Make a Homemade Stethoscope

Make a Homemade Stethoscope

Make a Homemade Stethoscope : Multi-thousand tips to make your life easier.

A stethoscope is a device mostly used by doctors to listen to heartbeats. It was invented by a Frenchman named Rene Laennec in 1817 and has three types: the acoustic stethoscope, which is the most common; the electronic stethoscope, which uses electronic amplifiers for better sound detection; and the fetal stethoscope, which is used on pregnant women to listen to the baby's heartbeats. Although they differ, all three types of stethoscopes share one goal: to examine patients' hearts and lungs and make sure they are functioning properly.

A stethoscope is also useful for teaching kids about sound waves and how they can travel even through the tightest spaces. For this reason, most young students choose to make homemade stethoscopes as their entries in local science fairs.

Do you want to teach your child how to make one? Then read on to learn how.

• Prepare the materials. To make a homemade stethoscope, you will need: 1 large funnel, 1 small funnel, a long plastic tube, duct tape, a pair of scissors, and a ruler.
• Prepare the hose. To make your very own stethoscope, start by measuring about 20 inches of plastic tube. If you do not have a plastic tube, you can use an old garden hose. Just make sure you clean it well before using it. Once you have finished measuring, cut the tube or garden hose accordingly. The garden hose might be a little too tough to cut, so consider using a sharp knife. Be very careful. Do not, under any circumstances, let your child do the cutting, to prevent accidents or other untoward incidents.
• Attach the funnels. Now that you have your tube, get the small funnel and insert it into one end of the tube. Make sure it fits properly, and then seal it with a strip of duct tape. Get the large funnel and attach it to the other end of the tube, and seal it as well. Gently tug each funnel to make sure it is snug and properly placed.
• Get ready to play. Your child's stethoscope is now done. To test it, try doing some aerobic exercises, such as running or jumping, for about 10 minutes. Ask your child to firmly place the large funnel on your chest and use the smaller funnel to listen to your heartbeat. Tell him to count how many beats he can hear in one minute and have him write the data down. Rest for 5 minutes, or until your heart returns to its normal pace. Ask your child to “examine” you again by counting the number of beats he can hear for one full minute. Have him record the data again and compare the two sets. This is the perfect way to teach your child about heart rates. Explain why data A differs from data B. Take turns by letting him exercise while you examine him next, so that he can feel the difference.

And there you have it—your very own stethoscope! Whether it is for a science fair or not, making a homemade stethoscope is a great way to bond with your child and show him that learning, contrary to what he may believe, can still be fun and exciting.