- Build a scale model of our solar system.
- Explain the forces at work when the Mercury orbits the sun. What keeps it in place? Is it moving further away?
- Study pictures.
- What are the features of this planet? Could they support some kind of life? Why or why not?
Link Resources to Complete the Science Fair Project
- Basics of The Planet Mercury
- Pictures of The Planet Mercury
- Build a Solar System
- Your Weight on Other Worlds
Related Science Fair Project Resources
- Parents, How to Help Your Teen With Their Science Fair Project
- The Five Types of Science Fair Projects
About These Science Fair Projects:The science projects located here on the Parenting of Teens site at About.com are ideas developed by its Guide, Denise D. Witmer. Some are projects completed during her years of working with high school students, researched projects and others are original ideas. Please use these science fair ideas as a guide to help your teen complete a science project to the best of their ability. In your role as a facilitator, you should feel free to share this project with them, but not to do the project for them. Please do not copy these project ideas to your website or blog, post the link if you wish to share it.
Recommended Books for Science Fair Projects:365 Simple Science Experiments with Everyday Materials
"The fundamentals of science are brought to life in a year's worth of fun and educational hands-on experiments that can be performed easily and inexpensively at home." People who have purchased this book have called it easy to understand and great for the student who needs a project but they aren't really interested in the sciences. The book is for both young and older students.
The Scientific American Book of Great Science Fair Projects
"From creating your own non-newtonian fluids (slime, putty, and goop!) to teaching a sow bug how to run through a maze, you'll be astounded at the number of incredible things you can do with Scientific American Great Science Fair Projects. Based on the long-standing and well-respected "Amateur Scientist" column in Scientific American, each experiment can be done with ordinary materials found around the house or that are easily available at low cost."
Strategies for Winning Science Fair Projects
"Written by a science fair judge and an international science fair winner, this must-have resource is packed with strategies and pointers for putting together a winning science fair project. Here you'll get the nitty-gritty on a wide variety of topics, from the fundamentals of the science fair process to the last-minute details of polishing your presentation."
The Book of Totally Irresponsible Science: 64 Daring Experiments for Young Scientists
"Introducing 64 valuable science experiments that snap, crackle, pop, ooze, crash, boom, and stink! From Marshmallows on Steroids to Home-Made Lightning, the Sandwich Bag Bomb to Giant Air Cannon, The Book of Totally Irresponsible Science awakens kids' curiosity while demonstrating scientific principles like osmosis, air pressure, and Newton's Third Law of Motion."