Required Practicals - Reaction time

Question 1

What is the objective of the practical? (Reaction time)

Answer 1

Plan and carry out an investigation into the effect of a factor on human reaction time.

Question 2

What is the apparatus list for the reaction time practical?

Answer 2

-metre ruler
-chair
-table
-cups of coffee

Question 3

What is the method for the reaction time practical?

Answer 3

-Use your dominant hand.
-Sit a person on a chair, holding a good posture, eyes facing forward and holding their hand out.
-Hold a ruler vertically just above the top of the person’s hand.
-Drop the ruler without telling them when beforehand.
-Record the distance travelled by the ruler (where it sits above the finger).
-Repeat the test several times whilst recording results.
-Then give the person a cup of coffee and let them drink it, and then redo the test.
-Repeat the experiment with the other person recording your reaction time.
-Use a conversion table to convert the distances into reaction times.

Question 4

How many people does the reaction time practical require?

Answer 4

2 people

Question 5

How should the person being measured in the reaction time practical be sat?

Answer 5

On a stool with a good upright posture

Question 6

How should the person being measured in the reaction time practical position their hand?

Answer 6

Place the forearm of their dominant arm across the table with their hand overhanging the edge.

Question 7

How should the ruler be held in the reaction time practical?

Answer 7

Upright, with 0 cm mark just above the first finger of the person measured

Question 8

When should the ruler be dropped in the reaction time practical?

Answer 8

At a random time

Question 9

How should the person catch the ruler in the reaction time practical?

Answer 9

Between their thumb and first finger

Question 10

Where should the distance travelled be measured from on the ruler in the reaction time practical?

Answer 10

Just above the thumb

Question 11

What should you do in the reaction time practical to ensure valid results?

Answer 11

Repeat multiple times and calculate a mean

Question 12

How do we convert reaction time results from distances?

Answer 12

Using a conversion table.

Question 13

What is the independent variable in the reaction time?

Answer 13

Which person’s reaction time you’re measuring

Question 14

What is the dependent variable for the reaction time practical?

Answer 14

The reaction time

Question 15

How should conditions in the room in the reaction time practical be kept?

Answer 15

Constant

Question 16

What can be used as an independent variable in the reaction time practical instead of different people?

Answer 16

Caffeine

Question 17

What should we check before giving someone caffeine?

Answer 17

That they have no outstanding medical conditions like heart disease.