Exhaust Particles Pollution Science Fair Project

Awards Earned:

1st Place, 7th Physical Science, PCA Science Fair
3rd Place, 7th Physical Science, ACSI Science Fair

Problem to be Solved:

Which location in town has the most pollution?

Hypothesis:

The truck stop will have the most pollution because there are particles from the exhaust of all the vehicles that go there.

Procedure:

Materials:
Thirty 3 x 5 index cards
Thirty Popsicle sticks
petroleum jelly
magnifying glass
plastic wrap
stapler

First select fifteen locations in town: ten that should have a lot of pollution, and five that should not. Write the name of each of the locations on separate 3 by 5 index cards. Then draw one circle five centimeters wide on each of the index cards and staple or tape each card to a separate popsicle stick. Then smear the inside of each circle with petroleum jelly and stick them in the ground at the locations chosen. make sure that the cards will not get splattered by rain or by cars. After the index cards are out for forty-eight hours, collect all of them and count the number of particles on each card using a magnifying glass and record the numbers. Then wrap the cards individually with plastic wrap and store them carefully. Repeat the steps again. Then average the two results for each place.

Controls: Locations were tested at the same time to insure same weather and temperature conditions.

Ten locations selected that are predicted to have high pollution:
Truck stop
Machine Shop
Bridge on Staats Road
Graphite Mill
Bridge on Route 579
Bridge over river
Pumphouse
Railroad crossing
Railroad tracks

Ten locations selected that are predicted to have low pollution:
Yard
Park
On a tree in the park
Cornfield
School grounds

Conclusion:

The hypothesis that the truck stop would have the most pollution of all the vehicles that go there was correct. All the areas with vehicle traffic had a greater amount of air pollution, the truck stop surpassing all of them. The cornfield, with only nineteen particles had the least amount of air pollution. In this experiment to two results for each location ranged dramatically. And so in further experimentation I would have repeated my experiment at least one more time. This experiment has proven that because of our way of life the air we breathe is now filled with harmful pollution that not only destroys the environment in which we live, but also ourselves. Because of our way of life the earth is being destroyed. It is of vital importance that we prevent and clean up pollution as much as possible. 3rd party credit.