My Independent Science Experiment 2021

  My Independent Science Experiment 2021

April 4, 2021

(A screenshot of my computer screen as I worked on my lab report!)

As you all know, around Christmastime, I had to do an Independent Science Experiment for school. I decided to do: "Advances Of How Music Has An Effect On A Chick". I think my experiment turned out really well. The results were shocking! The experiment got 2nd place in a county science fair! Plus, I want everyone to see the results of how music affects the brain. So, without further ado, I give you my lab report on my Independent Science Experiment!

Advances Of How Music Has An Effect On A Chick

Purpose:
To find out whether classical music actually has an effect on a chick’s brain, and whether it might have an effect on a human’s brain.

Hypothesis:
I hypothesized that the chick that was exposed to music would be mature in size, wingspan, weight, and behavior, because of exposure to constant classical music, and the chick that is not exposed to music would be normal in size, wingspan, weight, and behavior, because of no exposure to classical music.

Materials: 

• Environment free of drafts (Garage or spare bathroom)
• Two chick brooders (A dog kennel/plastic bin, heat bulb and lamp, instant thermometer, feeder, feed, waterer, water, shavings, and newspaper)
• Two chicks (not weighed)
• Music (preferably classical)
• Notebook & pencil to record data
• Measuring tape
• Weighing scale

Procedure: 

1. Create two chick brooders, by setting up a dog kennel and plastic bin in a draft-free environment, with a heat lamp, (temperature measured with instant thermometer), feeder with feed, waterer with water, shavings, and newspaper.
2. Purchase two live chicks. (90% female chance)
3. Place one chick in one brooder, and place the other chick in the other brooder. Play classical music from a device near the first chick in the first brooder 24/7 for two weeks, but no music near the second chick in the second brooder.
4. As the chicks grow and get older, test their behavior by handling them, and test their growth by measuring size and wingspan with a measuring tape, and weighing them on a weighing scale.
5. Record the results on a notepad with a pencil.

Data:

Date-	Classical Chick-	Normal Chick-
12/26/20	Sleepy	Active
12/27/20	Big appetite	Small appetite
12/28/20	3 in.	2 in.
12/29/20	3 in.	2 in.
12/30/20	3 & ¼ in.	2 & ¼ in.
12/31/20	3 & ¼ in.	2 & ¼ in.
1/1/21	3 & ¼ in.	2 & ¼ in.
1/2/21	3 & ¼ in.	2 & ¼ in.
1/3/21	3 & ¼ in.	2 & ¼ in.
1/4/21	3 & ½ in.	2 & ¼ in.
1/5/21	3 & ½ in.	2 & ½ in.
1/6/21	3 & ½ in.	2 & ½ in.
1/7/21	3 & ½ in.	2 & ½ in.
1/8/21	3 & ½ in.	2 & ½ in.
1/9/21	1 ft. wingspan	10 in. wingspan
1/10/21	13 oz. weight	9 oz. weight

Results:
There were tremendous results from this experiment. From the first day and second day, the classical chick showed signs of development, in the form of sleep, and large appetite. By 12/28/20, the classical chick was already an inch larger than the normal chick. By 12/30/20, both chicks had grown another inch. By 1/4/21, the classical chick overtook the normal chick in growth, and shot up another ¼ of an inch. On 1/9/21, when both chicks were measured for wingspan, the classical chick’s wingspan was 2 in. wider than the normal chick’s wingspan. Lastly, on 1/10/21, when both chicks were weighed, the classical chick weighed 4 oz. more than the normal chick.

Conclusion: 

The classical chick was clearly influenced by the music. The reason for this being the fact that whenever you crank up the dial of a radio, or whenever you play music over a device, your brain is picking up the soundwaves. Playing music makes you smarter, especially listening to classical music. It helps with auditory processing, as well learning. Music also helps relieve stress and pain. Playing music helps us focus because it stimulates our brains. It improves thinking and helps with creativity. Music improves productivity. When played, music stimulates adrenaline and other hormones that help us focus and be more productive. Music can help with reasoning as well. When a chick is exposed to music, their brain is picking up the soundwaves. Their amygdala is reacting to the soundwaves, and stimulates the chick, making it more smarter, whereas compared to a chick that is not exposed to music, who is not stimulated by the soundwaves their brain picks up. A chick that is not exposed to music is always hearing other noises that do not stimulate it. This is why a chick that is constantly exposed to music is more smarter than a chick that is not.

So that is my Independent Science Experiment! I learned a lot from this experience of raising chicks, and from doing my first official lab. I found the results to be out-of-this-world, and I hope they are as breathtaking for you as they were for me!