Ever wonder how music affects the body? Did you know that calm music can lower our heart rate, making us more relaxed? The opposite can be said of heavy metal which is characterized by heavy guitar, powerful drumming, extra low-range bass notes, and aggressive or throaty vocals. In this activity, we will learn to measure our heartbeats per minute and use the scientific method to see how music can affect our heart rate and how listening to heavy metal music affects our heart rate.
Does Music Affect Our Heart Rate Activity
Supplies needed:
• Stethoscope (optional)
• Timer/watch/phone
• Calculator
• Heavy metal music Youtube video
We will ask the testable question: will listening to heavy metal music affect my heart rate? If so, how?
We hypothesize that “listening to heavy metal will accelerate my heart rate. If exposed to this type of music for long periods of time, it may hurt my health.”
Our variables are the normal environment which is quiet (no music). The other variable is adding heavy metal.
Instructions:
- Practice taking your heart rate, from your neck for 20 seconds. To take your pulse, use two fingers and place your index and third fingers on your neck to the side of your windpipe. Optional: use a stethoscope
- Start multiplying by three to get the heart rate per minute. Refer to the heart rate worksheet.
- Now get the baseline heart rate before adding the music. Sit and record heart rate. Repeat two or three times.
- Calculate averages (midpoint between the two recordings or average of three).
- Now that we have collected the baseline heart rate without music, begin measuring heart rate while listening to heavy metal.
- Sit and record your heartbeat with heavy metal. Repeat three more times.
- Calculate averages (same as number 4)
Now for the data. Make a chart of all participant’s before and after average heart rates using the attached group heart rate worksheet.
What are the results and interpretations? Review the chart. Was the average heart rate before and after? What are some things that could interfere with the experiment (music stopped, having trouble feeling the pulse, etc.)?
What is the conclusion? What results did you get from this experiment? Was our hypothesis correct? Did heavy metal music cause our heart rate to increase or decrease? Discuss if the heart rate increased when listening to heavy metal how could that hurt your health. Finally, if you would like, let us know how you liked this activity on social media!
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