Deciding what her science fair project would be about, Jessica Caruso of Clarkston went with what the area is known for ? cars.
‘I thought that would be really cool,? said Caruso, fourth-grader at Everest Academy. ‘I learned a lot about how cars work.?
She took her work to the Flint Area Science Fair at Kettering University March 16. She won Third Place in the Elementary Division, out of more than 150 contestants, receiving a certificate and $250 bond.
Caruso went to the science fair with classmates Monica Toohey, fifth place, Mary Grace Schmid, sixth place, and Jessie Reichenbach, high honorable mention. The girls all wore their uniforms for the award ceremony.
‘I was proud of them,? said Enrico A. Caruso, Jessica’s father.
Jessica’s project measured speed and strength of three battery-powered cars, driven by propeller, belt, and worm gearing.
Her hypothesis was the belt-drive car would be fastest; worm-drive, strongest.
Results, after several trials, was the worm-drive car was strongest and fastest.
‘It went the straightest,? she said.
Enrico helped his daughter with the project, but, as an immigration lawyer unfamiliar with automotive engineering, learned right alongside her.
‘I had fun doing the father-daughter thing, but I learned as much as she did,? he said.
The science fair included display of all projects, and also interviews of contestants by three judges, who asked questions to assess their level of comprehension.
‘I was nervous,? Jessica said.
Afterwards, contestants took to the stage and were presented their awards in descending order. Jessica stood as the group shrank from over 100 to 35 finalists, then to the top three.
‘It was very exciting,? Enrico said.
The project took a lot of work, but Jessica is going for the win next year, perhaps with an environmental theme, they said.