Does the Name Matter? - Brand Name Batteries v. Generic Brands

Science Fair Project for Middle School StudentsFruit Loops. Kleenex. Band-Aids. Jell-O. When it comes to any product market, there are lines that, through popularity and/or innovation, become name brands. Have you ever wondered if these more expensive name brands are worth the extra money spent or if you're simply 'paying for the name'? Carl, a junior-high California state science fair participant, decided to test this idea, designing an experiment to determine if brand name batteries like Duracell and Energizer are truly that much better than generic batteries - i.e. do they last longer, does the longevity of the battery change depending upon the item being powered, etc.

To see the full project set-up and to get some help designing your own experiment, be sure to visit the project entry page - featured at Super Science Fair Projects!