What numbers do you get for this ratio? Are they similar for the different volunteers or is there variation? Average the step length to height ratio for all of your volunteers. For each volunteer, figure out their ratio of step length to height by dividing their step length by their height (both in feet).What was the step length for each volunteer? For each volunteer, figure out their step length (in feet) by dividing 20 feet by the number of steps each took.How tall is each volunteer? Did they take a similar number of steps or was there variation? Be sure to write the results down. Repeat this process for at least two more volunteers.How many steps did you count? Write down the answer. As they do, count the number of steps they take. Ask the volunteer to walk from the beginning to the end of the 20-foot course you marked at a normal pace and stride.How tall are they? Write their height down on a scrap piece of paper. Using a tape measure, measure out a distance of 20 feet and mark the beginning and end points with a piece of sidewalk chalk (if you are using a sidewalk) or mark them each with small objects that will not be moved (if you are using an indoor hallway).

Find a place that has 20 feet of straight sidewalk or find a straight hallway that is at least 20 feet long.At least three volunteers to walk a short distance (Ideally, they should be different heights.).

Sidewalk chalk or two small objects to mark off 20 feet of distance.

20 feet of straight sidewalk or hallway.

This ratio, combined with the motions involved in walking and running, is used by pedometers to calculate traversed distances. The longer each step, the more distance a person travels when taking the same number of steps while walking, jogging or running. Because the length of a person's legs is related to a their height by a ratio, the latter will affect how long of a step they take. There are other ratios as well, each describing how one part of the body relates to another in size. For example, when your arms are outstretched, the distance from the tip of one hand to the other is usually about equal to your height. Why is height an important variable for measuring how far a person has walked? One part of the answer has to do with ratios. On some pedometers, when a person sets the instrument to record an outing they must enter their height into the pedometer to get an accurate reading. In this science activity you'll get to investigate just how much faster or slower different people walk, and see if you can use the relationship between a person's walking pace and their height to estimate your own height.Ī pedometer is an instrument that is often used by joggers and walkers to tell them how far a distance they have gone. Hop over to your measurement settings on Walking 4 Fun to accurately set your stride here as well.Do you ever find that you need to walk faster to keep up with some people whereas you have to decrease your pace to walk with others? This is likely because of the difference in leg length between you and the person you are walking with. Once you’ve measured your stride, don’t just use it to accurately configure your pedometer. If for some reason you need the distance for two steps, just double your results after measuring the length of one step. Some people count a stride as two steps, but most pedometers consider it one step and this website considers it one step.

Measuring Distance ToolNeed to figure out how far you walked along a route? Use this took to plot your route and we’ll calculate the distance for you.įor our purposes, a stride is a single step.

The Long-Distance WalkThis method generates the most accurate results if you typically walk for a half hour or more at a time.

The Short-Distance WalkIf most of your walks tend to be short jaunts around the block or through your neighborhood, this is how you’ll want to measure your stride.

10 Simple StepsThis method of measuring your stride is very quick, easy and is ideal if you tend to walk in short bursts around the office or house.

There are a multitude of ways of measuring your stride, and we cover the most common and popular methods below-along with which would work best for you. Why? Probably because the pedometer doesn’t have an accurate measurement of your stride-it must be calibrated. You’ve picked out a pedometer, but when you use it, the distances it reports are dead wrong.

Step counter 1 stride 2 steps