Reply
Sat 9 Sep, 2006 02:26 pm
I'm looking to do a science fair based on computers.
I've come up with some ideas already such as "the effect of different file types of transer rates" or "effect of different barriers around an airport on connectability." Does anyone have other ideas I may be able to use?
Your first idea will yield no results. The file type doesn't have any effect on transfer rates. The rates are determined by more (physical) factors than you can control, including the HDD rotational speed, seek time, file fragmentaiton, type of controller (ATA v. SCSI), drive cache, CPU load, system memory... and others.
The second idea, however, will work better. If you're interested in wireless, you could also show the difference in transmission rates/signal propagation for a given type of antenna. There are different configurations of antennae for different purposes. You can build many of them yourself for only a few dollars. One of the most popular do-it-yourself antenna designes uses a pringles chips can and about $10 worth of wire and connectors. Look up "cantenna"
Stumble It!
Tweet This
Bookmark on Delicious
Share on Facebook
Share on MySpace