Search for Science Fair Projects

1000 Science Fair Projects with Complete Instructions

Topics
Behavioral Science
Human Behavior science fair projects
Color and Speed

Color and Speed

Hard
Share this Science Project:
This page contains full project details. For the summary, please see the Project Summary.

Science Fair Project Description

Do red cars get stopped more often than cars of other colors? Do red cars appear to go faster than other cars? It seems to be common sense, that the color red attracts more attention than other colors. However, do red objects actually appear to move more quickly than objects of duller colors? This is the subject of this fascinating, yet easy high school science project.

Overview

Have you ever considered how we are influenced by color? The color red is used in traffic lights and stop signs. Marketing and advertising frequently use the color red, to draw our attention. Colors also affect our emotions. Bold colors may affect us differently than more soothing colors like blue, green, or earthy colors. Can colors distort our sense of time or perception? In this science project you will determine if the speed of a red paper airplane is perceived differently from that of a white paper airplane. Refer to the resources below for additional information.

Scientific Terms

speed, perception

Materials

  • A white paper airplane
  • A red paper airplane
  • Stop watch
  • Data table (provided).
  • White paper
  • Red paper
  • Tape measure
  • Two participants

Procedure

  1. Formulate your hypothesis: If an object is of a bright color, it will appear to travel (faster/slower) than its actual speed.
  2. Make two paper airplanes, one white and one red. Both airplanes should be folded the same way.
  3. Designate one person to throw the airplanes and the other person to observe the airplanes. You will be the time keeper.
  4. As the person timing the airplane, you will be standing behind the observer.
  5. Mark a spot on the floor for where the person throwing the airplane will stand and where the observer will stand. These two spots should be of a distance of at least 15 feet.
  6. The person throwing the airplanes should throw the air plane so that it flies past the observer. This person will first throw the white airplane.
  7. As the time keeper, you will start the stop watch when it leaves the hand of the person doing throwing and stop it when it passes by the observer.
How color affects the perception of speed
  1. The time should be recorded in the data sheet.
  2. Ask the observer how long he or she thinks it took for the airplane to pass by them.
  3. Record this on the datasheet.
  4. Repeat these steps three times. After the three trials, change places with the observer.
  5. Repeat this experiment so that each person has a chance to play all three roles for a total of three trials.
  6. Record the information on the data sheet.
  7. Now compare the estimates of the observers to the actual time of the white air plane and red air plane.
  8. How accurate were the estimates?
  9. Was there a difference in estimates between the red plane and white plane?
  10. Was your hypothesis supported?

Color and Speed Data Sheet

White plane

Person #2 estimate of time

Actual time

Difference between estimated and actual time

Red plane

Person #2 estimate of time

Actual time

Difference between estimated and actual time

Person #2 (first trial)

Person #2 (second trial)

Person #2 (third trial)

Person 2 (first trial)

Person 2 (second trial)

Person 2 (third trial)

Person 3 (first trial)

Person 3 (second trial)

Person 3 (third trial)
b1.jpg

References

"Color &Vision Matters" on the Color Matters web site. http://www.colormatters.com/color-and-vision/color-and-vision-matters

"Myth or Fact: Do Red Cars Get More Speeding Tickets?" from the ABC News web site http://www.kcautv.com/story/13077503/myth-or-fact-do-red-cars-get-more-speeding-tickets

Related videos

Hey there! Here are some awesome videos about this science project that we think you'll really like. They're not only super fun, but they'll also help you learn more about the science behind the project. So sit back, relax, and get ready to have some fun!!
Share this Science Project:

Related Science Fair Project Ideas

The Halo Effect
The Halo Effect
Do you ever feel like people judge you differently after you do something well or poorly? This experiment will explore the mental process of the Halo Effect and how it ...
Hard
The Odd-Ball Effect
The Odd-Ball Effect
How does the unexpected affect our perception of time? Find out in this fun science project!
Hard
Testing the Endowment Effect
Testing the Endowment Effect
Do you value something more if you own it? Find out in this experiment!
Hard