5.2.5

Reflexes Practical

Test yourself

Investigating Human Reaction Times

It is possible to investigate the effects of various factors on human reaction times through a practical experiment.

Testing reaction time

  • If the reaction time is reduced this means it takes less time to react.
    • So, a reduction in the reaction time does NOT mean that someone is reacting more slowly, it means they are reacting more quickly.
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Factors

  • Caffeine and exercise are factors that could affect human reaction time
  • Their effect can be tested by dropping and catching a ruler.
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Procedure

The steps in the practical procedure are:

  1. Hold a ruler vertically from one end. The test subject should have their thumb and finger either side of the ruler at the 0cm mark.
  2. Drop the ruler. The subject should try to catch it between their thumb and forefinger as fast as possible.
  3. Note down the distance from the 0cm mark that the ruler travels before the subject catches it.
  4. Use a table to convert this distance into a reaction time.
  5. Repeat the experiment on a subject who has just had a coffee, or who has just done exercise.
  6. Compare reaction times.
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Variables

  • The independent variable is whether or not the subject has had caffeine or exercised.
  • The dependent variable is the subject’s reaction time.

Jump to other topics

1Cell Biology

1.1What's in Cells?

1.2Cell Division

1.3Transport in Cells

2Organisation

2.1Principles of Organisation

2.2Enzymes

2.3Circulatory System

2.4Non-Communicable Diseases

2.5Plant Tissues, Organs & Systems

3Infection & Response

4Bioenergetics

5Homeostasis & Response

5.1Homeostasis

5.2The Human Nervous System

5.3Hormonal Coordination in Humans

5.4Plant Hormones

6Inheritance, Variation & Evolution

7Ecology

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