Measure a Foot
One of the experiments that I did for the topic of Measurement when I was lecturing in a JC was to try to verify this claim that our feet usually swell at night. It has been stated in some websites, such as Answers.com that "Often, your feet will swell in the latter part of the day."
I showed students the results of my measurement in the morning and evening (25.1 and 25.2 cm respectively) and asked if the results were conclusive.
Showing them that the error bars for both measurements overlap, I explained that even though the values of the measurements seemed to suggest that the statement is verified, the extent of uncertainty forbids us to conclude that it is.
To reduce the amount of uncertainty, one can use a more precise instrument such as vernier calipers (if there's one big enough for one's foot).
Perhaps it is true that the size of the foot is larger at the end of the day. This could be attributed to the amount of water you drink or the activities throughout the day. However, it is found that in some cases they could swell in the morning and be smaller at night. For instance, after a morning jog, the feet can swell to 25.7 cm, as mine did after jogging 2.4 km.
So the next step will be to repeat the measurement many more times and with many more people participating in the survey in order to improve accuracy. Any takers?
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