Music Science Project
Music Science Project: Music and Heart Rate
This music science project determines if different types of music have an affect on a person's heart rate.Background:
Research information on heart rate. Answer the following questions: What is heart rate? How is it determined? What factors cause an increase or decrease in heart rate? Does sound affect heart rate? How do we hear? How is sound perceived? How might music affect heart rate?
Hypothesis:
From your research you will determine if different types of music have an affect on heart rate.
Materials: (Adult supervision of kids is always recommended.)
- Suggested kit: PASPORT Heart Rate Sensor
Ward's Natural Science: Heart Rate Sensor
Science Kit: Heart Rate Sensor (# WW7700123)
- PASPORT USB Link:
Science Kit: USB Link (# WW7700119)
- Computer - Mac or PC
- CD or MP3 player
- Earphones
- Music from various genres: jazz, classical, rock, pop, R&B, etc.
- Stopwatch
- A number of human participants; the more the better
- Chair
1. Gather materials needed for your music science project experiment. List all of the materials used including anything used in your kit. Also list the names of the specific songs you will be using.
2. Follow the instructions for installing and using the EZscreen software (comes with the heart rate sensor kit) onto your computer. Be sure to follow all instructions on how to operate your heart rate sensor and the USB link.
3. Connect the USB link to a USB port on your computer. Connect the heart rate sensor's plug into the USB link. The software will automatically launch, after which the PASPORTAL window will be displayed on the computer.
4. Click on the EZscreen icon in the PASPORTAL window. The heart rate sensor's EZscreen will appear. The computer is now ready to collect data.
5. Prepare a CD or music playlist with the songs you will be using for your experiment.
6. Arrange the furniture in the room so that a chair is positioned in front of the computer.
7. Ask one of your participants to sit down in the chair. Attach the heart rate sensor to your participant. This monitor will remain in place during the experiment.
8. Ask your participant to sit quietly for about 1 minute. Click the start button on your computer's screen to begin recording the heart rate data. Click the stop button to stop recording after 1 minute. Record the resting heart rate.
9. Using earphones, allow your participant to listen to the first song you have selected for 2 minutes. After 2 minutes, stop the music and take the participant's heart rate reading.
10. Repeat step 9 for the rest of the songs you have chosen. Click the Save Data button on your computer's screen to name and save your EZscreen file. Detach the heart rate sensor from your participant.
11. Repeat steps (7-10) for the rest of the participants in your study.
12. After you have finished collecting the data for your participants, use the EZscreen software to analyze your data (follow instructions from your software for analyzing data).
13. Calculate and record the average heart rate readings for each participant. Also calculate and record the average heart rate readings for all participants.
| Jazz | |
|---|---|
| Classical | |
| Rock | |
| Pop | |
| R&B | |
| Hip Hop | |
| No Music/Resting |
Results:
Compare the results for your music science project experiment. Did any of the songs affect the heart rate of your participants? If so, how? Were there any differences between the participants in age, gender, etc.? Was a particular group more affected by the music than others (ex. males or females, younger or older)? Graph and chart your data.
Conclusion:
Summarize what happened in your project experiment based on your results. Explain patterns in your data. Did your data support your hypothesis? If not, explain why. Evaluate your project and make suggestions for improvements.
Project Display:
Now that you have completed your science project experiment, it is time to showcase all of your hard work. For information on how to display your science fair project, see Science Project Displays.
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