Difficulty: Easy

Average Score: 100%

Which of these experiments would be an effective way to determine the distribution of touch receptors in the skin?

Rationale

Having a blindfolded student tell when a bristle placed lightly against the skin is felt would be an effective way to determine the distribution of touch receptors in the skin.

This experiment directly tests the sensitivity of the skin to touch. By lightly touching various parts of the skin with a bristle and noting when the touch is felt, one can map out the distribution of touch receptors.

A (Have a student spin a card composed of many colors and note how long it takes for the colors to merge) YOUR ANSWER

This experiment tests the perception of color and motion, which are functions of the eye, not the skin. It has nothing to do with the distribution of touch receptors in the skin.

B (Have a student place one hand in hot water, the other in cold, then both in warm water) YOUR ANSWER

This experiment tests the perception of temperature, which is a different sensation than touch. Although temperature receptors are present in the skin, this experiment would not provide information about the distribution of touch receptors.

C (Have a student register the taste of small cubes of distinct foods with eyes closed and nose held tightly) YOUR ANSWER

This experiment tests the sense of taste, which is a function of the tongue, not the skin. It does not provide any information about the distribution of touch receptors in the skin.

D (Have a blindfolded student tell when a bristle placed lightly against the skin is felt) CORRECT

This experiment directly tests the sense of touch. By lightly touching various parts of the skin with a bristle and noting when the touch is felt, one can map out the distribution of touch receptors. The blindfold ensures that the student is only relying on their sense of touch, not sight, to detect the bristle.

Conclusion

The effective way to determine the distribution of touch receptors in the skin is to conduct an experiment that directly tests the sense of touch, such as having a blindfolded student tell when a bristle placed lightly against the skin is felt. The other choices involve testing different senses (color and motion perception, temperature perception, and taste) and do not provide information about the distribution of touch receptors in the skin.

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