What tests should I do?

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lalalalala
Posts: 8
Joined: Tue Dec 06, 2011 2:56 pm
Occupation: student, 6th grade
Project Question: My idea is to ask whether or not texting makes your thumbs stronger. People always say so, but is it really true? What I want to know is if that could be done or not, and if it is really scientific.
Project Due Date: February 2012
Project Status: I am just starting

What tests should I do?

Post by lalalalala »

My science experiment is How does texting affect your thumbs? I have some tests, like speed and accuracy tests, but I need some strength ones. If you have any ideas, please put them here.
deleted-86345
Former Expert
Posts: 3
Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2011 6:21 pm
Occupation: Student: 11th Grade
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Project Status: Not applicable

Re: What tests should I do?

Post by deleted-86345 »

Hi!
This sounds like a really interesting project. Generally speaking, when you are texting, your thumb is in the same position as if you were pinching something, so I would say that you should go with a pinch gauge. Good luck!

Safety note: Texting too much may cause carpal tunnel syndrome.

Mia
deleted-81235
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Posts: 66
Joined: Fri Nov 11, 2011 3:06 pm
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Re: What tests should I do?

Post by deleted-81235 »

I just had another idea, but the pinching one from Mia is a really good one. Since you use your thumb and pointer finger to pick up small objects, like quarters, you can test for the amount of quarters someone can pick up in a given amount of time, but this would be more of an endurance test. Also, in case if you choose to use this test, you don't want the amount of time to exceed 1.5 minutes because something called lactic acid builds up in your muscles which would throw off your data. If you don't know what lactic acid is, its a chemical that builds up in your muscles when you exercise, and its the same chemical that causes you to get cramps when you run, or even write for a really long time (I get cramps in my hand during my English quizzes).
“Nobody important? Blimey, that’s amazing. You know that in nine hundred years of time and space and I’ve never met anybody who wasn’t important before.”
— The Eleventh Doctor
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