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.
- Independent Variable - Amount of practice.
- Dependent Variable - Reaction time.
- Control Variables - The same person being tested. The same person administering the test.
- The subject places the forearm on a table with the hand hanging over the edge.
- 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.
- The subject holds their index finger and thumb apart allowing the ruler to fall between them.
- The second person gives no warning before dropping the ruler.
- The subject catches the ruler as quickly as possible between the thumb and index finger.
- Record the length of ruler that has passed through the subject's hand in metres.
- 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.