Get Energized by Alternative Energy!

Do you want to delve into energy sources other than oil or natural gas? Do you want to explore the promise that alternative energy has for our future, as well as the difficulties associated with each alternative energy source? Would you like to know how, from the standpoint of science and engineering, specific alternative energy sources work? Then alternative energy science fair projects are for you. Here are a few ideas for you to consider in deciding on your project.

Nuclear power is an inexpensive, technologically viable, and fairly widespread alternative energy source. The United States gets about 20 percent of its power from nuclear energy, while France gets about 80 percent. Your project could focus on the history of nuclear power, the theory behind it, and the ways in which various countries have adopted it.

Alternative energy science fair projects on nuclear power could also focus on the history of nuclear accidents, such as Three-Mile Island and Chernobyl. What caused each of these accidents? What safety precautions were in place at these nuclear plants? Were the precautions actually followed? What was the toll of these accidents? Are today's safety and security systems for nuclear plans different from the ones that existed then? Could nuclear accidents of this kind happen today? Why or why not?

You'll be able to find numerous detailed diagrams of nuclear power plants for free on the Internet. These can be incorporated into your presentation, along with explanations of which component performs what function. While you will not be able to build a working model nuclear plant of your own, you can still find out and present a great deal about how they operate and comment on the controversies surrounding them.

Other alternative energy science fair projects can focus on hydrogen power. The Bush administration in the United States has invested into research on hydrogen cars. What has this research shown thus far regarding the viability of hydrogen power as a major alternative energy source? What innovations have other researchers and engineers come up with? You can even construct your own model hydrogen powered vehicle with a fuel cell car experiments science kit. What issues exist with constructing life-sized hydrogen cars that will suit the needs of the majority of the Western world's population? How might those issues be resolved in the future?

Great alternative energy science fair projects can be done on wind power. Windmills are probably the easiest machine you can build for actually generating energy. With your own design or a Picoturbine Windmill Educational Kit, you can make windmills that actually produce results -- such as lighting up LEDs (light-emitting diodes), lifting small weights, or even getting motors to run. If you aren't yet comfortable building your own windmill design, you can practice by assembling windmills from kits and get the requisite knowledge through experience.

Bio:

Madeline Binder's Super Science Fair Projects site is one of the best online resources for students, teachers, and parents preparing for science fairs and classes. It will show you how you might explore alternative energy with a fuel cell car experiments science kit or a PicoTurbine Windmill Educational Kit.