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Different projects you can do involving your senses.
 | Depth Perception - Using a piece of cardboard, cut out for one eye
to look through, try to line up two objects the same size so that they are side by side on
a table top. Try this experiment at different distances: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet...on up to
maybe 6 feet in distance. Were you able to get the objects lined evenly side by side? If
not, measure the distance between the 2 objects. Test other people and record the results.
Try this again using both eyes and notice any change. Did you find anyone that cannot see
depths using both eyes?
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| Optical Illusions - Draw 2 lines the same length. Now draw arrows
on either end of one of the lines. Taking the same length of lines to draw the arrows,
reverse them and place at the ends of the other line. Will people say the lines are the
same length, or will they say that one is longer than the other?
Make diagonal lines that are parallel to each other, alternating between two different
colors. With one color of alternating lines, criss-cross with short vertical lines through
it. With the other color of alternating lines, criss-cross it with short horizontal lines.
Do people think the lines are closer to each other at one end? How many people would say
the lines are parallel?
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| Hearing - Get a Styrofoam head (like what wigs are placed on) and
cut it out like a pumpkin. Now cut out small holes (to resemble openings of ears) on
either side. Place a device for measuring sound decibels inside (with the meter part
outside). Replace the lid of the head securely. Play a sound at the same volume for each
set of ear plugs you are testing. Measure the decibels for each brand of ear plugs. Play a
different sound now and test all brands of ear plugs. Do this with different sounds at
varying pitches. Based on your experiment, conclude which brand would most benefit factory
workers.
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| ESP - Obtain or make a set of ESP cards (5 cards each of orange
circles, black squares, green stars, red plus signs, and 3 wavy blue lines). Make sure the
test subject cannot see the design through the back of the card. Hold each one up and
think of the card really hard to see if your test subject can read your mind.
Another way you can test your subjects is to let them do this experiment themselves, with
you observing to avoid the temptation of cheating. With the full deck placed face down,
have the subject try to guess the top card of the pile before turning it over.
Based on the results, were you able to determine if age or gender had a higher level of
ESP?
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| Test for Temperature Nerves - Test subject closes eyes and holds
out the back of hand. On it, you press either the head of a very cold nail or that of a
very warm nail. Repeat with other nails. Is the test subject able to tell which ones are
cold and which are hot? Test other subjects in the same way in the same spots.
Make a tracing of each person's hand on a piece of paper. On each tracing, mark with a
"h" or a "c" each spot tat feels hot or cold to you or to your
partner. In this way you can "map" some temperature nerves. Are all the hand
maps the same?
Be sure to keep track of which responses are wrong.
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| Fingerprints - Is there a most common type of fingerprint? You can
determine this one of two ways:
(1) Make a fingerprint record by pressing your fingers on a stamp pad and then on a plain
white file card. Do one finger at a time. Roll the finger back and forth. Examine the
prints with a magnifying glass to make sure that the pattern is clear. Wait for the ink to
dry a bit on your finger before pressing it on the card. Take fingerprints of several
people in the same way. Put each person's prints on a separate card.
(2) Make a dark splotch by rubbing your pencil in a small area on a piece of paper. Slowly
and carefully press a finger on the pencil splotch. Press a piece of clear tape on your
finger. Slowly and carefully pull off the tape. Stick your fingerprint on a file card and
label which finger it is. Use the paper towel to clean the pencil mark off your finger.
Repeat the same steps for each of your fingers.
Examine your samples carefully with a magnifying glass. Each fingerprint is different, but
you should look for certain patterns that are similar. Arrange the cards in groups of each
type of print.
There are 8 types of prints; double loop, central picket loop, ulnar loop, radial loop,
accidental, plain whorl, plain arch, and tented arch. You will need to do some searching
for pictures of these different types of prints to compare your collection with, in order
to categorize them.
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