1. Bone Density and Impact Energy
Group B1
Aims/Objective:
To determine the effect of calcium content in bones on the fracture energy required to fracture chicken bone.
To become familiar with decalcification techniques.
To become familiar with the challenges of creating a controlled experiment.
To learn how to manipulate raw data to be useful for calculations.
Hypothesis:
The fracture energy of calcified bones will be significantly greater than the fracture energy of decalcified bones.

2. Equipment: Methods & Protocol:
Impact Pendulum, RDO Decalcifying Solution, Ten Chicken Drumsticks
Methods & Protocol:
Create two groups of chicken bones – one decalcified, one as a control.
Find the density of all ten chicken bones.
Place 5 chicken bones in a 1L RDO for ?? Hours, agitating every ½ hour.
Find the density of the five decalcified chicken bones.
Find Impact Energy using the Impact Pendulum for all ten bones.
Run T-Test comparing Impact Energy of normal and decalcified bones.
Plot the Impact Energy vs. Density for all ten bones and look for a relationship.

3. Proposed Results/Findings/Deliverables:
The bone density of the normal bones will be greater than that of the decalcified bones.
The mean impact energy of the normal bones will be greater than that of the decalcified bones.
Potential Pitfalls:
By decalcifying the bone, flexibility could potentially increase providing a greater fracture energy.
Low sample size amplifies any specific variations present in bones.
Low mass of total calcium present in bone means extra care must be taken to ensure no additional mass is included when calculating density.

4. Materials and Budget & Justification:
RDO Decalcifying Solution
Need to decalcify bones.
Low decalcifying time (hours instead of days).
Cost: $50/gallon * ¼ gallon/group * 20 = $250
Hand Saw
Needed to cut off bone ends in order to allow maximum penetration of decalcifying solution.
Minimize variation in density measurements.
Cost: $20
Chicken Drumsticks
Cost: $5 / 4 bones * 5 bones/group * 20 groups = $125
Total Cost: $395