Reaction Time
How quick do you think you are? With the help of a friend, you can find
out.
Have your friend hold a yard stick from the top so that it is up and down
with the bottom several feet above the floor. Your friend may have to stand
on a chair to do this.
You hold your fingers opposite the 18-inch mark, but don't touch the
stick! Without warning your friend should let go of the yard stick, and you
should try to catch it with your fingers.
Notice what inch mark your fingers are on when you catch the stick.
Subtract this number from 18 or subtract 18 from the number to see how many
inches the stick fell before you caught it. Try it several times to see if
you get the same answer. Let your friend try to catch it while you drop it.
Who has the quickest reaction time?
Your reaction time can be determined from the table below:
| distance dropped |
reaction time |
| 2 inches |
0.10 seconds |
| 4 inches |
0.14 seconds |
| 6 inches |
0.18 seconds |
| 8 inches |
0.20 seconds |
| 10 inches |
0.23 seconds |
| 12 inches |
0.25 seconds |
| 14 inches |
0.27 seconds |
| 16 inches |
0.29 seconds |
| 18 inches |
0.31 seconds |
Why do you think it takes time for your fingers to react when your eyes
see the stick start to fall? Can you think of reasons the reaction time
might be different for an adult and a child? Perhaps you could test your
theory with several adults and children.
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