How to Make a Homemade Stethoscope
Stethoscopes, used by all doctors, amplify sound in order to easily hear heartbeats, determine fluid in lungs, and more. Elementary school students studying the body or how sound travels can make their own stethoscopes.
- Small hose
- Large funnel
- Small funnel
- Electrical tape
- Strong scissors or a utility knife
- Ruler
- Permanent marker
1 Measure
Measure 15 inches of a garden hose by laying it against a ruler on a flat surface. Mark the hose at both ends with a permanent marker.
2 Using scissors or a utility knife
Using scissors or a utility knife, cut the hose as marked.
3 Push the small end
Push the small end of a small funnel into one end of the hose.
4 Wrap
Wrap with electrical tape to keep the funnel in place.
5 Place the large
Place the large funnel into the other end of the hose. Tape this into place with the electrical tape.
6 Press the wider end
Press the wider end of the large funnel against a friend's chest and place the small funnel in your ear. Listen to and count the heartbeats you hear in one minute.
7 Ask your friend
Ask your friend to do some jumping jacks. Listen to the heartbeat again and count the beats you now hear in one minute. Compare the two sets of data.