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STETHOSCOPE PROJECT

You will need:

  • A balloon
  • A piece of tubing
  • 2 small funnels
  • Scissors
  • A timer
  • Rubber band (optional)
  • A calculator (optional)

Steps:

  1. Take the piece of tubing and fit a funnel to each end.
  2. Stretch the balloon by blowing it up and then letting the air out.
  3. Cut off the top third of the balloon with scissors.
  4. Stretch the top third of the balloon tightly over the open end of one the funnels. If necessary, use a rubber band to hold it in place.

USING THE STETHOSCOPE:

  1. Find your heart with your hand by feeling where it beats in your chest.
  2. Sit down somewhere quiet and place the end of the funnel with the balloon over it against your chest, directly onto your skin, just to the left centre.
  3. Hold the other funnel to your ear. You should hear a low beating sound.
  4. Use the timer to count how many beats you hear in 20 seconds. Multiply this number by three (use a calculator if you’re not confident) to find out how fast your heart beats in one minute.
  5. Try doing some more tests such as running around for 5 minutes and then checking how fast your heart is beating. Compare your results to your brothers, sisters, parents and even pets heart rates, are there any differences?

HEALTH TIPS: Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals use stethoscopes to understand what is going on with your body when you are sick. And now you can too!!