Measuring Human Reaction Time Lab
Measuring Human Reaction Time
Name: Prerna Mohan
Date: November 3, 2017
Team members: Allison Fitzgerald, Isabella Federico
1. Objectives
The objective of this lab is to measure each individual’s reaction time using a ruler.
2. Method and Equation:
We will apply free fall kinematics to find our own reaction time. An object in free fall is an object in motion where gravity is the sole force acting upon it. If we drop an object from a certain distance, the object will experience constant gravitational acceleration. To model the distance in “d” meters an object travels when in free fall, we use the equation:
d = vot + 1/2gt2 (1)
The variables vo, g, and t represent initial velocity, acceleration, and time, in seconds, respectively. …show more content…
We will assume that there are no other forces besides gravity acting on the ruler so the acceleration present is only due to gravity. The following equation can then be obtained, from equation (1), to describe the distance the ruler will fall as a function of time
h = 1/2gt2 (2)
This will be the equation we will be using for the lab. There is only one constant in the above equation which is ½. The variable “g” in the above equation represents the acceleration due to gravity. The ruler is being dropped on earth so the acceleration will be equal to the gravitational acceleration constant of earth which is 9.8 m/s2 in the downward direction. The variable “h” represents the distance the ruler travels in meters which will be measured in the lab. For the purpose of the experiment, we will be solving for time in the form of “t” seconds to determine our average reaction time.
3. Materials
-Ruler …show more content…
• The ruler was released at any given moment by the person that was holding it past the 30 cm mark. Note: The ruler was released at random moments to ensure an accurate evaluation of the person’s reaction time.
• The thumb and index finger of the second person grabbed the ruler as quickly as possible. Note: If the ruler was not caught or dropped to the floor by the second person the measurement recorded was 30 cm.
• The distance from 0 cm to the finger of the second person was measured and recorded on a separate sheet of paper. Note: It did not matter whether the distance was measured from the top or the bottom of the finger but once the method for measuring was decided it was kept the same to keep the measurements consistent and accurate.
• The following steps were repeated 20 times for both partners.
During the lab, we took steps to ensure that an accurate reading of data was being taken. To reduce measurement error, I held the ruler past the 30 cm while my partner placed their thumb and index finger by the zero mark. This ensured the easiest possible way to calculate the distance the ruler dropped as opposed to my partner placing their hands at the 5 cm mark and then having to subtract the values to find the distance the ruler
Name: Prerna Mohan
Date: November 3, 2017
Team members: Allison Fitzgerald, Isabella Federico
1. Objectives
The objective of this lab is to measure each individual’s reaction time using a ruler.
2. Method and Equation:
We will apply free fall kinematics to find our own reaction time. An object in free fall is an object in motion where gravity is the sole force acting upon it. If we drop an object from a certain distance, the object will experience constant gravitational acceleration. To model the distance in “d” meters an object travels when in free fall, we use the equation:
d = vot + 1/2gt2 (1)
The variables vo, g, and t represent initial velocity, acceleration, and time, in seconds, respectively. …show more content…
We will assume that there are no other forces besides gravity acting on the ruler so the acceleration present is only due to gravity. The following equation can then be obtained, from equation (1), to describe the distance the ruler will fall as a function of time
h = 1/2gt2 (2)
This will be the equation we will be using for the lab. There is only one constant in the above equation which is ½. The variable “g” in the above equation represents the acceleration due to gravity. The ruler is being dropped on earth so the acceleration will be equal to the gravitational acceleration constant of earth which is 9.8 m/s2 in the downward direction. The variable “h” represents the distance the ruler travels in meters which will be measured in the lab. For the purpose of the experiment, we will be solving for time in the form of “t” seconds to determine our average reaction time.
3. Materials
-Ruler …show more content…
• The ruler was released at any given moment by the person that was holding it past the 30 cm mark. Note: The ruler was released at random moments to ensure an accurate evaluation of the person’s reaction time.
• The thumb and index finger of the second person grabbed the ruler as quickly as possible. Note: If the ruler was not caught or dropped to the floor by the second person the measurement recorded was 30 cm.
• The distance from 0 cm to the finger of the second person was measured and recorded on a separate sheet of paper. Note: It did not matter whether the distance was measured from the top or the bottom of the finger but once the method for measuring was decided it was kept the same to keep the measurements consistent and accurate.
• The following steps were repeated 20 times for both partners.
During the lab, we took steps to ensure that an accurate reading of data was being taken. To reduce measurement error, I held the ruler past the 30 cm while my partner placed their thumb and index finger by the zero mark. This ensured the easiest possible way to calculate the distance the ruler dropped as opposed to my partner placing their hands at the 5 cm mark and then having to subtract the values to find the distance the ruler