When I was in 9th grade I was in a class in which we had to do a science fair project. It was something that most of the other students were familiar with because they'd done them throughout the years. But I was new to the school and to science fair projects. I understood the the scientific method, but I didn't understand the need to decorate a backboard to mount my experimental design and results on. And then there was something that I needed called an abstract--I'd never heard of that.
In 10th grade, for extra credit, I did another science fair project. Dad and I made rubies. It was cool--actually, hot. We put our mix of green and white powders into a furnace at 1700 degrees (Dad, was it F or C?) and got out reddish/pink disks. I was more familiar with how the whole thing worked, but I still thought it was a little hokey.
Little did I know that I'd be doing science fair projects for years to come. Yep. This weekend I'm going to a conference. And I'm presenting a poster, which is very much like a science fair project, except that they give me a bulletin board instead of needing to provide my own backboard. Strangely enough, the whole poster-making process is now something I really enjoy doing. Maybe it's because the places I get to present my posters are cooler than the science fair ever was. I never went to Long Island, or Chicago, or Canada for the science fair.
6 comments:
But remember when your FPS team won and ya'll got to go somewhere cool? Where was that? All I remember is you mentioning getting to see the House on a . . . Rock? Hill? Anyway, this still sounds much more cool! Have a great time. I am sure that your poster will win the blue ribbon!
I've got to do a science fair project this year too (as a requirement of my current employment!). Good thing I liked it back when I was in middle school or I wouldn't be here now, I suppose. Should I go with solar cars again? You would think we could have made some progress on those in the last couple decades!
Hey, Peanut, did you do a bug collection for Mr. Hillman??? I don't know why I just thought of that . . .
Yes, Tarimisu, I guess I did go neat places with FPS. The first trip I went to Madison, WI, and then later I also went to Providence, RI. No, I never did a bug collection for Mr. Hillman. Although I did manage to shatter one of his small animal skulls.
1700C would be a good temperature for sintering an alumina/chromia compact. 1700F (926C) is barely warm for alumina. I suspect the chromia did not substantially dissolve in the alumina until >1100C.
Harvey is correct; it was the Celcius scale. (1700C = 3092F) Daddy-A
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