Lincoln Orens holds annual science fair

Does music genre affect the rate of plant growth? Do you know what type of equipment is easiest for building alarm systems? Why can’t penguins fly? Is a dog’s mouth cleaner than a human’s? The answers to these and other challenging scientific questions were provided at the Island Park Lincoln Orens Middle School’s 16th Annual Science Fair, held Dec. 14 in the school’s gymnasium. Under the guidance of 7th grade science teacher Sheryl Waxberg and 8th grade science teacher Phillip DeSantis, seventh and eighth graders designed and constructed close to 100 different experiments to test various hypotheses. Several hundred friends, family members and neighbors viewed the exhibits and were extremely impressed with the topics and the students’ methods of experimentation.

Ten projects from each grade level were selected as 2011 Science Fair Award winners:

8th Grade

1. Julia Sarnelli, Hannah Lerner Does a Sports Drink have More Electrolytes than Orange

Juice?

2. Andrea Cociorva Measuring the Speed of Light with a Microwave Oven.

3. Jared Sills, Thomas Reichel How Does a Seismograph Measure Vibrations?

4. Noah Hohner, John Piecora The Effect of pH on the Reproductive Rate of Freshwater

Microorganisms.

5. Gerard Webe Does the Percent of Copper in Boat Paint Affect the Growth of Organisms?

6. Emily Sheehan Does Text Messaging While Driving Have an Effect on the Brain’s Reaction Time?

7. Denise Atkas What Type of Paper is Easiest to Recycle?

8. Christopher Griffin Roller Coaster Marbles

9. Meaghan Cleary Does Crossed Hand-Eye Dominance Affect Basketball Shooting Percentages?

10. James Branker , Robert Ojeda Germ Invasion

7th Grade

1. Molly Donovan Which Flour has the Most Gluten?

2. Bianca Hayes, Dara Hoff What Temperature will Baby Food Spoil the Fastest?

3. Steven Partland, Brandon DeVivio What Effect do Energy Drinks have on Brain Stimuli

in Mice?

4. James McSpedon Which Fruit or Vegetable Produces the Most Electricity?

5. Joseph Giorlando, Devin Shin Which Sports Drink has the Most Electrolytes?

6. Mary Zarba, Ashley Alongi Does Temperature Affect the Rate of Butterfly Development?

7. Harry Persaud Can a Homemade Thermometer Work as Well as a Real Thermometer?

8. Joseph Aebly, Michael Matuozzi What Effect do Your Eyes and Ears have on Balance and Dizziness?

9. Carly Sills, Cassandra Baldino Do Our Storm Drains Keep Oceans Trash-Free?

10. Joseph Rogers, Antonio Pimentel Does Temperature Affect Crystal Growth?