Science Fair Projects on Thunder and Lightning

Science fair projects on thunder and lightning can be a lot of fun to complete. However, if you really want to make a good impression on the science fair judges you will need superior supporting materials for your project's display. While most students will have visual display aides for their projects, you can bowl the judges over by having visual and audio display aides for your project.

The easiest display option that you have for your science fair projects on thunder and lightning is to create drawings. Drawings can be off lightning in general or it can be a diagram of lightning. If you create a diagram, make sure you label the components of the lightning.

The second option that you have for your science fair projects on thunder and lightning display is a series of photographs. Photographs of lightning can be very interesting. However, to make the best impression possible, you will want to mat your photographs and display them on your project's display board. If at all possible, try to capture a series of lightning photographs using a high speed lens and quick picture succession. For example take four or five pictures in rapid succession as lightning strikes. If you are lucky, you will be able to capture the lightning's movement.

The third display option that you have is to offer the judges sound recordings of thunder. Sound recordings can be used for thunder and lightning physics science fair projects as a way to demonstrate the physical reaction the atmosphere has to the fast movement of lightning through the air. You can also use these sound recordings to help you demonstrate how to determine how far away lightning is based on the time interval between a lightning strike and the sound of the thunder.

Another display option that you have for your physics science experiment is a video of thunder and lightning. This video can be of a local storm that you used as your project's test subject. As the video progresses you can explain or point out important features of the storm, or explain why certain physical reactions occurred.

If you are looking for a physical display item, then consider using fulgarite. Fulgarite is created when lightning strikes sand. The sand is melted and the crystals are fused together. This is an interesting visual element that the judges will be able to pick up and examine as you discuss your lightning and thunder science fair project.