Does a dead battery have greater or lesser mass than one with a charge? What causes species to become extinct? How is that drink your guzzling affect your teeth? Who looks for answers to questions like this? Pierce Scientists! And presentations of their experiments were on display in the Pierce cafeteria earlier this week.

The Pierce Middle School cafeteria was packed with young science enthusiasts. They were joined  by parents, guardians and teachers, during a recent Science Fair event.

Students in grades 6, 7 and 8 set up displays and hands-on experiments on a wide variety of science-related topics. And the winners are:

• Experimental Category 1st Place: Sawyer Flanagan. A Massive Battery Inquiry: Is the Mass of a Battery Different When Discharged Than When Charged?
• 2nd Place: Abby Lang and Madelyne Shea – The Effects of Different Everyday Drinks on Your Teeth. 3rd Place: Juliana Viola – How Does Elevation Affect Car Speed?
• Build a Model Category: 1st Place- Max Strout – Magnetic Levitation Train. 2nd Place: Patrick Taugher – Stonehenge. 3rd Place: Ben Musgrove – Electricity.
• Research Category: 1st Place: Ryan Najarian – Growing Crystals. 2nd Place: Kaylyn Marie Pean – Why Do Plants and Animals Become Extinct? 3rd Place: Grace Dwyer and Sarah Hancock – Leopard Geckos.
• Collection Category: 1st Place: Daisy Hanson – My Crystal Collection 2nd Place: Sara Kenneally – Cow Bones.

photos by Moira Downes