Arabella Solomon ’33 took home top honors at the regional science fair on Saturday, Feb. 14, for her project, titled “Using Sound Frequencies to Clear Microplastics from NC Waterways.” Arabella’s innovative research earned her first place in the Physics and Mathematics category, along with a special award from One Water.
Arabella’s project addresses a growing environmental concern right here in North Carolina. While microplastics are notoriously difficult to filter due to their microscopic size, Arabella looked to physics for a solution.
Through research and testing, Arabella determined that ultrasonic frequencies could be used to manipulate physical matter in the water. By applying specific sound waves, she successfully demonstrated that smaller plastic particles are pushed together—a process that makes them clump into larger groups.
Bryce Kelly ’34 and Will Overcash ’34 also competed in the regional fair and will also advance to the state competition for their project titled “Do Distractions Affect Memory?”
Please join us in congratulating our Lower School students on their work and well-deserved success! We look forward to seeing where their research takes them next.
View the Lower School Science Fair photo gallery here.