Purpose
To determine what makes a person snore.
Materials
-
wax paper
-
scissors
-
ruler
| Procedure |
| 1. |
Measure
and cut a 6-inch (15-cm) square of wax paper. |
| 2. |
Place
your hands on the sides of the paper square. |
| 3. |
Hold
the paper against your lips. |
| 4. |
Hum
your favorite song. |
| 5. |
Hum
the same song without the paper. |
Results
The song sounds natural without the paper, but
with it, you hear a strange vibrating tune.
The wax paper also tickles your lips.
Why?
Sound is produced by vibrating materials. Humming
causes the wax paper
to vibrate. Snoring is nothing more than the
vibration of soft tissue within
the mouth. As you sleep, gravity pulls your
tongue, uvula (the hanging piece of skin at
the top of your throat), and other soft tissue
in the mouth down, causing the airway to be
partially blocked. As you inhale, air moves
through the small passage and causes the soft
parts of the mouth to vibrate. This vibrating
sound is called snoring.
|
