2025 Freedom Area High School Science Conference

Friday, May 2, 2025 - 7:40 a.m. - 2:40 p.m.

2025 Conference Schedule

Seating Chart (in progress)

Keynote Speaker - Dr. Ryan Kaufman - Class of 2015

Ryan Kaufman is the one of the founding members of the Freedom Area High School Physics Club, serving as the first Vice-President, and delivering some of the most memorable talks during his tenure. As an alumnus, Kaufman has presented at every Freedom Area High School Science conference, again being a favorite of the student body with his stimulating talks that bridge science and mathematics at a high level, but understandable by all.

Ryan graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics from the Swanson School of Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh. At first, he focused mainly on formal math and theoretical physics, however, he shifted gears and delved into electronics and optical engineering, becoming a skilled experimentalist.

After graduating, he stayed at Pitt and earned a PhD in condensed matter physics. Ryan Kaufman is specializing in quantum information processing via superconducting circuits. He is now working for Google and living in California.

Ryan is one of Freedom Area High School’s great intellects. While many slow down their learning after achieving their degree, Ryan continues to impress with his ever-expanding repertoire of mathematical knowledge, his understanding of nature, and his scientific practices.

Abstract: Quantum computers are often alluded to in an ethereal sense as the next generation of computing, with claims that they will revolutionize fields far and wide in physics, biology, finance, medicine, and more. In this crash course in quantum engineering, I will walk through what it is actually like to try to piece one of these machines together in the real world. Along the way I will focus on what exactly a qubit is, and how my peers and I build the amplifiers needed to efficiently measure quantum states.

Student Presentation Abstracts

Block 1 - Auditorium - In Order of Presenting

Christopher Denkovich - What is Science and What Do Scientists Do? - Physics III

Students who take physics classes are exposed to science and are forced to act as scientists. New students, with no background in physics, have to learn and adapt under the conditions of Idealized Science. We have to ask, what factors affect student learning the most. Is it peer review of work, direct instruction, experience or something else entirely?

Noelle Fontaine - The Moon Moves - 2nd Grade Science
The moon is in the sky, you can't always see it because sometimes it's below us. Why can't we see it? Because the Earth moves. I took some pictures of the moon from a telescope every 10 minutes for one hour to see how much it moved from one picture to the next.

Serenity Cooper - Motors and Radius - Physical Science 
Motors are the heart of robotic systems, enabling precise and controlled movements. Using a small motor and washer I tested to see the different diameters that were obtained.

Bryson Deal - Rotational Force and Bounce Path - Physics 1 The perceivable phenomena present in a bouncy ball are limitless. Something as simple as a bouncy sphere can be home to many fascinating properties. My experiment tests the rotational force and directional bounce property of a bouncy ball. Through my experiment I discover how the direction and strength with which you spin a bouncy ball affects its bounce path.

Colton Blank - Solutes in an IV Drip - Physics II
Intravenous lines (IV) are a first response that saves countless lives every year by quickly and efficiently rehydrating. While many solutes go into an IV drip, does the actual substance used make a difference in the infusion rate? In my research, I test how the different solutes affect the overall efficiency by measuring it in speed.

Payton Bickerstaff - Measuring Mold on a Strawberry - Physics III
Most people don't know that there is a protective layer of wax on their strawberries. Even with this layer, mold still grows. My test investigates types of mold and their succession on waxed and non-waxed strawberry surfaces.

Logan Rosenberger - How does the Pullback Stretch Affect the Distance Traveled by a Rubber Band? - 6th Grade I enjoy building contraptions and practicing my aim. Shooting rubber bands is also fun. In my long term project, I am going to find out how the pullback stretch affects the distance traveled.

Block 2 - Auditorium - In Order of Presenting

Mackenzie Mohrbacher - Rate of Flow of Liquids - Physics I When you dump a liquid into a sink, you do not want to stand there for an extended time. However, you can spin the bottle in a circular motion to get the liquid out faster. I wanted to test how spinning affects the efficiency of the liquid leaving the bottle and how different densities would affect this phenomenon.

Cooper Valko - Does the tension of the strings on a violin affect the volume? - 6th Grade Playing the violin has been a big part of my life, and I have been doing it for almost seven years. However, I have always wondered what the best tension is to get the maximum volume.

Sara Meyer- Do People With Synesthesia Use it to Make Decisions? - Physics lll Synesthesia is a neurological phenomenon where stimulation of one sense triggers experiences in another. Many People are not aware that they have it. In my research, I tested if those with synesthesia subconsciously use it to make decisions in their daily lives.

Adam Rhoades - DNA Extraction Efficiency - Physics III
DNA is a crucial factor in crime scene investigations. It allows for the identification of individuals through their unique genomes. I tested how temperature, time, and ultraviolet light affected the amount of DNA extracted.

Block 3 - Auditorium - In Order of Presenting

Lucia Haney - When in Taekwondo, which is the Best Height to Strike that makes your Opponent Fall the Fastest? - 6th Grade I’ve been doing martial arts for several years now, but I always wanted to know the best place to strike my opponent. In my presentation you will find out where to hit someone so they can’t strike back quickly.  

John Tatko - Various Lifts vs Overall Strength - Physics III Have you ever wondered if being strong on one kind of lift indicates that you are actually strong? I tested to see if different parts of the body's strength correlate to the overall body strength through different lifts and overall health.

Leo Kaleugher - Model Train Coasting Distance - Physics II
Model trains have electric motors that are controlled by volts. In my experiment I will be testing how different volts affect the coast of the model train. I will also be finding how many volts the motor can generate back to the track. Come to see my presentation to see the final results.

Troy Reynolds - How Stretch Effects Fibers - Physics 1
When you stretch your muscles they are tearing microfibers. I tested how the amount of stress on the fibers affected the microfiber tears.

Elizabeth Mooney - Bird Migration Patterns - Physics I At least once in their life, a person’s interest has been piqued by seeing a bird they didn’t recognize. This happens frequently during the migrating season, as many different and unique birds are migrating, but who’s to say how many different birds you could see on any given day? In this presentation, I will discuss several factors that may play a role in impacting levels of bird migration.

Elana Lehocky -  Weight of the Chicken and Depth of Footprint - 6th Grade I live on a farm, and have raised chickens since I was only 2! I am finding out if the weight of the chicken affects the depth of the foot print. My results will be shown in my presentation. 

Mia Roncevich - Spin and Weight of Colorguard Flags - Physics I The color guard at the football games rotates flags to the beat of the band. But how does the balance of the flag affect its rotation? I tested this and will present my results.

Madison Bailey - Hair Curl Vs. Temperature - Physics 1 Many girls spend a lot of time each day perfecting their hair, using a straightener or curling iron. How does the set temperature affect the curl of hair? I tested the length of time that heat is applied to the hair to see how “bouncy” or tight the curl would be.

Anna Majors - Weights Effect on Baton Spin - Physics I Majorettes are known for their baton twirling. Most people don’t know that a baton is not weighted equally. My investigation tests spin angle and weight.

Hunter Johnston - Does the placement of the bat's weight affect the distance of a hit ball? - Physics I Baseball is America's pastime, and hitting is a key game aspect. Most baseball players wonder if the weight matters in a bat because they all want to hit farther. I tested what part of a bat would be most beneficial for hitting the ball further.

Cooper Young - Length of Crutches - Physics II Being on crutches is something that you see someone always struggling to get around. You have to ask yourself that there has to be some sort of way for them to get around on the crutches in a more easy, and less stressful way. I test it out by finding out how you at home can find the right lengths of the crutches or someone that you see struggling in public to get far with the least energy exerted.

Block 4 - Auditorium - In Order of Presenting

Tommy Ward- How different compounds react to electric charge? - Physics III People often do not think about applying voltage to start a reaction. Most reactions will start on their own, but this is not always the case. I tested how the size of a molecule would affect the amount of charge needed to start the reaction.

Erica Young - Corn Germination - Physics III Field corn is grown in every county in Pennsylvania and is an important part of agriculture. It is important that corn seeds germinate quickly, so I tested how the weight of the seed affects the time of germination and studied the correlation between the weight of the kernel and its surface area and volume.

Dominic Severin - Adding Weight to a Car and Seeing How Far It Goes - Physics I Mostly everyone has played with a toy car at some point in their life, dropping them down ramps and seeing how far they go. Not many people stop to think when they’re older if there was ever a way to get the maximum distance out of that toy car they played with. I tested how much weight could be put onto a toy car to achieve that maximum distance.

Block 2 - High School Library - In Order of Presenting

Noah Chaousy - How does Octane Effect Speed - Physics I
When you're at the Gas station, there are always different gas types based on octane, and I want to see if the octane you put in your vehicles changes their performance. To see how octane affects speed, I will test four vehicles' speeds with three different types of octane, measuring the difference in speeds to see if it is worth spending the extra money to get the higher-octane fuels.

Charles Powell - Football Rotations - Physical Science
Does more string around a football make it rotate more? I tested this because I am interested in football and wanted to test if the laces on a football affect how a football is thrown.

Landon Palka - How Does Hand Size Affect Catching A Football? - Physics I Hand size can be a huge factor in the game of football. I tested just how big that factor can be and how much the size of your hand can affect your chances of catching a football.

Devlin Burkett - Rafter Efficacy - Physics 1 My long-term is the Placement of a drill hole vs. the Weight a rafter can hold. I used cardboard models of ceiling rafters to measure the length and height of a drill hole in a rafter to test if there was a difference in the amount of weight it could hold based on its placement on the rafter.

Nick Metzger - Airflow vs. Fuel Consumption - Physics I
Air filters protect every combustion engine by keeping out dirt and debris. However, as they clog, they can "choke" out the engine. I tested how restricting airflow affects gas consumption.

Noah Carney - Carburetor Jetting (Main and Pilot) - Physics 1 Carburetor jets control the flow of fuel and air. Main jets and needle jets work by changing hole size. In my experiment, I simulate both of these jets using an IV bag. My experiment works to find the optimal flow rate and constriction for these jets.

Block 3 - High School Library - In Order of Presenting

Lorenzo Pessolano - Air Direction vs. Metal Cooling Time - Physics I  Mechanical machinery, such as industrial equipment or car engines, consists of metal equipment that all have the potential to overheat. What I tested is how the direction of airflow most efficiently cools metal.

Isaac Mattern - How Does Temperature Affect the Bounce of a Baseball? - 6th Grade A baseball is a very interesting type of ball because of its internal materials. I ran 5 trials that show how the temperature of a baseball affects how high the ball bounces in inches.

Meela Gordon - How does the Temperature of the Oven Affect the Thickness of the Cookies? - 6th Grade I love cookies! I'm sure you do too, it's always sad when you get a thin cookie. To find out the best temperature for baking snickerdoodles I made  batches at different temperatures and ran five trials. 

Lincoln Hoover - How Does the Ratio of Baking Powder Change the Thickness of a Cookie? - 6th Grade Cookies are an amazing treat. But could I add or take away baking powder to make my cookie rise? Come to my presentation to find my results.

Lucas Schomburg - How Does the Angle That I Kick a Soccer Ball In Affect the Angle that the Ball Will Roll Out? - 6th Grade  Indoor soccer is a very fun and competitive sport. Inside the arena, there are boards surrounding the field. In indoor soccer, you can kick the ball at the boards. I rolled a ball at a wall with different angles to see if I can predict the measurement of the angle it rolls out.

Michael Bugay - How Length of Studs Effects Grip on Soccer Balls - Physics I
Different brands and models use different length studs on their soccer cleats. To see how the different length studs affect grip on the ball while dribbling, I tested various nail lengths to simulate studs. 

Addison Stumpf - Does the Weight of a Longhorn Cow Affect the Width of their Hooves? - 6th Grade I live on a farm with many animals, longhorn cows being one of them. I want to determine which cow is walking through the field based on how wide the hoof print is.

Aaden Walter - Layers of Wood vs. Weight Held - Physics I Wood is an everyday material used to build all sorts of things. I enjoy woodworking myself and I wanted to put the strength of this building material to the test. I used popsicle sticks and weights to test the strength. I added one more layer to the first with every failure and increased the weight until the next failure. I also tested the effect of water damage on its strength.

Tim Mckelvey - Balloon Density - Physical Science 
I will be testing if the air in the balloon affects the fall times. I will be seeing if there is a difference within density between small and larger balloons.

Ayden Yeskovich - Can I Find Any Mathematical Patterns Counting in a Spiral, in a 3 by 4 Box? - 6th Grade I’m a Math 24 participant and I like to find mathematical patterns. I use graph paper to count in a spiral and look for different patterns. Come to my  presentation to see the interesting patterns that I found.

Colt Schoedel -  How does the PSI in a Football Modify the Bounce Height? - 6th Grade  Football is a difficult sport and entertaining, but the football can bounce in many ways depending on its PSI. So in my project I found out how high the football would bounce with many different PSI.  

Beau Grunnagle -  How Does the Angle of the Ramp Affect How Far the Truck Goes in the Same Amount of Sand? - 6th Grade I like to ride quads on my farm. So I did this project to find out on a steep hill how far ahead I should hit the brakes to stop quicker on a steeper hill.

Dominic Matsook - How Does the PSI Affect How Fast a Football Drops? - 6th Grade  Football is a fun sport that I play. I wanted to see if the less PSI the longer the football would stay in the air. Come see my presentation to see the results. 

Lilly Rachuba - Position on Court vs. Baskets Made - 6th Grade  Basketball is one of my favorite sports. I have been playing since 3rd grade.  But where is a good spot to shoot a basketball in my games? In my project  you will find out where the sweet spot shooting on a basketball hoop is.

Floyd Molter - How many layers of lotion does it take to remove grease off your hands? - Physical Science

I will test how many layers of lotion it takes to remove the grease from your hands and if the number of layers affects how much comes off.

Block 4 - High School Library - In Order of Presenting

Jaydyn Lewis - Angle of Refraction - Physics 1 Everyone has seen the way something looks when it is placed in water. It appears as if the object is bending or has broken in half when it’s inside of water. For my long term I will be changing the lightbulbs of a lamp to test the angle of refraction using the different refractive indices of the lights and different materials.

Abby Probst - Surface Tension Bubbles - Physics l
Surface tension is something that people don't normally think about, but surface tension is especially important with water. I thought that the more drops of water you add onto material, it would lose its shape. I tested this claim to see how the surface material affected the bubbles.

Landon Snodgrass - Guitar Amp Gain - Physics I I noticed that as the gain on a guitar amp increases, so does the volume. I wanted to see what effect gain has on volume. How much does the volume increase when the gain increases?

Zoey Vida - How Box Volume Affects Sound - Physics 1 My long-term project explores how sound is affected by space. I go through a process of testing boxes of different sizes to measure how much sound is intensified or limited in these spaces.

Jay Mohrbacher - How the length of tape affects the spins on a ball? - Physics l I wanted to learn the basics of spinning a ball, so I tested how the length of tape will affect the spins on a ball. With my claim being the longer the tape, the faster the ball will spin.

Artie Evans - Bridge Supports - Physics I Everyone crosses a bridge many times in their life. I wanted to understand every aspect of a bridge and what would be best for civilian use. I did this by creating a bridge and using weight to simulate cars to see how different supports affect the structural stability. During this I measured multiple verbals that would change with weight and supports.

Audrey Mooney - Minipulating Guitar Strings - Analytical Physics Many people have played guitar before, whether in a band or played for a few years as a kid. Guitar strings have many defining characteristics. They vary in thickness, frequencies, and many more. In this experiment, I test frequency, tension, and string thickness to see if they affect volume.

Jeremi Kanneg - Bladder Size Vs. Stream - Physical Science
Most people that go to the gym walk around with water. The bladder quickly fills up. I will be using a water balloon to simulate the distance urine travels when it is released from the bladder.

Lucas Bradel - Most efficient mowing pattern - Physics I  I cut a lot of grass in the summer, and the faster I can get done, the more money I can make and the more yards I can cut. My long-term is researching what mowing pattern is the most efficient.

Michael Humphrey - Water Affects On Ball Roll - Physics I Water bonds refer to the way water sticks to other substances. I experimented with different amounts of water on different-sized wooden spheres to measure their drag as they rolled down a ramp.

Brayden Reynolds - Arrow Drop - Physics How does distance affected arrow drop? I tested this by mounting the bow and aiming it at the same spot on a target. After 5 from each of two bows, I would move the target back. This gave me the information I needed to be able to tell you how much distance really affects the drop of an arrow.

Kaden Millward - How Drill Bit Size Effects the Weight a Screw Will Hold - Physics I am showing how the size of a pre-drilled hole will affect the weight a screw will hold. I will also show how the amount of turns a screw is turned affects weight it will hold.

Block 2 - Mrs. Fontaines’ Room - In Order of Presenting

Lucas Evans - Affects on Bullet Travel - Physics I Many people hunt and shoot for fun however, there are many variables that can affect or change the bullets accuracy. I’m testing how air density, temperature, distance, and wind speed affect accuracy.

Jayden Adams - Phone Volume Dampening - Physical Science
Some frequencies are irritating so, I will be testing how many layers of foam it takes to lower the volume in decimals. To do this I be using an app that plays high pitch frequencies out of a phone while putting layers of foam on top of it.

Cory Heckman - Vibrations in a Rubber Band - Physics ll When a rubber band is untwisted, it happens faster than we can see, so I slowed it down to see what would happen. More twists in a rubber band will increase how much it vibrates, creating more wavelengths.

A.J. Rychorcewicz- Vibrations to an Earthquake - Physics I Vibrations are all around us, but we can't normally see them. I first began by seeing how vibrations are decteded by sound, but now I have moved on to seeing how vibrations can be detected in earthquakes. So in my project, I created an earthquake detector.

Troy Gorajewski - How Wind Affects Drop Distance - Physics I Here in Western PA, we have some winds and storms that come through now and then. Knowing the Wind speed is crucial for many things like construction workers' safety. For example, when working with explosion and implosion technology it is crucial to have the right wind speed that day so that what you are imploding doesn´t fall in the wrong direction. I tested how Wind speed affects the drop distance of an object.

Trinity Vojtko - How Moisture Effects Hair Length - Physics I Hair is a meaningful way to express yourself. When some girls get their hair wet, they think their day is ruined, but I wonder if that's true. I tested how moisture affects the length of hair.

Block 3 - Mrs. Fontaines’ Room - In Order of Presenting

Brooklyn Bundy - What Spot is the Best to Save More Goals? - 6th Grade I play the position of goalie in soccer for my team, and I want to figure out the best spot for me and other goalies to block as many goals as possible!Jeremi

Mikaylee Kuntz - How Does the Pressure (PSI) in a Volleyball Change the Height of the Bounce? - 6th Grade Volleyball is a fun and a popular sport. But does the pressure in the volleyball affect the height of the bounce? 

Eva Harper - How Far Does Each Type of Pencil Smear Using an Eraser? - 6th Grade I am an artist and I draw using pencils. I wanted to improve my art and create cool smear effects on my art, so I smeared shaded boxes made by different types of pencils using erasers. If you want to find out which pencil smeared the furthest, come see my presentation.

Nora Mohrbacher - Can You Determine the Thickness of a Book by the Thickness of its Pages? - 6th Grade I love reading. I think it is a great way to use your imagination and what better way to express your love of reading than putting up a bookshelf. In my experiment you will learn the best way to measure each book to make them fit perfectly on a bookshelf.  

Jameson McGowan - How Does the PSI in a Basketball Affect the Circumference? - 6th Grade  Basketball is a fun and popular game. But how does the PSI in the ball affect the game and the ball’s circumference? My experiment shows the answer to the question.

Parker Evans - Will the Amount of PSI in a Basketball Affect its Velocity? - 6th Grade I play basketball and I wanted to know if PSI affected the basketball’s fall speed.

Joseph Cook - Snowball Size - Physics I It snows at least three-fourths of the year in Western Pennsylvania. Many people, mainly children, play in the snow. Snowmen and snow forts are built, and snowball fights happen.There are snow makers that are used for movies, television shows, and various activities. What about keeping a snowball frozen in the typical household freezer. Would a snowball stay the same shape, size, or weight? This is the question that will be determined.

Trent Raso - Sleep Study - Physics I Everyone has to sleep or else they will die. I am figuring out how the effect of melatonin either increases or decreases sleep each night. Recordings of data will be conducted by measuring the hours of sleep one would get with and without utilizing melatonin.

Chloe Gochez - Does the layers of paint affect drying time? - Physical Science
Most people like painting their nails and hate when it smudges. I chose this topic so I could see how  layering affects drying time. So I don't have to walk around with bad nails , I simulated using popsicle sticks instead.

Lucy Tyler - What is the sweet spot on the softball bat? - 6th Grade Softball has been a passion of mine since I was young. I haven't been able to hit the ball very far, so I’d like to find the sweet spot. I used five trials for three different parts of the bat to figure it out.

Serenity Green - Wasted Cooking Heat - Physics I My mom always claims that whenever I open the oven door when I cook, I lose 10 degrees. "We are wasting," she says when I go to check on food. Or have you wondered how this could affect the temperature when you are cooking? My project will focus on how the angle of the opening affects heat loss while you are cooking.

Maria Rombold - How does the Temperature Affect the Rise of a Cupcake? - 6th Grade.  I’m the oldest of four and love to bake with my younger siblings for the holidays and birthdays. Come to my presentation to find out the proper temperature for the cupcakes and how  they turned out. 

Tenley Fehir - Does the BPM of Music Affect the BPM of Your Heart? - 6th Grade I love listening to all types of music. When you're listening to music do you feel calmer or excited? I used a pulse oximeter on a bunch of people to see the BPM. In my presentation you will be able to find out. 

Leah Warner - Does the Distance from where you Throw a Softball Affect your Accuracy? - 6th Grade Softball is a sport that requires accuracy. I play for the freedom softball team. Come to my presentation to find out more about the results and data. 

Not Scheduled

Ryland Phillips - Speed of Arrow - Physics I

Arrows only travel so far before falling to the ground or losing speed. I wanted to see how weight added to an arrow would affect the distance traveled. The data collected would help determine if light or heavier based arrows should be bought and used.

Dominic Randolph - Speed of a Ball - Physics Measurements of how fast a ball is thrown are calculated, points are gathered for how many baskets are scored, goals are added up, but never how fast does a ball roll. This is why I tested the speed a ball rolls down various angles.

Helena Buli - Microorganism Growth in Snow - Physics II Snow is an inconvenience for adults and a joy for children to play in. Unbeknownst to most, many microorganisms reside in snow. I tested how microorganisms vary in concentration depending on the period of time snow is exposed on the ground. 

Mason O’Donnell - How Weight Affects Ball Speed - Physics I

You never play a game with a waterlogged baseball, but what happens when you do?, I wanted to see how it can affect pitching and bunting in baseball. So I waterlogged baseballs and threw and “bunted” them. I recorded different data from each ball I threw and bunted.

Charles Brenckle - Weighted Arrows and Fatigue - Physics II When shooting archery, some may wonder how arrow weight may affect their shot consistency. I test weighted arrows and how it affects shot consistency. As well as how fatigue affects shot groups, and where fatigue begins to have a major affect on shot performance.

Gabe Marsh - Wind vs. Yards - Physics I have picked another person other than me to throw the football I'm using in different wind speeds to be able to get the most accurate data as possible. I will also have them stand at different distances and then record my data; then I will determine where it is most comfortable to throw the ball and where it becomes physically impossible to throw the ball and the wind just beats its speed.

Riley Henley - Egg Weight  - Physical Science 
I will be testing if the weight of an egg will affect the spin time. I will be testing my claim using both duck and chicken eggs to compare spin times.  I chose this because I have ducks and chickens at home and wanted to see the difference in their eggs.

Damien Rettig - Sprouting Potatoes - Physical Science
Potatoes are great! They can be used in many ways like french fries and mashed potatoes. I believed that the weight of the potato would change the amount of eyes that would sprout. My claim is that the number of eyes or sprouts on a potato in a darkened bag , will depend on the weight of the potatoes. if you would like to come check out the surprising outcome.

Alumni Presentations