This is a selection of high school science fair projects and a brief description of each. These were selected for do-ability, scientific value, and for how interesting each could be. 

For tips on how to turn these ideas into the best possible projects without wasting time, visit our winning projects section.

To go to a particular section here, jump to: Physics/Engineering, Mathematics, Earth Science, or Biology.

Cool Physics

Curious about energy?  What it is and how to do a science project about it?  Get the facts you need about energy science projects.

Physics/Engineering

• What is the best propeller design for a wind generator?
  • Would you maximize the surface orthogonal to presumed wind direction? How would this affect long term wear? As we look for alternate energy sources, the design of alternative energy generators will become increasingly important.
• Sound using light?
  • Modern telecommunications rely upon fiber optic cables to relay voice signals (telephone conversations.) How does this work? How does your voice get converted to a light beam and then back again halfway across the world?
• What's the difference between LED lights and incandescent (normal) lights?
  • How is energy converted into light in each device? Are there distinct advantages of one over the other? Or does each have a well defined niche where one excels over the other? You can do a cool experiment very inexpensively with this high school science fair project.
• Like T. V.? Ever wonder how the picture is formed on the screen?
  • And ever wonder what the difference is between LCD TVs and Tube (old) TVs? An investigation in this area is well worth your time.

Mathematics

• Think your calculator has all the answers?
  • Your calculator is actually limited in it's precision! Don't know what that means? Then this may be the experiment for you. You can try out this high school science fair project with your own calculator and a little time.
• Snowflakes are more then just cold. They are complex crystalline structures. But why?
  • Each snowflake, when observed under magnification, can be seen to be a complex structure of ice molecules. But why? A great experiment for those curious about mathematics and how it models (not shapes!) our world.
• Ever wonder why a pole dipped in water looks like it 'bends' at the point of insertion?
  • This experiment deals with the index of refraction. Curious students will try this experiment with different kinds of liquid at different temperatures. Does the angle of the pole change?
• The photoelectric effect
  • Did you know that you can start a current in a metal plate just by shining a light on it? It's true! This experiment has endless possibilities. This high school science fair project can be involved, but it's worth if you have a keen interest in physics.

Earth Science

• Volcano science fair experiment
  • An oldie but a goody. Plenty of interesting science here! Why do volcanoes exist at all? Where does the magma come from? What happened during some notable eruptions (e.g. Mount St. Helens.)
• Why is carbon dating only usable on objects less then about 10000 years old?
  • It would be great if we could use carbon dating for everything. But we can't. Why?
• Did you know there is a 'river' of warm water that flows from the north American continent to Europe?
  • What would happen if this 'river' stopped flowing? How does this river affect the average temperature of Europe? There has been a movie made recently based on this high school science fair project.
• Earthquakes happen. But why? Are they all the same?
  • This is a fertile area for research and experimentation. And some of the answers may surprise you.

Biology

• Antiseptics and bacteria
  • Are household antiseptics a good idea? What happens to a mixed population of bacteria when these products are applied? Can you think of a reason why using antiseptics all the time could be a bad thing? This high school science fair project has seen a lot of debate recently.
• Plant Tropisms
  • Ever notice how some plants will 'bend' toward a well light window? How do they 'know' how to do that? This experiment will reveal how plants take advantage of their environments.
• Interested in DNA? Did you know that some kinds of flowers have much more DNA then human beings?
  • Does that mean that they are a complex life form? Why would they have so much DNA? This is an interesting and often overlooked experiment.

These are just some possible high school science fair projects. If you'd like more ideas, try the other grade categories - even though they may not be at your level, a good idea is a good idea: give those project ideas a shot!

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