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GCSE Biology Required Practical: Factors affecting Human Reaction Time

Key Stage 4

Meaning

Investigate a factor affecting human reaction time.

Method

Investigate whether practice can improve human reaction time.

  1. The subject places the forearm on a table with the hand hanging over the edge.
  2. A second person holds a metre ruler from the very top and allow it to hang from their fingers with the 0cm mark level with the top of the subject's hand.
  3. The subject holds their index finger and thumb apart allowing the ruler to fall between them.
  4. The second person gives no warning before dropping the ruler.
  5. The subject catches the ruler as quickly as possible between the thumb and index finger.
  6. Record the length of ruler that has passed through the subject's hand in metres.
  7. Convert the distance into reaction time with the following formula\[t={{\sqrt{0.2 \times d}}}\]
Where t is the time and d is the distance the ruler has travelled.