1. Equipping the Next Generation for Active Engagement in Science
Text Neck

2. Save your neck: stop texting
New research shows that using your phone may seriously damage your neck.
Scientists recommend cutting time spent online, texting and watching videos. 2
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3. Will you use your phone less to save your neck?
60º
Bending your neck adds to the force exerted by your head on your spine.
At 60º the extra force is 220 N...
…about the weight
of a 6-year old.
Ask students for their first thoughts on the dilemma question.
Will you use your phone less to save your neck?
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4. In this activity, you will
Make a decision about whether to use your phone less to prevent neck damage:
Forces: Identify forces on objects
Science in society: Define a problem and devise a plan to investigate it
Big Idea
Working Scientifically

5. The reaction force of the neck upon the skull
The forces on your neck – 1
Why does bending your neck add to the force on the bones at the top of your spine?
turning effect
Force exerted by
muscles to keep
head in position
Talk through the slide which shows the turning effect in terms of moments and how the neck muscles balance the turning effect to hold the head still. This will result in additional force on the spine. The force will vary depending upon the angle of tilt made by the head.
Force due to gravity
The reaction force of the neck upon the skull
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6. The forces on your neck – 2B A C D E
In which position is the force on the neck biggest?
Ask groups to discuss the question. The turning effect and resultant force on the spine is greatest in position E, since the greatest force must be exerted by the muscles to keep the head in this position.
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7. Will using your phone damage your neck?
SS1-2
Will using your phone damage your neck?
Plan how to investigate this question:
Choose variables that might affect the outcome.
For each variable
– identify at least one way of obtaining data.
– then decide the best way of collecting reliable data for the variable.
Work out how to use the data to decide if using your phone will damage your neck.
Outline the main task. Give each group a set of cards cut from SS1 and copies of SS2a and SS2b. 7
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8. Will you use your phone less to save your neck? Why?
Student groups use the information gathered to help them to solve the dilemma question.
You can give out SS3 to assess individual learning. 8
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9. Text neck Student sheets Sheet no. Title Notes SS1 Variables
Reusable. Cut into cards. one per group.
SS2
Obtaining data
Reusable, one per group.
SS3
Assessment
Consumable.

10. Variables A B C D E F G H I SS1
Amount of time using phone to text, watch videos, and use the
internet.
Angle of head when using phone.
Weight of body. D E F
Time your neck can be kept at an angle before your spine is damaged.
The amount of force on your spine that causes damage.
Phone screen brightness. G H I
Neck muscle strength.
Answers: Variables A, B, E, F, G and H might affect the outcome.
Force exerted by your head on your spine at different neck angles.
Weight of head

11. Obtaining data – 1 SS2a Ask people to tell you their phone settings.
Ask people with neck pain how much they use their phones.
Measure neck circumference.
Ask people to write down when they use their phones.
Use bathroom scales.
Find the data in a scientific journal or medical text book.
Create an app that records when you text, watch videos and use the Internet.
Ask people which sports they do, and how often.
Answers: Best ways of obtaining data: A – create an app; B – measure with inclination app or protractor and plumb line; E and F – journal data; G – graph; H – cannot measure in isolation. Students can consider how to ensure the data is as reliable as possible. If you wish, students can obtain data for variable B using a protractor and plumb line or an inclination app.

12. Use force diagrams and do calculations.
Obtaining data – 2
SS2b
Select data from this graph, published in a scientific journal.
Use force diagrams and do calculations.
Use a protractor and plumb line.
Use an app that measures inclination to find out the angle shown.
Answers: Measure neck angle (B). Use the graph to find corresponding force on top of spine (G). Find out the amount of force on your spine that causes damage (F) and the time your neck can experience this force before damage is caused (E). Compare this time to the amount of time using phone (A

13. Assessment SS3 The scientific question I am investigating is:
These variables might affect the outcome:
Circle the most important variables above.
Draw rectangles around the variables you can measure.
Draw triangles around the variables for which you can find data from secondary sources:
Underline in pencil the variables for which it may not be possible to find data.
This is how I can use the data to answer the question:

14. Get students talking and thinking

15. Equipping the Next Generation for Active Engagement in Science
TRACES