Science projects showing Earth can examine parts of the Earth or its atmosphere and geology.
Science projects that show Earth can be done several ways. The Earth not only includes the obvious land and water, but the layers within it and the atmosphere around it. When studying Earth science, students explore geology, astronomy and meteorology and how these are part of the Earth.
Earth's Layers
Build a clay or foam model depicting the layers of the Earth that can't be seen. Include the crust (thinnest outer layer), the mantle (largest middle layer containing an upper (lithosphere) and lower part (asthenosphere), and the core (the hottest inner layer containing two parts). Begin with the inner layer and build until you have the outer layer that is seen with mountains, water and volcanoes. Cut a section out of the ball out so that the layers can be clearly seen. Include a key that shows and explains each layer.
Geology
Science projects showing Earth's geology could show the process of soil liquefaction. Determine which type of soil will hold the most water before soil liquefaction occurs by filling separate pails with sand, clay and loam. Stack three bricks on top and mark a line an inch up from the bottom brick. Pour 3 ounces of water into the pail every two minutes until the bricks sink to the mark. Repeat with the other soils to determine which will hold the most amount of water before soil liquefaction occurs. Mix different types of soil or add rocks to the soils, and see what happens.
Meteorology
A science project that asks why the sky is blue examines Earth's atmosphere using an effect called Rayleigh Scattering. Use a clear glass of water with a teaspoon of milk stirred into it. Shine a flashlight above the water. Look at the glass from the side. Move the light to the side and observe. Place the light beneath and look into the glass from above. The particles of milk in the water disperse the light. Looking at the side while the light is above, you see blue because the blue light has scattered to the sides. Looking directly at the light from above or side, red is seen because the blue light is removed. Although sunlight looks white, it's really a mix of the same colors you see in a rainbow. Sunlight bumps gas molecules and tiny particles as it travels through the air. Blue light bounces in all directions, and becomes scattered all around the sky. It reaches your eyes from all over the sky, making it look blue. According to Rayleigh's law, when light hits particles, it bounces in a different direction in a process that is called scattering. Rayleigh scattering occurs when the particles are smaller than the wavelength of the light. Blue light has a smaller wavelength than red light, so it scatters more efficiently when it hits small particles in the air.
Seasons
Science projects showing Earth can explore our seasons and why we have winter and summer. When it is summer in North America, the top of the axis (North Pole) is pointed in the direction of the sun and the sun's rays hit the continent directly. In the winter, the sun shines on a slant because the North Pole is tilted away from the sun. Show this by shining a light onto a piece of graph paper positioned straight up and down. Trace the circle of light. Note the brightness. Place a protractor next to the paper and tilt it 10, 20, 30, and then 40 degrees. Trace the outline of light and note the brightness for each tilt. This demonstrates how the Sun's rays change depending on the tilt of the Earth's axis.
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