![]() ![]() If you want to record the actual distance, you will need to account for the size of the exercise wheel vs.If possible, check more often (every few hours) to determine the times of peak activity. The magnet needs to pass fairly close to the sensor for the speedometer to work.Ĭheck the speedometer readings in the morning and in the evening for total distance travelled.You can use clear adhesive tape or modeling clay to hold the sensor in place. Attach the sensor to the wheel so that it records the magnet's movement.The speedometer has a magnet that rotates with the wheel, and a sensor that counts the revolutions each time the magnet passes by.Read the instructions so that you know how to determine the distance traveled.To measure the activity level when you are not present, install a bicycle speedometer on the pet rodent's exercise wheel. If you aren't able to check on it that often, see step 3. Check on it every 2 hours and watch it for 10-minute periods. Observe the pet during the day and record its activity levels.To start this science fair project, you should have access to a pet rodent that you are comfortable working with, either at home or at your school.And, of course, be sure not to cause any stress to your pet during the experiments. Plan your experiments carefully, take thorough notes, and give yourself plenty of time for observation. Your pet's response to changes in the environment, such as varying the amount of playtime your pet experiences during the day, may take several days to observe. To study circadian rhythms in your pet rodent, you will need to devote some time every day for several weeks to observing its activity levels. An electronic bicycle speedometer it should have a magnet that attaches to the wheel, and a sensor that counts the magnet's revolutions you can purchase this at most sports stores or online.But you can probably use the exercise wheel you currently own. A rodent exercise wheel the "Silent Spinner," available at most pet supply stores, works well because it turns smoothly with minimal wobble.Or you can study a pet rodent at your school. You should already own a mouse, a rat, a guinea pig, or a hamster, and know how to take care of it.The Howard Hughes Medical Institute has a number of animations about the fundamental biology of circadian rhythm:.This site at the University of Utah has a good introduction to the genetics of mammalian internal clocks.For a history of the science of circadian rhythms and a glossary of terms, see this website:.How quickly does your pet rodent's daily activity schedule adjust to changes in its environment?.When your pet rodent is active, is it for short bursts of a few minutes, or is it extended over a longer period of time?.At what time of day is your pet rodent most active?.You can also experiment with factors that alter the normal day-night cycle of activity, such as keeping your pet awake during the day by playing with it. You will build a device that measures your rodent's activity by tracking the motion of your pet's exercise wheel. The objective of this science fair project is to study how the activity level of your pet rodent varies over the course of a day-night cycle. The internal clocks are "set" by environmental cues, such as the day-night cycle, but they will continue to run even when the animal is kept in total darkness. For rodents living in a desert environment, nocturnal activity also has the advantage of restricting activity to the cooler part of the day.Īnimals actually have a number of internal clocks that are critical for normal functioning. ![]() In the wild, nocturnal activity helps the animal avoid predators. Rodents are typically nocturnal, resting during the day and becoming active at night. The hormone melatonin, which is a key regulator of the internal circadian clock, peaks in concentration at 21:00 (9:00 PM). Note that the clock is on a 24-hour cycle, so that 3:30 PM, for example, is noted as 15:30. This diagram depicts some of the circadian patterns that occur in humans. Bodily functions are marked at various points along the clock such as highest blood pressure occurring at 18:30.įigure 1. 6 AM is at the 9 o'clock position, 12 PM is at the 12 o'clock position and 6 PM is labeled at 18:00 at the 3 o'clock position. ![]() This diagram shows a human figure at the center of a 24-hour clock with midnight at the 6 o'clock position and moves clockwise. Example diagram of the circadian cycle affecting bodily functions during certain times of the day.
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