Wingspan and Height (Virtruvian Man) Lab

Katherine Yeacker
Hour 5 STEM Physics
9-24-12

Problem: Is your wingspan related to your height? Is your forearm related to your foot?
Material List:
Human subjects
Meter stick
Computer
Procedure:
1. .Obtain supplies.
2. Measure the subjects wingspan from the tip of your middle finger to the other middle
fingers tip.
3. Measure the subjects height.
4. Record.
5. Repeat steps 1-4 for the rest of the class.
6. Measure the subjects forearm from wrist to elbow.
7. Record.
8. Repeat steps 6-7 for the rest of the class.
9. Measure your subjects foot from the big toe to the heel.
10. Repeat steps 8-9 for the rest of the class.
Results:
Table 1: Wingspan Vs. Height
Wingspan(cm Height(cm)
162
168
170
162
157
164
159
156
179
181
165
163
162
163
175
166
172
166
172
166
158
164
162
169
167
176
163
165
185
180
180
183
169
161
147
147
165
161
166
167

171
158
161
165
175
172
171
174.5
159
171.5
174
175
161
175
175.5

168
158
158
160.5
169
187
171
166.5
155
163
174
174
165
173.5
173

Table 2: Forearm Vs. Foot

Forearm(cm) Foot(cm)
29
24
26
23
24
24
25
33
30
30
28
23
23
22
27
24
26
28
22
20
25
24
25
24
29
31
29
24
24
24
21
21
26
22
21
21
24
24
27
24
25
23
26
24
30
26
31
27
26
23.5

24
26
23
21.5
27
29
25
27
27

25
24
24
26.5
29
25.5
26
29.5
30

Figure 1: Wingspan Vs. Height

Wingspan Vs. Height

200
190
180

Series1

Height(cm)

170

Linear (Series1)
y = 0.9945x
R = 0.552

160
150
140
130
120
110
100
150

160

Figure 2: Forearm Vs. Foot

170
Wingspan(cm)180

190

200

35

Forearm Vs. Foot

33

Forearm(cm)

31
29

y = 0.9667x
R = 0.0768

27
25
23

Series1

21

Linear (Series1)

19
17
15
15

20

25

30

35

Foot(cm)

Conclusion:
Figure 1 shows that there is a relationship between a humans height and their wingspan. The
equation for the trend line is y=0.9945x; this means that a humans height is equal to 0.9945 of
their wingspan. The equation is a fairly strong representation of our data as seen by the R2 of 56.
Figure 2 shows that there is no relationship between a humans forearm and foot. The equation
for the trend line is y=0.9667x; this means that a humans forearm is equal to 0.9667of their foot.
The equation is not a strong representation of our data as seen by the R2 of 0.0768. Sources of
error in this lab are parallax in reading the meter sticks, not fully stretching your arms out,
recording data onto the wrong axis, and not standing straight.