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Zoology Science Fair Project

Mice: Smell or Sight?

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Mice: Smell or Sight? | Science Fair Projects | STEM Projects
Are mice better at navigating a maze with their sense of sight or smell? To find out, we'll set up a maze and time how long it takes for mice to find food at the end.

Hypothesis

The hypothesis is that a mouse will be able to find its way through a maze more quickly by using its sense of sight rather than its sense of smell.

Method & Materials

You will make a maze out of cardboard, glue and masking tape, and place a sunflower seed at the end. Then, you will drop the mice at the start of the maze one at a time and time how long it takes for them to find the food.
You will need 10 mice, a packet of sunflower seeds, cardboard or old carton boxes, scissors, masking tape, glue, a stopwatch, and a meter-length ruler.

Results

The results showed that covering the maze with a cardboard did not affect how quickly the mice were able to locate the food. This suggests that mice are better at navigating a maze with their sense of smell rather than their sense of sight.

Why do this project?

This science project is interesting because it shows how mice are able to use their sense of smell to find their way through a maze, even in darkness.

Also Consider

Consider repeating the experiment with hamsters instead of mice, or using different types of food like corn, cheese or nuts.

Full project details

You can find additional information and details for this science fair project here. Have fun exploring!

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