SCIENCE FAIR PRESENTATION

What is the effect of Spock on Rock, Paper, Scissors?

Dr. Sheldon Cooper, PhD – PhysicsRobin Flyte, BS – Sociology; MS K-12 Education

PROBLEM QUESTION What is the Effect of Spock on Rock,

Paper, Scissors?

RESEARCH NOTES Spock is logical He inhabits the USS Enterprise Born in the year 2230 Time travel has not been invented yet BFF – Captain Kirk Quote: Once you have eliminated the

impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.

Spock is fictional

HYPOTHESIS If Spock is in the game, “Rock, Paper,

Scissors,” then paper will disprove him, because research shows that he is a fictional character.

PROCEDURES Get Rock, Paper, and Scissors game

rules Introduce Spock and Lizard Play game with a friend Repeat Steps above until Paper

disproves Spock

Make these “short and sweet,” but make sense

DATA TABLE: THE EFFECT OF SPOCK ON ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS

Character Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3Spock 1 1 1Paper 1 1 1Scissors 8 7 6Rock 5 6 5Lizard 2 3 4

Times Characters Occur in Game (#)

GRAPH – THE EFFECT OF SPOCK ON ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS

Characters in Rock, Paper, Scissors

Tim

es C

hara

cter

s Occ

ur

(#)

PHOTOS/VIDEO(Optional)

ANALYSIS Scissors occurred the most times – 8 (overall average 7) Paper and Spock occurred the least – 1

each Each time Paper occurred, Spock was

disproved (game over) The overall trend was that each time

paper occurred, it disproved Spock, thus supporting the hypothesis

CONCLUSION Purpose: to see the effect of Spock on

Rock, Paper, Scissors Hypothesis: If Spock is introduced into

Rock, Paper, Scissors, then he would be disproved by paper, because research stated that Spock is a fictional character.

Errors could have occurred, including Dr. Cooper hesitating to play paper, in fear that Spock would be disproved, not analyzing the influence of lizard in the game, and having a hard time remembering the rules.

Each time paper was played, Spock was disproved, which supported the hypothesis

IMPORTANCE/FUTURE RESEARCH This study is important to recreational

gamers and people who like to watch “The Big Bang Theory”

The Hypothesis could be refined to say, “If Spock OR lizard are introduced into ‘Rock, Paper, Scissors’” and each character is played an equal number of times, then he would be disproved, because research shows he is a fictional character.”

Future Research could include introducing Captain Kirk in to R/P/S or creating a Monopoly game with Spock.

BIBLIOGRAPHY Spock quote -

http://www.top10-best.com/m/top_10_best_mr_spock_quotes.html

Photo of Dr. Cooper: http://the-big-bang-theory.com/characters.Sheldon/

http://www.startrek.com/ Prentice Hall Physical Science, Dr. Robin

Flyte, p. 223 – “Time Travel” Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=Kov2G0GouBw