Would this be a good science fair project? - General

I am in Chemistry I Honors and I need a science project idea. We have a science fair coming up, and I am really only concerned about getting an A as opposed to going to state or something like that. I had one -Show how a potato gun works (Involves aspects such as: Chemical Reactions, Pressure, and other factors). I have a potato gun built, and I think this would actually be pretty cool to just video tape me and have it on a display along with my poster board showing the different steps in how it works, and why it works. It would be nothing for me to go out, take some shots of me with the gun, shooting it, showing how it is powered, triggered, and how the explosion pushes the potato out of the barrel. My only concern is that I'm not entirely sure if potato guns are legal here (in Florida), but even if I couldn't bring it in, I could still take pictures of it and draw diagrams of how it's put together, such as the volume of the chamber and length of the barrel. Also, how would I write a hypothesis for this, as it is more of an example / project more than a question? Please, I'm actually really stumped on this and have never done a science fair before. I feel this could be a cool opportunity to actually do something fun. Plus the teacher even said to try and keep it simple if I could.

Make a real gun and test it on your teachers. Guaranteed A+.

How does a potato gun use chemical reactions?

[QUOTE=BLUchameleon;17438775]How does a potato gun use chemical reactions?[/QUOTE] You get to ignite hairspray or other flammable chemicals (excluding gasoline, due to the fact it weakens PVC pipe) with a spark in order to shoot projectiles. Bam. Chemical reaction. Again, it's not supposed to be complex, by my book- that's not complex at all. He said as long as you have a good presentation, and you put effort into it, you can do something as simple as taking a glass of water, and holding upside down with paper on the bottom showing how air pressure affects it, allowing the paper to hold up the water.

A fully functioning Sentry gun.

Sorry. Assumed it was a pneumatic gun for some reason.

[QUOTE=BLUchameleon;17438928]Sorry. Assumed it was a pneumatic gun for some reason.[/QUOTE] Nah, I understand, I've seen them before. Anyways, I think this is what I am doing, could I get some hypothesis suggestions?

Ehh potato guns kind of boring. Try the gatorade and onion to charge an ipod thing. I think it would be more catchy then a potato gun. But hey I'm only in chemistry.

[QUOTE=Predat0r;17439004]Ehh potato guns kind of boring. Try the gatorade and onion to charge an ipod thing. I think it would be more catchy then a potato gun. But hey I'm only in chemistry.[/QUOTE] Yeah, but that's too much. Plus I already have a potato gun built. I was thinking about doing the thing where you charge a lightbulb with a potato, but that's kind of boring. Don't ask about potatoes, I'm just thinking of easy shit.

[QUOTE=Beastly_Boy;17438672]My only concern is that I'm not entirely sure if potato guns are legal here (in Florida), [/QUOTE] our stte isn't that retarded, well actually i'm guessing it's not since i'm way down past homestead.

[QUOTE=Dubeard;17439104]our stte isn't that retarded, well actually i'm guessing it's not since i'm way down past homestead.[/QUOTE] I'm in Jacksonville, so North Florida. I guess I'll look around.

Make a rail gun out of 8 disposable cameras. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11CigZZK1t4[/media]

Fire and guns Perfect school experiment. Make something that's radioactive, that'd getcha an A

I actually changed my idea to creating Hydrogen out of simple household items. You can use lye, aluminum, and water to make it, and I'm going to explain how and why it works, and what all it can be used for.

draino+aluminum foil balls+water=hydrogen

[quote=beastly_boy;17441138]i actually changed my idea to creating hydrogen out of simple household items. You can use lye, aluminum, and water to make it, and i'm going to explain how and why it works, and what all it can be used for.[/quote] you can make hydrogen out of water?!

[QUOTE=urhr;17441245]draino+aluminum foil balls+water=hydrogen[/QUOTE] Pretty much what I'm doing, haha. My hypothesis is short as fuck though: "If aluminum foil, lye (NaOH), and water are combined, then it will create Hydrogen." Anything that needs to be added? I mean it's pretty clean and simple. [editline]10:37PM[/editline] For the rest of the project, I was going to explain what Hydrogen is, what it does, what it can be used for, and give samples of it like by blowing up a balloon with it, because it floats due to the fact that it is less dense than air / oxygen.

Do what that kid did in that one 80s movie and make a nuke.

:O Diet coke Mintos Condoms This would be great. The fizzy cock of doom.

Just start playing the Bill Nye the Science guy remix and start running around. It's a automatic A+

[QUOTE=Chichen;17441546]Just start playing the Bill Nye the Science guy remix and start running around. It's a automatic A+[/QUOTE] I have the remix, it just says "Bill! Bill! Bill! Bill! Bill! Bill! Bill! Bill! Bill! Bill! Bill! Bill! Bill! Bill! Bill! Bill! Bill! Bill!" for roughly 10 minutes.

[QUOTE=Beastly_Boy;17439055]Yeah, but that's too much. Plus I already have a potato gun built. I was thinking about doing the thing where you charge a lightbulb with a potato, but that's kind of boring. Don't ask about potatoes, I'm just thinking of easy shit.[/QUOTE] It's not hard to submerge an onion in Gatorade then stick an iPod charger in it.

Make a coilgun

[QUOTE=Beastly_Boy;17441645]I have the remix, it just says "Bill! Bill! Bill! Bill! Bill! Bill! Bill! Bill! Bill! Bill! Bill! Bill! Bill! Bill! Bill! Bill! Bill! Bill!" for roughly 10 minutes.[/QUOTE] Not that one..I have a different one..it's awesome.

You mean "Potato Cannon". A potato gun is that litlle piece of shit that you jab into a raw potato and shoot out pieces.

An X-ray laser

[QUOTE=icypenguin;17444633]You mean "Potato Cannon". A potato gun is that litlle piece of shit that you jab into a raw potato and shoot out pieces.[/QUOTE] Yes, potato canon, it's about 5 feet tall and has a pretty huge chamber and 3 foot barrel.