Skin Sensitivity
Aim:
To determine which areas of the skin are the most sensitive.
Which can still feel two points of a paperclip as they get closer together?
Hypothesis:
Equipment:
1x Ruler (cm)
1x Paperclip (unwound into a square; ends together)
Laptop
Method:
1. Groups of…
2. Open the paperclip to _____ apart
3. Touch (gentle!) both ends to your partner’s fingertip. If they feel both points, write
‘yes’ in our results.
4. Repeat for your partner’s _____ and ____.
5. Use the ruler to push the ends of the paperclip ______ by 0.5 cm.
6. Repeat above steps.
Word Bank: 4cm, upper arm, back, together
Results:
Can you feel two points on the paperclip?
Distance between
Fingertip
paperclip ends (cm)
4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
End touching
Upper arm
Back
Discussion:
1. What was the independent variable in this experiment? How do you know?
2. What was the dependent variable in this experiment? How do you know?
3. What patterns did you see in your data?
4. Which part of the body was least sensitive?
5. Which part of the body is most sensitive? Why do you think that is?
6. Was your hypothesis supported? Why or why not? Use your data to explain your answer.
7. What further questions does this experiment raise, and what could you do to investigate the
answers to those questions?