUMENTAL SOUND
Sound is a series of vibrations.  The frequency of the sound depends on how fast the sound is projected.   When instrumentalists play their notes, they have to make sure that the notes are in tune and have the correct pitch.  Different instruments have to be adjusted in different ways.  My research comparing the frequency of musical instrument sounds to a synthesized sound that is perfectly in tune.  Out of the flute, clarinet, and trumpet the trombone and flute had the sharpest notes

RELAXATION AND CONCENTRATION

Visual Imagery is the way people think, picturing in their mind.   Imagery is used by psychologists to cure patients of phobias, raise self-esteem/self-confidence, and help patients deal with concerning situations.  The more vivid the imagery, the more it will benefit the patients.    

Three different groups were tested for the vividness of their imagery, one after relaxation, one after concentration, and one without either.  Improvement was seen in both the concentration group and the relaxation group when compared to the control group. Even though the relaxation procedure was different than the concentration procedure they still do similar things to the mind.

THE EFFECT OF A VENTURI ON A WIND GENERATOR 

This project takes a look at wind generators and a way to increase the amount of power they produce.  A Venturi increases the speed of the air that passes through it, so it was hypothesized that if it were put in front of a wind generator it would produce more power.  That would be sufficiently tested by seeing by how much the Venturi increased the air speed because wind generators have already been proven to produce more electricity with more wind.  The test setup was simple, a Venturi, supports, gauge, and fan.  It was found that the Venturi did increase the speed of the air passing through it.  With the wind speed requirement lowered, it may be possible to have successful wind farms in places where there is a lower wind speed.  That would help solve some of the problems people are having with power shortages.

HOW TEMPERATURE AFFECTS HIBERNATION PATTERNS OF THE COCCINELLIDAE

This experiment was performed to see if temperature affects Coccinellidae, or ladybug, hibernation patterns.  To perform this experiment, a large number of specimens were needed.  They were acquired from many different places, mostly backyards and fields.   They were placed in different aquariums and their hibernation patterns were observed.  Every day for five days, ten random ladybugs were assigned numbers.  These numbers represented the state they were in, whether it was hibernation or a complete state of activity.  The variable in this experiment was temperature.  The numbers recorded were added up.  The results supported the null hypothesis, which stated that ladybug hibernation patterns are not affected by temperature.  After running T-tests on the numbers that were obtained, this hypothesis was still supported by the results.  The conclusion that was reached stated that temperature did not affect ladybug hibernation patterns.   This conclusion is not solid because the experiment could have been affected by different variables.  The temperature may have fluctuated slightly, or light could have affected the outcome.  However, the experiment was adequate enough to come to the conclusion stated. 

PERMEABILITY OF ROCK FILL DAMS

The purpose of this research was to find out which type of rock would be best for a permeable rock fill dam according to the size uniformity of the rock. The researcher’s hypothesis stated that the rock with a variation in size would have a lower permeability than the rock with a uniform size. The researcher decided to test the permeability of the rock by having a large clear plastic tube with a mesh screen at one end to hold the rocks. He tested four different variations of rock of which consisted of rock 2-4 mm, 12.5-15.9 mm, varied rock between 4-12.5 mm, and mixed rock of 2-4 mm and 12.5-15.9 mm. The researcher measured the permeability by timing how long it took the water to permeate through the rock, and then he converted it to cm per second. The researcher found that the 2-4 mm rock had the lowest permeability as expected. His hypothesis ended up being right and wrong in a way. The mixed rock had a lower permeability than the uniform large rock, yet it had a higher permeability than the uniform small rock. The researcher concluded that the mixed rock should be used for a dam rather than just the small rock. He hypothesized that the larger rock would weigh down on the smaller rock keeping it in place while just the smaller rock would be washed away. The mixed rock would have a low permeability and also the stability that it needs. 

U.S. Army Award: Best Life Sciences Project
and
US Metric Association Award
Best use of quantitative measures and
the SI metric system
THE RATE OF DECAY OF RAT CARCASSES IN DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTAL SETTINGS 

This research deals with the effect of the environmental setting on the rate at which rat carcasses decay. I also question how the environmental setting of a carcass affects the insects attracted to it. Pairs of rat carcasses were placed on a trimmed grass lawn, in a meadow, in a pine forest, in a deciduous forest, and hanging from a maple tree. The researcher expected that the rat carcasses in wooded areas would decay at a slower rate than the rats of other locations.

HOW THE FIBONACCI SEQUENCE RELATES TO THE GOLDEN RECTANGLE AND THE GOLDEN RATIO