I am doing it. This weekend! I am done talking about it. This is the weekend!
For years I have been imploring teachers, students, and parents to expand their mindset when it comes to the science fair. I see a lot of
- Which battery lasts the longest?
- Which light is the best for plants?
- Which diaper is the most absorbant?
- Which music is makes me the calmest?
All of these are not without merit. They teach process and you might get a good graph out of it. At the end of the project, however, people haven't really changed their battery purchasing habits, or diaper habits, or gardening output. That is, they are a project for the sake of a project. In this case they are graded and mandatory. I think, through open source electronics like the kind this network seems to love, there is a chance to do more engaging work.
For years, I have been curious about the lasting power of glow sticks. I know that, as a chemical reaction, they glow dimmer and last longer when they are cold. I know as a consumer that they come in a number of colors. I am curious, as a scientist, if their light output changes with their color. So that is my question. If I was 25 years younger, it would be my science fair project. Now it will be my classroom project.
Using the Arduino Uno and the Lux Sensor, I am going to be able to measure the light coming off one of these and measure its decay as a function of color. I can also do it with temperature if the time and inspiration are there. I am very excited, and this is the time.
The only help I could use, and this is the best part of a community like this, is that I would like to be able to get my Arduino to send the information to a document like a spreadsheet, or a webapp like Xively. Any advice there would be very helpful.
Stay tuned for results!
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