You can listen to a person's heartbeat with a stethoscope.Doctors and nurses use them a lot, but they also make popular science experiments.When playing a doctor, children love to use stethoscopes.Making your own stethoscope is easy and inexpensive.
Step 1: A balloon can be used to cover the top of a funnel.
Pull the balloon over the larger opening of the funnel.Pull it tightly so that it can be stretched over the funnel.A smaller funnel will be easier to work with than a larger one.It would be ideal to have something around 3 inches wide.If you can't fit the balloon over the funnel, use a sheet of plastic wrap.
Step 2: Wrap electrical tape around the balloon to hold it in place.
The top of the funnel is where the balloon needs to be secured.Wrap electrical tape around the edge of the funnel to stop it from popping off.If you used plastic wrap, you will need to use a rubber band instead.If you don't have electrical tape, cut a strip of duct tape in half and use that instead.
Step 3: Attach the end of the funnel to the tubing.
The end of the funnel can be stuck into some clear, flexible plastic tubing.Attach the narrow end of the funnel to the tubing using 24 inches of tubing.In hardware stores, garden supply shops, and the aquarium section of a pet store you can buy plastic tubing.Attach the funnel to the tubing with electrical tape if it's still loose.If the tube is too small for the end of the funnel, poke it into it.
Step 4: If you want, add a second funnel to the other end.
If you leave the second funnel off the stethoscope will still work.If you stick a piece of tubing into your ear, it will be more comfortable.You don't need to cover it with a balloon if you choose to use a second funnel.
Step 5: The stethoscope can be used in a quiet room.
Put the balloon over your heart or someone else's heart, and the other end against your ear.If you used a second funnel, make sure that the funnel is touching your head, and if you left the tube as-is, gently stick the end into your ear.You should be able to hear the heartbeat if the room is quiet.If you can't hear the heart, do some jumping jacks for about a minute.If you're listening to someone else's heart, have them do jumping jacks.A quiet room is needed.It's not very loud or strong because it is a handmade stethoscope.The heartbeat will be drowned out by a loud room.
Step 6: Curve a 10 in (25 cm) long piece of thick wire into a U-shape.
The aluminum wire used for sculpting is 1.5 and 2 millimeters thick.If you want to bend the wire into a U-shape, you have to cut it first.It's like a wishbone from a turkey if you give the bottom of the U a slight point.
Step 7: At 90-degree angles, bend the ends of the wire into the V-shape.
The left end of the wire should point to the right.The ends shouldn't be longer than 1 inch.
Step 8: To extend the ends of the tubing, tape it to the wire.
There is a piece of plastic tubing to the left of the wire.Wrap electrical tape around it a few times.Continue to tape the tubing to the wire until you reach the right bent end.Wrap the last piece of electrical tape around it.There will be a slight gap between the bottom point of the U-shape and the tubing.It's a good idea to choose tubing that is thicker than your wire.2 millimeters will do just fine.Take the ends of the tube down so that they extend past the wires.The part that goes into your ear is this one.
Step 9: Put some hot glue on the ends of the tubing.
It's not necessary, but it will make the headphones more comfortable.Attach a ring of hot glue to the ends of the tubing.Try to get as close to the edge as possible.If you need to secure the earbud covers with hot glue, you can pop them onto the ends of the tubing.
Step 10: Wrap the tubing with electrical tape.
Start at one end of the stethoscope and finish at the other end.To make sure the tubing and wire don't show, overlap the tape by a couple of millimeters.Leave the wire at the bottom of the U-shape exposed if there is a gap between the tubing and it.It is possible to use duct tape for this.Either buy the wide rolls or cut the tape yourself using a metal ruler and a craft blade.
Step 11: The medicine cap has a hole in it.
The plastic caps that come with cough medicine are usually big enough to hold 2 ounces.The craft blade should be put into the bottom of the cap.This will make a hole.The hole should be the same size as your plastic tubing.You can use a bottle cap or a tiny funnel if you can't find a cap.You don't need to drill any holes if you use a funnel.
Step 12: Attach the piece of tubing to the hole with hot glue.
Stick the tubing into the cap if you want to see the bottom.To get it into the cap, you need to insert it just far enough.Attach hot glue around the seam.Make sure the tubing is secure.Don't let it get too close to the rim, just push it further into the cap.
Step 13: There is a hole in the bottom of the U-shaped tube.
Attach the U-shaped tube to the wire.You can slice a hole with a craft blade or a pair of scissors.Don't make the hole go all the way through the tube and out the other side if you only go through one side.The second tube has to fit into the big hole.It would be better if the hole was smaller.
Step 14: Attach the second tube to the hole with hot glue.
The medicine cap has a tube attached to it.Take the loose end and poke it into the hole.To hold everything in place, apply hot glue to the seam.The tube should be inserted just far enough into the hole that it holds to not touch the inside wall of the tube.You can wrap more electrical tape around the bottom of the U-shaped tube to hide the glue, create a stronger hold, and finish the look.
Step 15: Pull the water balloon over the top of the cap.
A regular-sized balloon might be a better fit if you used a mini funnel.The electrical tape should be wrapped around the sides of the cap from top to bottom once you have the balloon on.This will prevent the balloon from popping off.The balloon should be pulled taut.Wrap a piece of plastic around the cap.Attach it with a small rubber band and electrical tape.The balloon part is not the tail.
Step 16: There is a headband for the headphones.
A plastic headband may be safer for young children than a metal one.It's okay if the headband has teeth on the underside, but don't use combs that slide into your head.The widest headband you can find is around 2 inch (0.64 to 1.27 cm) wide.Wrap ribbon or tape around the headband if you don't like it.This is not a real stethoscope and won't allow you to hear a beating heart.
Step 17: Glue the top of the headband with a wide grosgrain ribbon.
To make it look like a U, hold the headband.Wrap your ribbon around the headband with hot glue.The stethoscope should look like a Y if the rest of the ribbon is hanging down.The length of the ribbon is up to you.It would work if it was around 24 inches.The stethoscope will look more authentic if you use a white or light gray ribbon.If you really want to, you can choose a thinner ribbon, but be aware that it may tangle faster.
Step 18: The ends of the headband should be covered with a matching ribbon.
Cut two pieces of the ribbon.Attach the headband with hot glue and Wrap each ribbon around it.If you want larger earbuds, you can fold the ribbon over the ends of the headband.If you are folding the ribbon, cut the pieces in half.The ear buds should be 1 inch long.You should still use 1 in ribbon if you used thinner ribbon.You can use 2.5 cm strips of felt instead.
Step 19: A piece of gray felt is cut into circles.
You can use gray craft foam.Use a compass or jar to trace the circles, then cut them out with scissors.The size of the circles doesn't matter as long as they are larger than the ribbon.
Step 20: Attach the end of the ribbon to the circles.
Put one of the circles on a flat surface and coat it with glue.The end of the ribbon is over the circle.Press the second circle into place after applying more glue.tacky glue is the best for this step.Work quickly so that hot glue doesn't dry before you finish.Make sure the circles are straight.To even them out, use a pair of scissors.
Step 21: Glue a red heart or cross over the front of a circle.
Cut a heart out of red felt.Put hot glue on the back of your heart of cross and press it against the center of the gray disk.You can use red foam for the heart or cross if you used craft foam to make the disk.If you want a more girlish stethoscope, use pink.Paint the heart or cross on if you can't find red or pink felt.All of the paints will work great.