THE BELLYBUTTON AND LENGTH MEASUREMENTS LAB

One of Darwin’s observations was that there is great variation between members of a
population of a species.

This lab sets out to develop many science skills, not least the collection of data,
application of math and graph drawing. It also asks you to work in groups, yet combine
data, so we need scientific rigour! And that means accuracy – reducing margins of error!
Work in groups of 4 or 5 students – one table.
1. For each member of your group, record the measurements listed below. Record each
measurement to the nearest 0.1 cm. Record data in the results table.
a. Length of index finger
b. Length of arm (shoulder point to finger tip)
c. Length of femur bone (knee to hip)
d. Height
e. Bellybutton height (distance from bellybutton to floor)

Before taking any measurements, the whole group must agree exactly on how those
measurements should be taken. The objective here is to reduce margins of error.

DATA TABLE 1
Team Length of Length of Length of Bellybutton
Member Index Finger Arm Femur Height Height
(cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm)
1
2
3
4
5

[5 points]

2. Using the data in the Data Table plot a scattergram for one only of the following:
a. arm length versus index finger length.
b. height versus femur length.
[5 points]

3. Based on your graph, identify any relationship that exists between arm length and
index finger length or height and femur length for your team.

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[1 point]
Explain this relationship

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[1 point]

4. Record the heights for the entire class in the table below. (Names are not necessary)

CLASS HEIGHT DATA (cm)

[2 points]

5. Using data for the entire class construct a histogram graph for height of the class.
[5 points]

6. Combine your group’s heights and bellybutton heights into the table below and use
the relationship below to calculate and record each team member's Bellybutton Index (BBI).
BBI = bellybutton distance from floor/ height

BBI DATA TABLE

Team Member Bellybutton Height (cm) Height (cm) BBI

5
7. Why are there no units for BBI?

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8. Record the BBIs for the entire class in the table below:

CLASS BBI DATA

9. Using data for the entire class, construct a bar graph for the BBI’s.

10. Write a conclusion based on the bar graph of BBI’s:

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11. Write an inference based on the bar graph of BBI’s

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