Morphing Stair Assignment PDF

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Morphing Stair Assignment...

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Hummel Park Morphing Staircase Assignment Background: Hummel Park is an enigma in Omaha. No other location has as many mysterious stories associated with it, as this park. Located along the Missouri River in Northeast Omaha, this park consists of woodlands and bluffs bordering the Missouri River. One myth in particular, the “Morphing Staircase” will be the subject of this assignment. According to legend, when you attempt to count the number of stairs you will not get the same count when you go up as when you come down. This has been attributed to some mysterious force. Several other legends exist about Hummel Park, including the famed albinos that live in the trees, crocked trees that lean because of the numerous lynchings that supposedly occurred in the ~1930s, and several suicides and murders. Very few of these legends have any actual documentation to support them, but they are now so widespread they have become part of the fabric of Omaha. Instructions: You are to go to Hummel Park and count the stairs going up and then count them coming back down. Fill out the accompanying question sheet, and turn it in for credit. You are encouraged to go in groups and work on this assignment together. If you work in a group, fill out ONE assignment sheet and put all of the group member names on that sheet. You are limited to no more than 5 people per group. Hummel Park can see some activity by undesirable people so go to the park during the day, DO NOT GO AT NIGHT. You may turn in this assignment anytime, up to the due date, and you can either bring it to lecture or leave it in my mailbox in the Biology office. ********************************************************************************** IF YOUR STAIR COUNT IS NOT WITHIN 25 STEPS OF THE REAL COUNT YOUR ASSIGNMENT WILL LOOSE 5 PTS!! GO TO THE CORRECT STAIRS (there are more than 100 steps) ********************************************************************************** Directions: To get to Hummel Park drive to John J. Pershing Drive. John J. Pershing Drive is located north of Eppley Airport and you can get to John J. Pershing Drive by taking 680 east and exiting at 75 (31st / 30th street). Once you exit take 30th to Mckinley Street / Dick Collins Road and travel east. This will end in a three-way stop sign that is John J. Pershing Drive. Turn north and head up to Hummel Park. Take the second entrance to the park on the left, this will lead you to the base of the stairs. After entering the second Hummel Park entrance (Hummel Road) take the second left, this should lead you to a parking lot for the Frisbee golf area and the stairs will begin in that parking lot (* on the map). The stairs climb up to a picnic shelter and play area (# on the map). You can also get to John J. Pershing Drive by taking Dodge Street to 10 th to Abbot Drive out to Eppley Airport. John J. Pershing Drive splits off to the right from Abbot Drive a little north of the airport. Then you can just follow John J. Pershing Drive north to Hummel Park.

Stair Beginning * Stair End #

 Park Entrance

Date of Visit: April 20th Group Members Names: Wenyu Xu

You are testing the hypothesis that you cannot get the same number when you count the steps going up and going down. Number of Steps going up:

______186___________

Number of Steps going down :

______188___________

Did the number of steps going up and down match exactly? ______No________ The myth of the stairs is that they are somehow magical, or possessed, and the magic will not allow you to obtain the same count going up or down. If someone were to count two different numbers of steps for up and down, list two possible reasons (that do not involve the paranormal) why their numbers may not have matched up. Reason 1: Lot of those stair are out of shape and broken into pieces

Reason 2: Maybe I just miscount it

Did you notice yourself doing anything that might have affected your accuracy in counting, or did you do anything to make sure you were an accurate counter? I went there with friends(because I was scared), they were having discussions when we were walking, although I tried to ignore them, they still got my attention maybe just for a second, I might miscount it there.

How could someone determine, with absolute certainty, the number of stairs in the staircase? Take the exact same path when going back down and put 100% focus on the counting....