Do I need to include the safety materials (goggles, apron, etc) or standard lab equipment (eg. beakers, grad. cyl., etc) in the materials section of my log book for science fair?
Most people don't look good naked. In 100,000BC someone passed a law saying that everyone had to wear clothes to save our eyes.
Believe it or not, your average hair dryer set on HIGH puts out the same amount of heat as an electric space heater. And I'm willing to bet there's no building code preventing you from using one. You do have to be careful, however, using this method. Hair dryers are not intended for extended use. I would use one on a 50-50 duty cycle; that is, use it 15 minutes, then turn it off 15 minutes. The construction of a hair dryer isn't intended for continuous operation. It needs to cool down after use. And you should never leave it on unattended (in a room without someone to keep an eye on it) or when you are asleep. The heating element in the hair dryer is very similar to a space heater and toaster; they generate heat by passing current through resistive wire. And, just like a toaster, things close to the elements can burn or catch fire. The reason you hair doesn't catch fire is due to the high volume of air generated by the fan inside the hair dryer. So you don't want to block that air intake, or the temperature of the air blowing out (and the hair dryer itself) can get dangerously high. Also consider that using a hair dryer - just as if you were using an electric space heater - draws an ENORMOUS amount of electricity. You WILL notice your electric bill go up significantly. A second alternative - one that I use - is to use a small heating pad. They are available in drug stores and the heath sections of department stores. These have multiple heat settings, and you'd be surprised how warm you can get if you have one on your back, under your butt, or under your feet. They typically draw under 1 amp; that's about the same as a 100 watt lightbulb. And the newer ones will turn themselves off after a couple of hours, so you don't accidentally leave it on overnight or if you leave the house.
