Question

I have an Independent Research Project for next year and already start a letter grade lower because I started last year and didn't go through with it. I originally planned to test how temperature affects the formation of polyurethane foam. I ended up not really know how to really create a safe environment and I missed some deadlines so I decided to not do it. Now I need to get a grade worth an 'A' to make it through next year (as that will put me at a 'B'). Any ideas for good project ideas (experiments really)?

Answer 1

is this for high school?
Are there guidelines/restriction on what you can do?
What instruments do you have access to?
What is your budget?

Answer 2

Yes, it is for my High School, required to graduate.
It goes up to national level (they get entered in for state and national competitions) so I don't think there are really any guide lines besides what one would expect.
I'm trying to do this over the summer because my schedule during the school year will be pretty tight, so my instruments would probably have to be part of the budget (normally the school provides other instruments) which will be around $300.

Answer 3

So considering your budget and time restriction (summer is pretty short), what are you interested on? I mean, there are thousands of things you could do, so I could name some simple things, but they may be "not your thing".

Answer 4

I don't have any specific interests besides my last idea, which mostly time got in the way of. I've heard "the best IRPs test solutions to real problems." So relatively recently I had been trying to make masks out of polyurethane foam (more of a hobby) and I was thinking that I could relatively easily turn my process for forming this foam into an experiment. This was to test how temperature affects the formation polyurethane foam. Right now, I'm thinking that if I wanted to go through with this, all I would need besides the foam is a respirator mask, thermometers, and 3 identical containers for the chemicals to react in. This is where it gets a little off, I feel. I wanted to use some sort of cups (metal most-likely) have one controlled, one heated, and one cooled). I was thinking that I would put of cup/container in ice, one under a small flame, and, of course, one in normal conditions. This would be done outdoors because of the fumes, and I wanted to do this in the most convincing way possible, if I do this. If this seems okay as it is, but do you have any recommendations for the containers used or methods used to heat and cool them? Or would suggest I do a different experiment?