Caden Oliphant
Masks Rock! Which Face Masks are More Effective?
Orchard Park Public School
COVID-19 has changed the way we go about our daily lives. The most prominent change is masking while out in public spaces, such as schools, stores, businesses, workplaces and public transit. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) recommend masking to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. COVID-19 is spread through respiratory droplets in the air. In my class, there were many different styles of masks, made of different materials, being worn by the students. For my science fair project, I wanted to know if masking is effective and which masks are more effective. My experiment tested the effectiveness of 7 different masks at blocking respiratory droplets from being released into the air. To do this, I observed bacteria growth on petri dishes after I had spoken, simulated a sneeze, and sang a song while wearing different types of masks. I concluded that that wearing any type of face mask will help to reduce the number of respiratory droplets being dispersed into the air compared to not wearing a mask. However, mask materials and proper fit contribute to their effectiveness.
Excellence Award – Junior Bronze Medal
Sponsor: Youth Science Canada
Western University Entrance Scholarship