Hooked on Science: Length of small intestines

How long is your small intestine? With a few items from around the house, you can learn the science behind your small intestine.

Materials

* Yarn or rope

* Yardstick

* Scissors

Instructions

Use the yardstick to measure and cut 23 feet of yarn or rope.

Explanation

The yarn or rope represents the average length of an adult small intestine. In the small intestine chemicals break down the food. Tiny structures called villi inside the small intestine take in nutrients from the digested food and then move the nutrients into the blood.

Jason Lindsey is a science outreach educator with Hooked on Science. Check out his website www.hookedonscience.org for webcasts and experiments.