Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hi! I am trying to build a prosthetic hand with homemade materials such as, rubber bands, straw, pixie straw, string, cardboard, wire, glue, balloon, rubber glove, paper clip, cork, paper, card-stock, eye hook, duct tape, masking tape, popsicle sticks, aluminum foil, pipe cleaner, and penne noodles, Legos and sandpaper. Can you help me!!?

This is a good time to think like an engineer and explore! If you've read up on human physiology, your task at hand (so to speak) is to think of ways of building structures that somewhat mimic human hands. Engineers have been working on new designs for decades since this is such a difficult task - the human hand is a marvel of engineering by itself.

You might take a look at our project idea here https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... ml#summary which guides you through using drinking straws as both a bone and joint simulation. If using notched straws doesn't work for you, you can use some other rigid material for bones, hinges for joints and rubber bands as muscles.

What have you tried so far and what sorts of problems have you run into?

Howard