Robotic Hand Science Project
The human hand is composed of a wrist, palm, and five fingers. The wrist is made up of eight tightly packed bones called the carpals. Medially, the carpals connect to the bones of the forearm, the radius and ulna. Distally, the carpals are connected to the metacarpals and muscles of the hand. Five metacarpal bones make up the bones of the palm, and each one is in line with 1 finger. The metacarpal that connects to the thumb has the widest range of motion, allowing it to oppose the other fingers. The phalanges are the bones that make up the fingers. There are 3 in each finger and 2 in the thumb. The junction of each bone in the finger is visible as the knuckle.
There are many muscles responsible for the movement of the wrist, hand, and fingers. They originate from the humerus, radius, and ulna. The muscles can be divided into 2 groups: the flexors and extensors. The flexors of the hand and wrist are on the anterior side of the forearm; the extensors are on the posterior side. The flexor muscles shorten (flex), causing the fingers to close, or draw the palm of the hand toward the wrist. The extensors shorten (flex), causing the fingers to open, or draw the palm of the hand away from the wrist.
In this Robotic Hand Science Project laboratory activity, you will build a model that demonstrates the flexing action of the human hand. You will use craft materials and follow the procedure below to assemble a model of the hand. As you learn about the tendons and muscles of your own hands, you will be able to determine the similarities and differences between a biological hand and your model.
Robotic Hand Science Project Learning Objectives:
At the end of this laboratory activity, students are expected to:
- build a model that demonstrates the flexing action of the human hand.
- describe the tendons and muscles of own hand and the model hand.
- determine the similarities and differences between a biological hand and a model hand.
Robotic Hand Science Project Laboratory Proper:
Here are the Files Downloadable Files for the Modeling a Human Hand Activity
- 7-3 Laboratory Activity SE - Robotic Hand Science Project - The Muscular System (Docx)
- 7-3 Laboratory Activity SE - Robotic Hand Science Project - The Muscular System (PDF)
- 7-3 Laboratory Activity TE - Robotic Hand Science Project - The Muscular System (Member Only Docx)
- 7-3 Laboratory Activity TE - Robotic Hand Science Project - The Muscular System (Member Only PDF)
Robotic Hand Science Project Lab Materials:
For each pair of students:
- cardboard, cardstock, or foam board, 8½ x 5½”
- 5 straws or tubing
- marker
- string, 5′
- 5 beads
- pair of scissors
- craft knife
- roll of tape (clear or electrical)
- metric ruler
Robotic Hand Science Project Lab Activity Procedure:
- Trace your hand and wrist on cardboard, cardstock, or foam board to create the hand template.
- Mark the joints of your hand and wrist on the template. Make lines representing knuckle joints and the crease at the thumb pad that is created when you touch your thumb and pinkie finger.
- Use a craft knife to score the thumb crease. This will allow the thumb to be slightly opposable.
- For each finger and thumb, measure and cut straws or tubing that extend from the tip of the finger to the wrist.
- Tape the straws down to the hand template along each finger and down the thumb to the wrist; the straw should be centered in the finger. Avoid taping where the joint lines are marked. The ends of the straws should meet at the wrist.
- Trim uneven ends of the straws from the fingers so that they line up at the wrist. The straw for the thumb may sit overtop of the others at an angle.
- At each marked joint line, cut a small notch in the straw with a craft knife and remove a piece of the straw. Be careful not to cut all the way through the straw.
- Cut five 30-cm pieces of string.
- Tie 1 piece of string in a loop that threads through the tip of the finger and the second knuckle.
- Thread the remaining length of string through the straw so that the excess string is free at the wrist.
- Repeat steps 9 and 10 for each finger and thumb.
- Tie a bead onto the end of each string about 5 cm from the wrist. Each bead serves as a handle for flexing a finger.
- Score the knuckles on the backside of the hand.
- Bend the joints of each finger and thumb to create bends in the cardboard.
- Pull beads to flex and extend the fingers and thumb.
- Observe how your hand model works and observe it side by side with your actual hand.
Data and Results
Answer the following questions.
- Define the following terms: tendon, joint, ligament
- How are tendons, joint, and ligament related to one another?
Discuss the following with your students:
- How does your model resemble a human hand?
- What is the limitation of your model?
- What does the following represent in your hand model?
- Cardboard
- Strings
- Pulling the strings
- Describe how the tendons and muscles work in your hand model. How is it different from your actual hand?
- How do you think you can improve your hand model to make it look like an actual hand?
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- 7-3 Assignment SE - The Muscular System (FREE)
- 7-3 Assignment TE - The Muscular System ( Members Only )
- 7-3 Bell Work SE - The Muscular System (FREE)
- 7-3 Bell Work TE - The Muscular System ( Members Only )
- 7-3 Exit Quiz SE - The Muscular System (FREE)
- 7-3 Exit Quiz TE - The Muscular System ( Members Only )
- 7-3 Guided Notes SE - The Muscular System (FREE)
- 7-3 Guided Notes TE - The Muscular System ( Members Only )
- 7-3 Lesson Plan- The Muscular System ( Members Only )
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