Science projects are one way of engaging students and allowing them to demonstrate their knowledge of different aspects of science. Science projects involving alternative fuels are particularly useful, as it is through the testing of alternative fuels that scientists are able to determine the fuels' effectiveness. Students testing out the numerous varieties of alternative fuels may be surprised to discover that conventional fuels like diesel and coal are not spectacularly more effective than alternative sources in producing energy.
Experiment with Biodiesel
The effectiveness of biodiesel as a fuel source can be tested in a straightforward manner simply by burning a sample of the fuel and taking the temperature of the air around it as it heats up. But because the project involves burning things, as well as the potential production of noxious fumes, consider conducting the experiment outside. The student will set up three burners, one with biodiesel, one containing regular diesel and one fueled with kerosene. The student can then take the temperature of the air heated by each burner and analyze the differences. He may also want to analyze the time that this temperature is maintained for.
Banana Biofuel
Younger pupils -- with some assistance -- will be able to demonstrate their knowledge of alternative energy by conducting the banana biofuel experiment. The student will need to collect a supply of banana peels, before drying them and grinding them into pellets. She will then crush the pellets together with fresh banana peel mush to create small banana briquettes ready for burning. To conduct the experiment -- with help from her teacher -- the student will use the banana briquettes to burn in a fire and heat a pan of water. She will then compare the temperature of this pan with that of a pan of water heated using untreated banana peels and one heated using coal.
Jatropha Seed/Cow Dung Biofuel
Herds of cows the world over produce enormous amounts of harmful methane, so why not harness this chemical for use as an energy source? In some Third World countries, cow dung is used as an energy source, as it is readily available and apparently effective. Students can use a school project to determine the efficacy of the substance by making mixtures of jatropha seed cakes and cow dung, mixed together in different ratios and seeing which one produced the most methane gas. This gas can then be burned to test how useful it is as a fuel.
Other Alternative Energy Sources
Apart from biofuels, there are great many renewable energy sources that can be used in a science project. A student could investigate the power of wind and water and how these can be harnessed with devices such as water wheels and wind turbines. Another example of a project could be an examination of the efficacy of solar power in various light conditions and then comparing it to other, nonrenewable, energy sources. As fossil fuels begin to run out, the science of finding effective new energy sources is becoming cutting-edge. Projects like this can examine the benefits of alternative energy sources and help preserve the environment in the future.
Tags: energy sources, alternative fuels, student will, alternative energy, banana briquettes