Hypothesis: the bigger the source of energy, the more impact it will have. In the marble drop, the higher the marble and the less dense the powder, the larger of a crater it will create. In the battery experiment, the bigger the battery and the lower power requirement, the longer it will work.

AA batteries and C batteries have same voltage (1.5V) but are differently sized.  The light source that I’m using requires 0.03 W. The toothbrush motor that I’m using requires \~3W. Watt hours (Wh) is a unit of energy measuring the total amount of electricity consumed or produced over time. Formula for calculating Watt hours: Wh=W×h. The W is the watt requirement for a device, the h is the amount of time it operates when connected to the energy source.        The higher the distance from the baking soda the marble is dropped, the larger crater it should create as the marble gains more speed and creates applies more force to the baking soda. The same applies to the sand. Sand (1600kg/m3) is more dense than baking soda (680kg/m3).

Responding- time and Wh of batteries; the depth of the ball in the powders.

Controlled- the balls being dropped.

Manipulated- batteries (AA battery, C battery), toothbrush motor, light source; tubes (46cm,30cm), powder that takes the impact (baking soda, sand).

Part 1

1. Measure how much time a toothbrush motor will work while wired to a C battery, repeat with a AA battery.
2. Measure how much time a light bulb will shine while wired to a C battery, repeat with a AA battery.
3. Compare the time the bulb and the motor worked on AA batteries and on C batteries.

Part 2

1. Drop 1 marble in a tube that is 30cm long, and drop a marble into a tube that is 46cm long perpendicular to a container of sand.
2. Measure and record the depth of the craters formed (in mm).
3. Then repeat with baking soda instead of sand.
4. Compare how deep the craters formed by the marbles are and see what’s the difference.

Materials:

• 2 x AA batteries
• 2 x C batteries
• Wires
• Light source
• Toothbrush motor
• 2 x 46cm long pipes with diameter of 2.2cm
• 2 x 30cm long pipes with diameter of 2.2cm
• Styrofoam
• Sand
• Baking soda
• Container to hold the sand and baking soda
• 2 identical marbles

I observed that the AA battery connected to the light source made the light bulb shine for 68h. The C battery made the light bulb shine for 204h. The motor spun for 7h while connected to the AA battery, and it spun for 19h while wired to the C battery. I observed that the ball dropped 46cm from the sand landed deeper in the sand than the one dropped 30cm from the sand. The difference between sand and baking soda was that the sand was more leveled than the baking soda so the ball in the baking soda may have landed a little deeper or less deep than it would've if it was even.

It seems that when the light source was connected to the C battery, it shined 136h longer than when it was connected to the AA battery. The motor ran for 12h longer while connected to the C battery than the AA battery. The marble went deeper into the sand when dropped from 46cm than when dropped from 30cm. Same goes for the baking soda.

The larger the battery the more work it will have on whatever it's used for. This is because more energy is stored in the larger battery. This can be proven by calculating Wh. (AA battery) Wh=0.03x68=2.04. (C battery) Wh=0.03x204=6.12. The C battery produced more watthours than the AA battery while connected to the lightsource. The marble dropped 46cm went deeper into the sand than the one dropped from 30cm. In both of these experiments it is seen that the bigger the source of energy, the larger the result. The completely different processes show these similarities.

Understanding how energy works in different systems is essential for the future of humanity. Larger batteries powering devices for longer time relate to modern energy storage technologies, such as electric vehicles and renewable energy systems. This experiment proves this.   Studying how impact energy affects materials helps engineers design safer buildings, vehicles, and protective equipment. Although the processes are different, the same energy principles will guide technological progress and sustainable development.

The battery wears out over time which means the time could have been a little longer. Batteries’ chemicals may have degraded because of internal reactions which causes them to self-discharge. When the marbles drop they can bounce off the walls of the pipe. The marbles can be slowed down by the friction when touching the walls of the pipe. The sand or baking soda may not be equally leveled. The powders could be moist.

Information written on an AA battery, and information written on a C battery gave me the voltage of the batteries. The time the light bulb and toothbrush motor functioned was recorded by me. The information about the density of the sand vs baking soda was found on https://www.stemm.com.

I would like to express sincere gratitude to the people that helped me in the completion of this project. First, I acknowledge Mrs. Pepper, my science teacher, that encouraged me to join the science fair, suggestions for the topic and explained how to prepare the project out of her experience. I am thankful to my parents for providing the materials, transportation, put together the experiment, guide me, and moral support. I thank the CSSD and Ascension of Our Lord school, for providing the ability to participate in the science fair and making this work possible. Thank you all for your meaningfull and vital support in making this project a success.