9th Grade Science Fair Project Ideas

Introduction to 9th Grade Science Fair Projects

9th grade is the first year of high school, so 9th graders might be competing against older students in a science fair. Even so, they stand every bit as good a chance of excelling and winning. The key to success is choosing an interesting project that doesn't necessarily take a lot of time to complete. 9th graders have a lot going on, so seek an idea that can be developed and completed over the space of a few weeks or less.

The quality of the presentation is very important, since high school students are expected to be familiar with word processing programs and printers. Give some attention to the quality of the poster. Be sure to cite any references used in developing the experiment.

9th Grade Science Fair Project Ideas

tooth whiteners - Find the shade of white that matches your teeth. Brush your teeth using a tooth whitening toothpaste or using a whitening gum. What color are your teeth now? You could have other family members test different products to get additional data.
seed germination - Can you affect (improve?) the germination rate of seeds by pre-rinsing them in a chemical before planting them? Examples of chemicals to try would include hydrogen peroxide solution, dilute hydrochloric acid solution, dilute isopropyl alcohol solution, fruit juice. Some of these agents are thought to be able to loosen the seed coat surrounding the plant embryo.
What is the best way to store bread to keep it fresh the longest time?

What things can you do to improve the efficiency or effectiveness of your clothes dryer or water heater or any device? For example, can you take actions or make changes that will decrease the length of time it takes your dryer to get a load of towels dry?
Does listening to music while you study affect your ability to memorize facts?
Does the presence of smoke in the air affect plant transpiration?
Does eye color affect peripheral vision? Supposedly people with darker eyes tend to have wider pupils for a given amount of light than people with light-colored irises. If you have a more-open pupil, does it give you measureably better peripheral vision? Another idea to test would be to see if you have the same peripheral vision in bright light as compared with dim light.
acid snow? - You know about acid rain, but do you know the pH range of snow? If you live in an area with snow, test its pH. How does the pH of snow compare with the pH of rain from the same region?
What methods of preventing soil erosion work best? For example, what is effective at preventing erosion in your yard?
What can you do to reduce noise pollution in a room? What factors contribute to noise pollution inside a residence?
seed viability - Is there a test you can perform to predict whether or not a seed will germinate? What factors can you measure that might be used to construct a test?
Does an external magnetic field have any noticeable effect on animals such as brine shrimp, cockroaches, or fruit flies? You could use a strip magnet and containers of sample organisms and make observations to address this question.
Is the brightness of glow-in-the-dark (phsophorescent) materials affected by the light source (spectrum) used to make them glow or only by the intensity (brightness) of the light? Does the light source affect the length of time a phosphorescent material will glow?
Can you affect vitamin C (or another measureable vitamin) levels in juice (or another food) by adding a preservative to the juice?
What is the best thickness of insulation for preventing heat loss?
Is lightbulb lifespan affected by whether the bulb is run at full power? In other words, do dim bulbs last longer/shorter than bulbs run at their power rating?
What type of box material gives you the best sound for your speaker?
When comparing different brands of batteries, is the battery that lasts the longest at a high temperature the same brand that lasts the longest at a cold temperature.