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1.01 Reaction Time

This document describes an experiment to measure human reaction time using sight and touch. The experiment involves having a subject grip a ruler as it falls either after seeing it released (sight) or feeling it begin to fall while blindfolded (touch). Reaction times are recorded and averaged over multiple trials. Distances for nerve pathways are also measured and recorded. The results from individual subjects and an entire class are compiled into tables to calculate average reaction times for sight and touch.

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Anshu Movva
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153 views1 page

1.01 Reaction Time

This document describes an experiment to measure human reaction time using sight and touch. The experiment involves having a subject grip a ruler as it falls either after seeing it released (sight) or feeling it begin to fall while blindfolded (touch). Reaction times are recorded and averaged over multiple trials. Distances for nerve pathways are also measured and recorded. The results from individual subjects and an entire class are compiled into tables to calculate average reaction times for sight and touch.

Uploaded by

Anshu Movva
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Human senses 1.

01

Experiment 1. Reaction time

It is necessary to work in pairs for this experiment.

(a) Copy Table 1 into your notebook


(b) The subject marks a pencil line down the centre of his thumb-nail and sits sideways at a
bench or table with the forearm resting flat on the bench and the hand over the edge (Fig. 1).

(c) The experimenter holds a ruler vertically between the subject's first finger and thumb with
the zero opposite the line on the thumb but not quite touching either the thumb or fingers.
(d) The subject watches the zero mark and, as soon as the experimenter releases the ruler, the
subject grips it between finger and thumb to stop it falling any further. The distance on the ruler
opposite the mark on the thumb is recorded in column 2 of Table 1.
(e) This is repeated 4 times and the average distance calculated. This distance can be converted
to a time by consulting Table 3.
(f) The ruler is now used to measure the distance from the subject's eye to the base of the neck
and along the arm to the middle of the forearm. This distance is recorded in the table.
(g) The experiment is now repeated with the same subject but this time the subject lets the ruler
rest lightly against the thumb or fingers, with closed eyes, and grips the ruler as quickly as
possible after he or she feels it begin to fall. The experiment is repeated 4 times and the results
recorded in column 4 of Table 1.

(h) The total distance is measured from the finger-tips to the head, and the head to forearm, and
recorded in the table.
(i) Copy Table 2 into your notebook and collect the reaction times for your class and calculate
the average in both cases.

Table 1 Table 2
Speed of response to Speed of response Reaction times: class results
sight to touch sight touch
1 1
2 2

3 3

4 4

Total Total

Average Average

Time Time
Distance Distance
(nerve (nerve
pathway) pathway)

Total Total
Average Average

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