In this activity we see how our perception can be fooled under specific circumstances. When spinning in a chair, students can lose track of their motion to think that they're moving when they're not or that they've stopped when they haven't. It has to do with the way our inner ears detect motion. You'll want to use subjects that are not prone to motion-sickness for this investigation. 
 
Questions Answered:
How can our perception of motion be fooled? 
Can we think we're moving when we're not? 
Can we think we're not moving when we are?
 
Topics Addressed:
Our inner ear helps us determine how our body is moving. 
Our inner ear can be fooled into thinking we're moving when we aren't. 
Our inner ear can be fooled into thinking we're not moving when we are. 
 
Materials Needed
a chair that can spin, a friend
 
Preparation Time
none
 
Teaching Time 
About 20–30 minutes, longer with included writing assignment
 
Answer Key
Yes! Plus extensive teacher notes address the many questions that come up. You shouldn’t have to do outside research on this topic unless you want to. Specific charts and graphic organizers have keys. 
 
Target Audience
Middle School Students, Ages 11-14
 
Student Sheets
Scaffolded writing prompts & lab reporting 
Diagrams for labeling