A science project is an

education Education is a purposeful activity directed at achieving certain aims, such as transmitting knowledge or fostering skills and character traits. These aims may include the development of understanding, rationality, kindness, and honesty. Va ...

al activity for students involving

experiment An experiment is a procedure carried out to support or refute a hypothesis, or determine the efficacy or likelihood of something previously untried. Experiments provide insight into Causality, cause-and-effect by demonstrating what outcome oc ...

s or construction of models in one of the science disciplines. Students may present their science project at a

science fair Science and engineering fairs, hosted by schools worldwide, offer students the opportunity to experience the practices of science and engineering for themselves. In the United States, the Next Generation Science Standards makes experiencing the ...

, so they may also call it a science fair project. Science projects may be classified into four main types. Science projects are done by students worldwide.

Experimental projects

Science class X Experimental projects, also known as investigatory projects, start with a question (AKA a hypothesis), use the

scientific method The scientific method is an empirical method for acquiring knowledge that has characterized the development of science since at least the 17th century (with notable practitioners in previous centuries; see the article history of scientific m ...

to complete the research, and end with a report detailing the results and conclusions and an abstract.

Engineering projects

Engineering projects, also known as technology projects, start with a design of a machine or mechanical structure with the purpose of improving strength or performance. Researchers implement all their design ideas in a model they construct. The model will be tested to evaluate the design.

Display projects

Display projects involve a creative assembly of a

display board A display board, also known as poster board, is a board-shaped material that is rigid and strong enough to stand on its own, and generally used paper or other materials affixed to it. Along with quad charts, display boards were an early form of f ...

and construction of a model to show a visual representation of a larger fact. Making a model of the

Solar System The Solar SystemCapitalization of the name varies. The International Astronomical Union, the authoritative body regarding astronomical nomenclature, specifies capitalizing the names of all individual astronomical objects but uses mixed "Solar S ...

, a house, or of a simple

electric circuit An electrical network is an interconnection of electrical components (e.g., batteries, resistors, inductors, capacitors, switches, transistors) or a model of such an interconnection, consisting of electrical elements (e.g., voltage sources, c ...

are considered display projects. Display boards are used to enhance the presentation. A

tablet computer A tablet computer, commonly shortened to tablet, is a mobile device, typically with a mobile operating system and touchscreen display processing circuitry, and a rechargeable battery in a single, thin and flat package. Tablets, being comput ...

can be attached to the display board to make interactive display boards.

Theoretical projects

Theoretical projects may involve the same format as experimental or engineering projects. However, for several possible reasons, such as lack of feasibility due to costs, the actual experiment is not performed.

Experimental projects

Engineering projects

Display projects

Theoretical projects

See also

References

Further reading