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Introduction

You come home to find your house has been broken into. As you run up, you

hear panicked yelling from inside. Five masked men burst out your side door with large

bags slung over their backs. You recognize the shape of your grandmother’s porcelain

doll, crudely wrapped in bubble wrap, peeking out of one of the bags. The men run

toward the street just as a car zooms up to the curb. The men pile in while you run

towards them, trying to get your phone out to take a picture of the thieves. As they drive

off, you try to memorize their license plate number, but there is no license plate, and the

car has all of its markings that tell what type of car it is removed. You are now left with

close to nothing. The only evidence left behind are a few foot prints.

Often, footprints are left behind at a crime scene. With the research, police can

narrow down the list of suspects. The research will make it possible to find the

approximate hip height and hip width using the stride length. Based on hip height and

width we can assume A person’s body type. The research was found by measuring the

volunteer’s hip height and hip width, and then measuring their stride length walking

using video capture and the Logger Pro 3 system, which is a video analyzing program.

Here are some problems in the research. People with thinner hips and higher hips tend

to have a longer stride length. Of course there are different variations with people.

Marching band members tend to have shorter stride lengths because of practicing roll

steps for marching band. The practice carries over to their actual gait. People that

constantly run for track or exercise tend to have longer stride lengths because they

constantly try to extend their stride lengths while running in order to be faster. The
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research was conducted in the hopes of being able to catch criminals using crime

evidence faster so that less crimes take place.

The online website “Dinosaur Locomotion” used similar research to find the

speed of a creature or human. The difference is that the research used hip height and

hip width to find the stride length, where they used hip height and stride length to find

the velocity (“Dinosaur Locomotion”). Another site that used similar research is

“Dinosaurs: A Concise Natural History”, by David Fastovsky. This book has information

on animal stride lengths and the many factors that affect an animal’s stride length. It is

different because it includes a lot of variables not used in the research.

Problem Statement

Problem:

How to find the stride length of a person by measuring the person’s hip height

and hip width.

Hypothesis:

A person with a higher hip height and a thinner hip width will have a longer stride

length. A person’s hip height is what will effect the experiment the most.

Data Measured:

The independent variable are the many people that agreed to be measured.. The

dependent variable would be the lengths (in centimeters) of each person’s hip height

and width. The hip height will be measured by finding the top of the hip and measuring

its distance to the floor. A tape measure will be used in the process. The hooked end

will be placed on top of the subject’s hip bone and the rest will be stretched to the floor.
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The hip height will be found by using the tape measure and two t-squares. The two t-

squares will be set on top of the subject’s hip and then the tape measure would be used

to find the distance between the t-squares ends.The subject will be ten boys and ten

girls. All of the subjects will be ninth graders.

Experimental Design

Materials:

2 3 foot T-squares

Measuring tape with centimeters

Pencil

Calculator (TI nspire)

20 Homo Sapiens: 10 male, 10 female

Camera

Computer with Logger Pro 3

Procedure:

Gathering Data

MEASURING VOLUNTEER’S HIP HEIGHT:

1. Find the highest point of the volunteer’s hip and place the measuring tape end

that the measuring tape comes out of at the highest point.

2. Place the hooked end of the measuring tape on the subjects hip and record its

distance from the ground

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MEASURING VOLUNTEER’S HIP WIDTH:

3. Place the T end of the T-square on one of the volunteer’s hips.

4. Place the other T-square the same way on the opposite hip.

5. Aline the two T-squares

6. Using the measuring tape, measure the distance between the two T ends of the

T-squares and record the measurement.

MEASURING VOLUNTEER’S STRIDE LENGTH:

7. Find a space where it is possible to record on the camera the volunteers walking

8. Place a meter stick so that it is visible in the recording

9. Record the volunteers walking at a comfortable walking pace in across the

predetermined space.

10. Using Logger Pro 3.6 (and the tutorials), find the stride length of each volunteer

and record them.

Data and Observations

Data

Table 1
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DOE Values
Hip Height Hip Width

(cm) (cm)

- Standard + - Standard +

87-97.5 98-109 23-28 29-34

Table 1 shows the values of the variables used throughout our experiment. The

ranges are set to fit the measurements measured from 20 volunteers that are the same

age. The hip height low is 87 to 97.5 cm, while the high is 98 to 109 cm. The low is 23 to

28 cm, while the high is 29 to 34 cm for hip width.

Table 2
Results
Hip Height Hip Width

- Standard + - Standard +

9 11 7 13

Table 2 is the number of people that fall within each range out of the 20 same

aged volunteers.

Table 3
Stride length (cm)
Hip Height Hip Width
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- Standard + - Standard +

164.5 174.9 168.8 170.7

Table 3. Stride length (cm)

Table 3 is the average stride length for Hip Height and Hip Width. This was found

by separately adding together each of the people's measurements and then dividing by

the amount of people.

Observations

Stride length also depends on the way a person walks, which can be very

different among volunteers. Those who attended track tend to have longer strides, while

those who were in marching band have shorter strides.

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Data Analysis and Interpretation

Table 1
Factors used in Experiment.
Hip Height (cm) Hip Width (cm)

(-) Standard (+) (-) Standard (+)

87-97.5 98-109 23-28 29 -34

Table 1 shows that factors were chosen to see what factors affect a person’s

stride length. The height of a person’s hip, measured in centimeters, and hip width, also

measured in centimeters. The tables show the lows, highs, and standards for each

factor. The values for hip height are as following: 87 to 97.5 cm (low) and 98 to 109 cm

(high). The values for hip width are as following: 23 to 28cm (low) and 29 to 34 cm

(high). We did not use standards because if we did we would not be able to use a lot of

the information

Table 2
Average Stride Length

Averages (cm)

(+,+) (+,-) (-,+) (-,-)

173.7 176.1 167.6 161.4

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Table 2 shows the results for the stride length of the people that fit into the

combinations of each category.The grand average is all four of the averages added

together and divided by four. In this experiment the grand average is 169.7 cm for the

stride length.

Table 3
Effect of Hip Height
Effect of Hip Height

(-) (+)

167.6 173.7

161.4 176.1

Avg. 164.5 cm Avg. 174.9 cm

Table 3 shows the subjects’ average stride length when the subject hip height

was applied It gives both high and both low amounts, as well as an average for both.

When the high height range was applied, the average was 174.9 cm. When the low

height range was applied, the average was 164.5 cm.

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Figure 1: Effect of Hip Height

Figure 1 shows the effect of the hip height. The effect of hip height is found from

subtracting the low average, 164.5, from the high average 174.9. The effect of hip

height is 10.4 cm. This means that as the hip height increases, the stride length

increases by 10.4 cm. This shows that hip height helps the stride length very much. Hip

height is statistically more effective than hip width. This data will be used to find the

interaction effect later on.

Table 4
Effect of Hip Width
Effect of Hip Width

(-) (+)

176.1 173.7

161.4 167.6

Avg.168.8 cm Avg. 170.7 cm

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Table 4 shows the average of both the high range and low range of the subjects’

hip width. It also shows both of these values averaged. When the high width range was

taken, an average of 170.7 cm stride length was found. When the low width range was

taken, an average of 168.8 cm stride length was found.

Figure 2: Effect of Hip Width

Figure 2 shows the effect of hip width. The effect of hip width is found from

subtracting the low average,168.8 cm, from the high average, 170.7 cm. The effect of

hip width is 1.9 cm. This means that as the hip width increases, the stride length

increases by 1.9 cm. This shows that hip width affects the stride length less than hip

height does. However it is still statistically less important than hip height.

Table 5
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Interaction Effect
Hip Height
(cm)

(-) (+)

Hip Width (cm) Solid Segment (+) 167.6 173.7

Dotted (-) 161.4 176.6

Segment

Table 5 is a comparing the total averages between the hip height and hip width

when interacting with one another.

Figure 3: Interaction of Hip Height and Hip Width

Figure 3 shows the interaction effect between hip height and hip width. The solid

segment represents the high amount for hip width and the dotted segment represents

low amount for hip width. The slope of the solid segment is 4.5. The slope of the dotted

segment is 6.15. Knowing these factors, the interaction effect can be found. On the
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graph there doesn’t seem to be an interaction but, the interaction effect of these factors

is -1.65. This is found by subtracting the slope of the dashed (low) segment from the

slope of the solid (high) segment.

It should be noted that when the hip width is held high, on its own (See Figure 4),

a stride length of 170.7 cm was averaged. Look at the solid segment above which also

represents hip width along with the interaction of hip height. Notice that when hip width.

is held low, the high amount of hip height. yields a stride length of 170.7 cm on average,

which is equal to stride length that was earlier estimated. Also, when hip height is high a

stride length of 174.9 cm was measured on average. This is higher than the estimated

amount. Hip height seems to increase the stride length.

Further, when hip width is held low, on its own (See Figure 2), 168.8 cm were

estimated to be measured on average. Look at the dotted line above which also

represents hip width held low with the interaction of hip height. Notice that when hip

height is low, the low amount of hip width yields a stride length of 161.4 cm on average,

which is lower than the estimated stride length of 107.7. Also, when hip height is high, a

stride length of 174.9 is expected. The hip height increases the expected stride length,

but it seems that adding the hip width decreases the stride length. From this data, it is

shown that hip height raises a person’s stride length. Hip width lowers it.

Y= 169.7+5.2(h)+0.95(w)-0.825(hw)+ noise
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Figure 6: Parsimonious Prediction Equation

Figure 6 shows the parsimonious equation. The difference between this and the

prediction equation is that only the significant effects are used. Everything is significant

since there is no range of standards, so everything is included is included.

Interpretation

The height helped raise stride length and hip width lower the stride length. This data

could be used to help police catch a criminal where the most often evidence are

footprints. Also it would help with gaming graphics. The better we understand how a

person moves, the more real we can make games look real.

Conclusion

The original experiment was to work with dinosaurs and try to create a formula.

The hypothesis was that people with higher and thinner hips would have longer stride

lengths. The people with shorter and wider hips had shorter stride lengths. The

hypothesis has been accepted.

Originally dinosaur fossils were the center of the experiment. The information

from the dinosaur’s tibia femur and metatarsals would be taken and a formula would be

formed for the dinosaur’s stride length. The information changed as the idea behind the

experiment shifted towards people instead. Information suggested by another person

changed our experiment again. Instead of the lengths of tibias, femurs, and metatarsals,

the information became hip height and width. This decision was made because the

current experiment would have not fit into a DOE. The information from this final

experiment was accepted by how people assume. Higher hips elongated the stride
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length along with thinner hips. People with shorter and wider hips did not have the

longer stride length that people with higher and thinner hips did.

This data is related to many other researches. As we mentioned earlier, this data

has been used to get an idea of what a suspect's build is by using the suspect’s

footprints. Another way this data has been used is to use it to identify the size of an

ancient creature using it’s footprints. The website “Dinosaur Tracks and Trackway” has

included the variable of gait to the formula for speed. Gait affects the overall stride

length. The research is different because it focuses on velocity instead of stride length.

“Dinosaur Tracks and Trackways” Another website that used similar research was

“Dinosaur Speed Calculator”. It uses stride length and foot length to find velocity. It’s

different because it’s research was using stride length to find velocity instead of finding

the stride length."Dinosaur Speed Calculator at the Sorby Geology Group.” Yet another

website that used similar research was "Title: Dino Long Legs: A Study of Tracks." This

site was set up to be a classroom activity for finding the relationship between stride

length and leg length. It is different because it doesn’t have the variable of hip width.

The data has been used similarly on the website “Dinosaur Trackways”. It uses the data

and explains how a dinosaur footprint is created and how it is preserved. It is different

because it focuses on the footprint instead of the stride length. This data has been used

to find which person is physically able to be the best for a certain sport. The website

“Science of Running” used similar research to find ways to make yourself a better

athlete. It works on maximizing the your stride length and stride frequency. It is different

because it works with stride frequency and velocity instead of hip height and hip

width."Science of Running: Understanding Stride Rate and Stride Length."

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Some constraints need to be added to this experiment. One of these constraints

is to not use marching band members. They have shown multiple times to have shorter

stride lengths than what was expected in the experiment. The reason is assumed to be

because of the long amounts of time that they practice, what is known as, a roll step.

This step is used to shorten how far a person steps in order to stay in line with other

marchers while marching. Another constraint is to not use track runners. Unlike

marching band members, track runners are constantly trying to elongate their stride

length more. This is so they are faster. Speed is dependent on stride length and stride

frequency.

In this experiment the researchers were not aware of these constraint ideas yet.

Both marching band members and track runners were used in the experiment. This is

one of the flaws in the experiment. Another flaw in the experiment is dimensions were

not used in the measuring the stride length. Logger Pro 3 was used to find the subjects’

stride lengths. This program measures a set measurement for a standard. This standard

was set in the back of the video. The subjects walked about four to five inches away

from where the standard was set. This effect the measured amount in Logger Pro 3.

To do this experiment again, the constraints mentioned earlier would need

to be used. Also the dimensions would need to be added. A wider variety of people

could be used to. Instead of ten 9th grade boys and ten 9th grade girls, five 9th, grade

boys five 9th grade girls, five 10th grade boys, five 10th grade girls and so on to 12th

grade could be used. This will help for a wider variety of people and data.

One of the applications from this experiment, like stated earlier, would be for

crime scenes. There are many times at crime scenes where the only visible evidence
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are footprints. Officers and detectives can use the information from this experiment to

find a person’s body type. The wider apart the footsteps are from each other the wider

the criminal’s hips can be assumed. Also the farther apart they are, the more the

detectives can assume the criminal’s hip height is. Some with far apart footsteps can be

guessed to be taller and skinnier. Another application of this research is in-game

movement. Gaming producers can use this research to make their gaming avatars

move more like an actual person. This raises the graphics standards for a better looking

game.

Acknowledgements

Thank you to Mrs. Hilliard for fine tuning this experiment.

Thank you to Mr. Supal for letting us borrow your T-Squares.

Thank you to Mrs Gravel for letting us borrow her supplies.

Thank you to all the all the people who allowed us to use them in our experiment.

Works cited

“Dinosaur Locomotion.” Enchanted Learning, n.d. Web. 4 Feb 2014. Harwood,

Richard. Dinosaur

Trackways. Richard Hardwood, 02 Aug 2012. Web. 4 Feb 2014.

Fastovsky, David. Dinosaurs: A Concise Natural History. Cambridge University Press,

n.d. Web. 4 Feb 2014. Harwood, Richard. Dinosaur Trackways Dinosaur

Tracks and Trackways. University of Bristol. Web. 18 Mar 2014.

“Dinosaur Speed Calculator.” Sorby Geology Group. The University of Sheffield.2010.

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Web. 6 February 2014.

Magness, Steve. "Science of Running: Understanding Stride Rate and Stride Length."

Science of Running: Understanding Stride Rate and Stride Length. N.p., n.d.

Web. 14 Mar. 2014.