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Dermatology Science Fair Project

Sweaty Shoes and Bacteria

Hard
Sweaty Shoes and Bacteria | Science Fair Projects | STEM Projects
Ever wonder why your shoes smell so bad? It's because of bacteria and sweat! This science project will explore how the amount of bacteria in shoes is affected by wearing socks.

Hypothesis

The hypothesis is that the amount of bacteria in the shoe will be higher if worn without socks.

Method & Materials

You will need 5 participants, 5 pairs of running shoes, 5 pairs of cotton socks, 10 petri dishes prepared with agar, 10 disinfected swabs, and a bottle of disinfected water. The participants will wear the socks on their right foot only, and the left foot will be worn without socks. They will then perform physical activities for 3 hours. After 3 hours, the shoes will be collected and the bacteria growth in the petri dishes will be measured.
You will need 10 petri dishes prepared with agar, 10 disinfected swabs, 1 bottle of disinfected water, 5 pairs of running shoes, 5 pairs of cotton socks, 5 participants, and 1 marker pen.

Results

The results showed that all petri dishes with the sample taken from shoes worn without socks demonstrated a higher rate of bacteria growth. This proves that the hypothesis is true - the amount of bacteria in the shoe will be higher if worn without socks.

Why do this project?

This science project is interesting because it explores the relationship between bacteria and sweat, and how it affects the smell of our shoes. It also provides a solution to reduce the smell of our shoes.

Also Consider

Experiment variations include wearing socks made from different materials like cotton or polyester, and using shoes made from different materials like leather, PVC, etc.

Full project details

You can find additional information and details for this science fair project here. Have fun exploring!

Related videos

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