Middle School Physiology Science Fair Project — Photo © 2006 Josh Staiger, Flickr

For students interested in health science, researching and compiling the documented effects of alcohol - in varying amounts - on the body can be an engaging and very informative science fair project!

Blood Alcohol Content

Because one serving of alcohol affects a 100-pound female differently than a 230-pound male (this is due to obvious variations in weight, sex, and body fat), the physical volume of alcohol consumed cannot be used as a proper comparative measurement. Instead, a person's blood alcohol content (BAC) is measured to determine actual alcohol intake and intoxication. BAC, usually expressed as a percentage, measures the volume of alcohol in the blood stream as compared to the volume of blood. Legally, if a person's BAC is over 0.08, they are considered intoxicated.

Project Overview

Designed by middle school student, Carmen Perry, this project explores:

How behavior is affected at various BAC levels.
How the body is affected at various BAC levels.
How prolonged exposure to alcohol affects the body (including the effects on the brain, lungs, heart, stomach, intestines, bones, muscles, and liver).
Correct serving sizes for alcoholic beverages (and the difference between a glass of wine and a serving of wine).
How a breathalyzer works as well as a discussion of other sobriety tests.

For Perry's results, be sure to check out her full project page at Online Digital Education Connection's Virtual Science Fair!

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