Search for Science Fair Projects

1000 Science Fair Projects with Complete Instructions

Human Behavior Science Fair Project

Caffeine, Darts, and Alertness

Medium
Caffeine, Darts, and Alertness | Science Fair Projects | STEM Projects
Can a cup of coffee improve your aim? You set up a board of 12 balloons and give 20 participants 12 darts each. They throw from 5 meters away and you count the balloons they burst. Then each person drinks a large cup of caffeinated coffee and waits 30 minutes. They throw again at a fresh set of balloons from the same distance. You compare the before-and-after scores to see whether caffeine boosts hand-eye coordination and alertness.

Hypothesis

The hypothesis is that coffee which contains caffeine will make the person more alert and energetic, resulting in the participant being able to burst more balloons.

Method & Materials

You will arrange balloons on a board, have participants burst them with darts from a distance, have them drink coffee, and then have them burst more balloons with darts.
You will need 480 balloons, 12 darts, a soft board, masking tape, 10 male and 10 female adults, and 20 cups of caffeinated coffee.

Results

The results showed that the participants became more alert after drinking the caffeinated coffee, and were able to burst more balloons. This proved the hypothesis to be true.

Why do this project?

This science project is interesting because it tests the effects of caffeine on alertness in a fun and engaging way.

Also Consider

Experiment variations could include substituting the caffeinated coffee with a caffeinated soft drink, or testing the effects of caffeine on a different activity such as a computer game, throwing balls into a pail, or bowling.

Full project details

Additional information and source material for this project are available below.
Share this Science Project:

Related Science Fair Project Ideas

Expert Opinions and Taste Choices
Run a taste test where some people hear an expert opinion first and discover whether it changes what they choose.
Medium
Color Popularity in Daily Life
Survey the colors of cars and clothes, then ask people their favorite color and see if the answers match.
Medium
Eye Contact in Familiar and Unfamiliar Settings
Observe people in two different settings and count how often they make or avoid eye contact with those around them.
Medium
Share this Science Project: