Tracks of a Killer
Recommended for grades 9–12.
Introduction
The body of famous pop music producer Jonathan Wallace was found in his bathtub. It is our hypothesis that an intruder surprised the victim and drowned him. The only clue at the crime scene was a set of muddy footprints leading from a nearby window to the bathroom and back again. The footprints were smeared, so their exact size could not be determined. The soles of the shoes had no pattern. It will be difficult to match the footprints to any particular pair of shoes.
Objectives
- Determine if there is a relationship between the length of a person's stride and his or her height.
- Determine if there is a relationship between the size of a person's shoes and his or her height.
- Efficiently gather data to test for correlations between height, shoe size, and stride length.
- Use a linear regression model of the data to predict height based on stride length.
Sensors and Equipment
No probeware required for this experiment.
Download Experiment Preview
The student-version preview includes:
- Step-by-step instructions for computer-based data collection
- List of materials and equipment
Note: The experiment preview of the computer edition does not include essential teacher information, safety tips, or sample data. Instructions for Logger Pro and other software (such as LabQuest App or TI handheld software, where available) are on the CD that accompanies the book. We strongly recommend that you purchase the book before performing experiments.
Standards Correlations
Included in the Lab Book
Vernier lab books include a CD with word-processing files of the student instructions, essential teacher information, suggested answers, sample data and graphs, and more.