Virginia Junior Academy of Science

364 Pages·2012·20.79 MB·English

Proceedings of the
Virginia
Junior
Academy
of
Science
Volume 46
May 2008
Hampton, VA
The Virginia Junior Academy of Science
of the Virginia Academy of Science
Wishes to Express Its Appreciation To:
American Association for the Advancement of Science
Arlington County Schools
Bethel High School
Botany Section, Virginia Academy of Science
Dominion Virginia Power
Dr. and Mrs. Preston H. Leake
Friends of the Virginia Museum of Natural History
Hampton University
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College
Old Dominion University
Randolph-Macon College
Randolph-Macon Woman’s College
Richmond Area Speleological Society
State Public Education Committee of the American Cancer Society
The Allan T. Gwathmey Fund
The Family of Ann M. Hancock
The Phil Robinson Virginia Naturally 5K Run
Tidewater Section of the American Society of Naval Engineers
Virginia Academy of Science
Virginia Association of Biological Education
Virginia Association of Science Teachers
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Chapter of the National Foundation of Infectious Diseases
Virginia Environmental Business Council
Virginia Environmental Endowment
Virginia Neurological Society
Virginia Psychological Foundation
Virginia Sea Grant College Program
VPI & SU Chapter of Gamma Sigma Delta
Virginia Wesleyan College
For the Financial and Personal Assistance
Which Make Possible These Activities
Proceedings of the
Virginia Junior Academy of Science
of the Virginia Academy of Science
67th Annual Meeting
May 20-22, 2008
Hampton University
Hampton, Virginia
__________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________
Volume 46 Hampton, Virginia May, 2008
Editors
Lisa L. Martin
James H. Martin
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Contributor’s List..................................................................... inside cover
Information Pertinent to the 2008 Annual Meeting. .................................................. iv
Virginia Junior Academy of Science Committee..................................................... v
Virginia Junior Academy of Science Officers. ...................................................... vi
Special Awards.............................................................................. vii
Winning Papers and Abstracts
Agriculture and Animal Science. ......................................................... 1
Animal Behavior. .................................................................... 11
Botany A. .......................................................................... 23
Botany B. .......................................................................... 32
Chemistry A......................................................................... 42
Chemistry B......................................................................... 50
Computer Science. .................................................................. 61
Consumer Science A. ................................................................. 69
Consumer Science B. ................................................................. 82
Earth and Space Science. .............................................................. 94
Engineering A. ..................................................................... 106
Engineering B. ..................................................................... 121
Environmental Science A.............................................................. 134
Environmental Science B.............................................................. 152
Environmental Science C.............................................................. 172
Environmental Science D.............................................................. 180
Genetics and Cellular Biology.......................................................... 191
Mathematics........................................................................ 200
Medicine and Health A. .............................................................. 218
Medicine and Health B. .............................................................. 234
Microbiology....................................................................... 247
Physical Science..................................................................... 263
Physics............................................................................ 270
Psychology - General................................................................. 286
Psychology - Learning and Perception A.................................................. 297
Psychology - Learning and Perception B.................................................. 311
Psychology - Social. ................................................................. 321
Statistics........................................................................... 334
Zoology ........................................................................... 341
INFORMATION PERTINENT TO THE 2008 MEETING
Of the 718 papers submitted, 512 papers were selected for presentation.
The number of papers presented by categories were as follows:
Agriculture and Animal Science. ......................................................... 8
Animal Behavior. .................................................................... 16
Botany A. .......................................................................... 20
Botany B. .......................................................................... 20
Chemistry A......................................................................... 21
Chemistry B......................................................................... 21
Computer Science. .................................................................... 6
Consumer Science A. ................................................................. 21
Consumer Science B. ................................................................. 20
Earth and Space Science. .............................................................. 10
Engineering A. ...................................................................... 22
Engineering B. ...................................................................... 22
Environmental Science A............................................................... 22
Environmental Science B............................................................... 22
Environmental Science C............................................................... 22
Environmental Science D............................................................... 22
Genetics and Cellular Biology........................................................... 10
Mathematics.......................................................................... 6
Medicine and Health A. ............................................................... 17
Medicine and Health B. ............................................................... 16
Microbiology . ...................................................................... 20
Physical Science...................................................................... 22
Physics............................................................................. 22
Psychology - General.................................................................. 13
Psychology - Learning and Perception A................................................... 19
Psychology - Learning and Perception B................................................... 20
Psychology - Social. .................................................................. 20
Statistics............................................................................ 11
Zoology ............................................................................ 21
Selected papers from each category were presented to Senior Academy Sections.
iv
VIRGINIA JUNIOR ACADEMY OF SCIENCE COMMITTEE 2007-2008
Susan Booth, Director, Newport News, VA
Lisa L. Martin, Administrative Assistant, Richmond, VA
Lori Andersen, Gloucester County Schools, Gloucester, VA
Pat Coltrane, Warwick High School, Newport News, VA
Maria Cooper, Norcom High School, Portsmouth, VA
Joyce Corriere, Hampton City Schools, Newport News, VA
Donald R. Cottingham, Retired, Norfolk, VA
Robin Curtis, Past President, VAST
Marilyn Elder, VA Dept. of Education, Richmond, VA
Kathleen Frame, Biotechnology Institute, Arlington, VA
Pamela Gentry, Atlee High School, Mechanicsville, VA
David Hagan, Science Museum of Virginia, Richmond, VA
Debra Hydorn, University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, VA
Leonard Klein, Waynesboro, VA
Paula Klonowski, VA Dept. of Education, Richmond, VA
John Kowalski, Roanoke Valley Governor’s School, Roanoke, VA
Richard Krieg, VCU/MCV, Richmond, VA
Charles LaRocca, James River High School, Richmond, VA
Chuck Layne, Averett University, Glen Allen, VA
Preston H. Leake, Retired, Hopewell, VA
Michael Lovrencic, Yorktown High School, Arlington, VA
Kurt Michael, Shenandoah Valley Governor’s School, Fishersville, VA
George Minson, Appomattox governor’s School, Petersburg, VA
Judith Peatross, St. Anne’s-Belfield School, Charlottesville, VA
Dallas O. Pinion, Consultant, Dinwiddie, VA
Donna Poland, New Horizons Governor’s School, Hampton, VA
Eric M. Rhoades, Stafford County Public Schools, Stafford, VA
Kay Seliskar, Swanson Middle School, Arlington, VA
Carolyn Smith, Retired, Gloucester, VA
Sarah Ward-Petroske, Tidewater Community College, Norfolk, VA
Thomas Watson, New Kent High School, New Kent, VA
Barbara (Bobbie) Whittier, Retired, Arlington, VA
v
VJAS OFFICERS 2008-2009
President Vice President Secretary
Prakriti Verma Tara Adiseshan Elizabeth Gentry
Grafton High School Ramana Academy Atlee High School
Yorktown, VA Bristow, VA Mechanicsville, VA
Historian Regional Directors
Trevore Ottofaro Seana Hedayatnia
New Horizons Governor’s Godwin High School
School Richmond, VA
Yorktown, VA
Felicia Holzgrefe
Atlee High School
Mechanicsville, VA
VJAS OFFICERS 2007-2008
President Vice President
Secretary
Brendan Doyle Felicia Holzgrefe
Yorktown High School Atlee High School Prakriti Verma
Arlington, VA Mechanicsville, VA Grafton High School
Yorktown, VA
Historian Committee Member
Regional Directors
Elizabeth Gentry Natalie Hendrick
Atlee High School Hermitage High School Tara Adiseshan (IV)
Mechanicsville, VA Richmond, VA Ramana Academy
Bristow, VA
Seana Hedayatnia (I)
Godwin High School
Richmond, VA
vi
SPECIAL AWARDS
Botany Section Award, given by the Botany Section of the VAS, for the best paper on a botanical subject.
KATHERINE E. MIZE
Galileo Magnet High School
VJAS Neuroscience Awards supported by the Auxiliary of the Virginia Neurological Society is given to an outstanding
paper in the field of neuroscience.
JOSHUA DEGASTYNE
Southwest Virginia Governor’s School
Richmond Area Speleological Society Award for outstanding research addressing karst or topics related to
speleology.
NOT AWARDED THIS YEAR
Mathematics Award for the paper that evidences the most significant contribution in the field of mathematics.
PHILIP S. CHODROW
Shenandoah Valley Governor’s School
Statistics Award for the paper that evidences the most significant contribution in the field of Statistics
AJAY R. SUNDAR
Mills E. Godwin High School
Smith Shadomy Infectious Disease Award in honor and memory of Dr. Smith Shadomy given by the Virginia
Chapter of the National Foundation of Infectious Diseases.
TARA ADISESHAN
Ramana Academy
Roscoe Hughes Award for the best paper in the field of genetics.
ERIN KIM
Mathematics and Science High School at Clover Hill
vii
Rodney C. Berry Chemistry Award for the paper that evidences the most significant contribution in the field of
chemistry.
AMANDA K. RODGERS
Southwest Virginia Governor’s School
The Dr. and Mrs. Preston H. Leake Award in applied chemistry is given to the author of a research paper which best
exemplifies how chemicals, chemical principles, or chemistry have been used, are used, or might be used to enhance or
even to save life.
First Place
ERIN KIM
Mathematics and Science High School at Clover Hill
Second Place
PRASANNA G. JOSHI
George H. Moody Middle School
Russell J. Rowlett Award for the best research paper of the year.
PHILLIP CHODROW
Shenandoah Valley Governor’s School
The Virginia Psychological Foundation Meritorious Research Awards recognize outstanding presentations of
research in the various fields of psychology.
ALLYSON M. GARDNER
Piedmont Governor’s School
BENJAMIN B. KARAUS
Central Virginia Governor’s School
AMELIA J. TYLER
Southwest Virginia Governor’s School
CHARLES N. GOWAN
Shenandoah Valley Governor’s School
Virginia Sea Grant College Program Award is given by the Virginia Sea Grant College Program for outstanding
marine or coastal research.
KASEY E. PHILLIPS
Chesapeake Bay Governor’s School
viii
American Cancer Society Award is to recognize outstanding science papers related to cancer research.
First Place
SAPPHO ZOE GILBERT
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
Second Place
SURAJ K. MISHRA
Mills E. Godwin High School
CAROLYN SONG
Mills E. Godwin High School
The Gamma Sigma Delta Award is presented by the VPI & SU Chapter of the Honor Society of Agriculture in
recognition of excellence in research dealing with application of new technologies and/or concepts in agriculture,
forestry, or veterinary medicine.
KATHERINE M. ABRAMS
Southwest Virginia Governor’s School
Dominion - W.W. Berry Award is given by Dominion Virginia Power in honor of Mr. W.W. Berry who was a past
Chairman of the Board of Virginia Power and is presented to the best engineering paper.
SAMANTHA DAUER
Central Virginia Governor’s School
Joyce K. Peterson Award is presented for the outstanding paper by a middle school student.
PRASANNA G. JOSHI
George H. Moody Middle School
The Ann M. Hancock Memorial Award is given to the best paper in genetics.
SURAJ MISHRA
Mills E. Godwin High School
The Dorothy S. Knowlton Award is given in her honor for the best Consumer Science paper.
NOT AWARDED THIS YEAR
ix